WALLACEBURG – AarKel Tool and Die has been here for more than 45 years, but the company has really taken off over the last decade.
When Larry Delaey became company president in 2014, that was followed by unveiling to employees a 10-year plan to diversity, he said.
“We had a vision and a plan to be in the top 10 in North America and within four years went from $30 million (in sales) to going over $70 million, which brought us into the top 10,” he said.
Today, Delaey said AarKel does $90 million in annual business, which ranks it among the top five tool and die shops in North America.
AarKel will be honored as large business of the year by the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce at its 135th annual Business of Excellence Awards April 13. Delaey will be honored as business individual of the year.
He said diversification has been achieved by listening to what their customers want.
Delaey cites General Motors’ request for in-house sampling of large diecast dies as an example. AarKel is one of only three North American shops he knows of that can provide that service, he added.
AarKel also ventured into 3-D printing of steel to custom-engineer solutions for customers, which has practically become a whole business on its own, Delaey said.
“When there’s a problem, basically they come to us for solutions,” he added.
AarKel also goes the extra mile by sending employees go to a customer’s operation when a new product is delivered.
“From the start of the product to the launch of the product, we provide support from start to finish,” Delaey said.
The company also offers compression tooling and production machining, making a wide range of products.
“There were a lot of people that thought we were reaching too far, but we achieved our goals,” Delaey said.
Along the way, he learned, “you need everybody working together to really make a fine-tuned Swiss watch and that’s what we have here,” he added.
He believes diversification has also helped with employee retention.
“It’s something new every day for them,” Delaey said. “It’s not repetitive manufacturing, this is custom engineering.”
The goal is to create a culture of enjoying work and knowing that if a mistake happens, staff can worked through it, learn from it and then move on.
About $65 million of the company’s $90 million a year of work is done by the Wallaceburg operation’s more than 200 employees, Delaey said. “We’re proud of that.”
When he travels for work, Delaey said he likes to brag AarKel is headquartered in Wallaceburg in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
Many people are surprised to hear that, so he tells them: “You know what? That’s where some of the best skill and talent comes from.”
He still gets choked up as he recalls getting the call that the chamber would honor AarKel and him.
It made him think about what everyone at the company has accomplished over the last 10 years.
“When I got that call, it was pretty good,” Delaey said. “To be honoured, I was pretty humbled.”