Midwest Composite Technologies Inc. is expanding and relocating in Hartland, Wis.
Midwest has bought a 69,000-square-foot building and plans to move into it by June 1, said Midwest President Helmut Keidl in a telephone interview. The firm is spending about $7.7 million on the building and extra equipment.
Midwest's current Hartland facility has 47,000 square feet of space. The new one ``provides a lot more space to grow,'' according to Keidl. In addition to more space for manufacturing and engineering, it has a better layout.
``It is important for us to be able to improve the satisfaction of our customers and provide a high-level work environment for our employees,'' Keidl said.
Midwest makes composite models, tools, molds, rapid prototypes and parts such as fiberglass-reinforced aftermarket auto parts and reinforced reaction injection molded components. Its equipment includes plastic and metal model sintering machines, computer numerically controlled machining centers, and injection molding presses with 180-750 tons of clamping force. It specializes in quick-turnaround and low-volume parts and offers complete in-house design and manufacturing.
Midwest is expanding its prototype capability in the expansion by adding sintering technology and CNC tools.
Midwest's expansion was partly supported by $7.2 million in industrial revenue bonds. The project should boost Midwest's employment from 35 to 48.
Keidl said his firm's origins date back to the mid-1970s. Owned by the Keidl family, it has virtually no sales force, relying on word of mouth for its marketing, Keidl stressed.
``We've always been busy,'' he noted.