Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/180153
Plastic pellets are the raw material used in much of WPI's production process. selecting a Midwest company, but he agrees that WPI's culture of listening was exactly what they were looking for. "These guys listened to what Sennco was asking for, made some recommendations and highlighted any concerns about the product line we asked them to develop," he says. "And if that wasn't enough, being an American company with pricing that is competitive with overseas manufacturing made our decision easy." Creating an engineering and design culture, Christensen says, especially helped WPI after the recession of 2008 hit. While the recession undoubtedly had an impact on most businesses, he says, "It gave us a chance to reinvent how we bring things to market." WPI does more than just fabricate plastic; its design, engineering and production teams provide "a suite of offerings" to potential customers – including taking ideas from rudimentary sketches to working prototypes to using 3D printing to further enhance models to production, quality control and distribution. While most of their business is in plastics, about 20 percent of WPI's business remains in its roots of steel fabricating. "It's difficult to be in manufacturing right now," says Christensen, with much competition, both overseas and locally, in injection molding. But knowing where you've been and where The LOOKOUT Always keeping watch to save his business energy and money. On the web www.wpimodern.com you are going can provide a helpful roadmap. "You have to reinvest to reinvent," Christensen says. WPI has done just that; at its Valley Plating & Fabricating division, it recently expanded into a new building, adding 18,000 square feet and a 40ton lifting capacity, allowing for the fabrications of larger products. It also spent about $500,000 on four injection molding machines for its Modern Plastics division. After weathering the recession, WPI has seen steady growth. "Even through 2009 we were in an upswing," Christensen says. He notes that WPI has seen revenues grow every year for the last three years – with the goal of growing at least 15 percent each year. Every penny counts when it comes to operating costs. So, it pays to be on the lookout for Rebates and Programs from Focus on Energy and Wisconsin Public Service. They can improve your business's energy efficiency — and bottom line. Learn more at wisconsinpublicservice.com. It's Worth The Energy®! Connect with us on Twitter: @WPSforBiz w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 013 • Insight | 49