Sanborn Tube Sales of Wisconsin Inc.

Sanborn Tube Sales of Wisconsin Inc.
N28 W24402 Watertown Road, Pewaukee
www.sanborntube.com
Year founded: 1957
Product or service offered: Metals distribution, metal fabrication, tube, bar stock, extrusions, shapes, custom parts, cutting, tube laser work, forming machining and tube manufacturing using steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass and special alloys. Additionally, warehouse and custom stocking programs and value added products and services.
President and owner: John Topetzes
Projected 2015 revenue: $18.5 million
Target clientele: OEMs, manufacturers, metal fabricators
Business organization memberships: WCBA, MRA, MMAC
What has fueled your company’s growth?
“We go to market with a very strong sales presence. We support our sales efforts with a very high standard of customer service and support. Our focus is to identify challenges that our customers or potential customers have, and provide innovative and creative solutions to improve their supply chain. We have also invested quite heavily in new technology and equipment. This has given us more internal capabilities that in turn has helped spur our growth in the business.”
What is the biggest obstacle to your company’s growth?
“The increased volatility throughout the industry with respect to raw materials, mergers and consolidations, offshoring (including Mexico and South America), government policies and regulations. The other obstacle that seems to be more of a current challenge than in the past is hiring good, dependable, trainable employees. Many of the people who are classified as unemployed do NOT have the incentive to work.”
Do you plan to make any changes to your company?
“We are planning to continue hiring additional people to support our continued growth in revenue. We most recently added a weekend shift to give us more machining capacity in the plant. We are also in the process of implementing a new ERP software system to help us to better manage the company in the future.”
Who are the business people you admire?
“In general, I admire people and leaders in the business world who see the importance of being successful, but not at the expense of providing value to their customers, employees and communities. Through the creation of good paying jobs and opportunities, these businesses help improve the quality of life for everyone. I also admire companies and business leaders who are bringing jobs and work back to Wisconsin. This will help to strengthen our manufacturing base and create more good paying jobs.”
What is the outlook for your industry?
“Although we continue to see growth in revenue through the first half of 2015, I anticipate the second half of 2015 and 2016 to be even better. We should also see commodity prices, such as steel, stainless steel and aluminum, increase from their current low levels.”
What is your company’s most important growth strategy?
“Our most important growth strategy is to continue to increase our ability to provide value-added products and services to our customers. We will do this by adding more capabilities in the area of fabrication as well as increasing our aggressive sales strategy.”