Celebrating 60 Years!
Chapter 4, 1986 - 2006
By Rick Ahaus, Chairman of the Board

These Toolbits articles on the past 60 years have taken us from the ‘start-up’ year
(’46 – ’56), where hay bailer components and stamping dies propelled us through the next 10 years (’56 – ’66), where IBM and typewriter tooling played a prominent role moving us into the ‘70’s and ‘80’s where the new NC and CNC technology took us to a new level of tool manufacturing.  The last twenty (20) years have been a world-wind of high and low but with steady growth.

The decision to create an engineering department proved to be a good one as it provided the engineering capabilities to support design and build programs for large scale sophisticated equipment to assemble heat exchanger products.  Automated crimp cells and core assembly machines became the main stay in manufacturing and we found ourselves “bursting-at-the-seams.”  We needed more space. 

Additional land was purchased, and new additions were added every four years from 1983 to 1995.  The 1979 plant of 18,000 square feet by 1995 had increased to the 65,000 square feet we have today.

The boom year’s of the ‘90’s proved to be hectic, energetic, and profitable.  Drawing boards were replaced with computers and the engineering department grew to twenty-five designers, control engineers and project engineers.  A new engineering room provided the atmosphere for creative ideas organized on computer screens and manufactured on the shop floor.  Manufacturing was changing.

Special machines to machine automotive and industrial parts were being replaced by CNC machines with multi-part fixturing for high volume production.  Recognizing a need for suppliers of the highly specialized fixturing, we focused on ‘workholding fixtures’ for horizontal and vertical machining centers and supported the fixture sales efforts with exhibiting at IMTS and national advertising.  Those efforts continue to provide on-going growth opportunities and continue to be a focus for the future.

Focus for the future ………… what are the expectations?  Certainly in a post 9/11 environment, coupled with an ever changing world economy, the crystal ball of the future is not as clear as it once was.  The post 9/11 downturn/recession has taken its toll on the tool industry.  Hundreds of shops have fallen by the wayside; tragic for those but opportunistic for those of us continuing to focus on the future.

The focus will be an aggressive approach to sales and new customer opportunities.  We have to capitalize on our ability to offer more than a machine, fixture or crimp die.  We must provide the complete package …… concept, documentation, engineering, equipment, service and customer support to meet our customer’s expectations.

To meet those expectations, Kevin Ahaus, president and Jeff Sheridan, vice president of operations, are moving the company forward.  They are the future and will be the primary stockholders of the corporation.  With a motivated sales staff, an experienced group of design engineers and toolmakers, and continuing emphasis on training, the future looks promising for Ahaus Tool and Engineering, Inc.

Another 60 years, maybe, but let’s take it ten (10) years at a time.  I hope to be around in 2016, and if my pen still has ink in it, I’ll report again on 70 years of challenges and opportunities.