NEWS & UPDATES
Thanksgiving 2023
Friends and Customers,
This past year can be summed up in one word—transformation.
A year ago, memories of the fire were still fresh, and rebuilding had only just begun. But as I write this today, I’ve just returned to my desk after a walk through our new building. Let me describe the transformation I see.
Our new manufacturing facility is standing proud on foundations that had only just been poured last November. The weather cooperated all year long, and Phase 1 was finished on schedule. In fact, we’ve already started putting it to use—the new paint booths are up and running, and our state-of-the-art laser tube cutter made its first cuts last week. New space, new equipment, and new automation are all parts of the transformation.
A year ago today, we moved our office personnel into a modular office building just in time for Thanksgiving. That temporary office is feeling increasingly “temporary” every day now, as Phase 2 (our NEW office building) approaches completion. With an expected move-in date of February 1st, this will be a welcome transformation for our office staff. And behind the Phase 1 building, Phase 3 is now underway—an additional 14,000 sq. ft. of flexible manufacturing space that will allow our business to continue its transformation into the future.
The most significant transformation has been in how we work. After losing much of our facility, equipment, and inventory, our team learned to work differently. We stood this business back up in a matter of weeks, in a fraction of the space, transforming our methods as well as our mindset. We learned to make better use of the tools available, working smarter *and* harder to keep this business moving forward. As we begin to occupy our new facilities, these lessons learned in adversity open up tremendous opportunity—to transform this business far beyond what we could have achieved before.
Every day, we are getting closer to the end of this chapter of transformation. We’ll see new equipment starting up, lead times coming down, and investments in automation yielding more capacity, greater capability, and securing our position for the future. In a year that could have been our worst, I am happy to report that we have risen above every challenge that has come our way. This is a testament to our incredible team and God’s unfailing favor, and I believe our best days still lie ahead.
As we reflect on all of this, we are extremely thankful. For God’s guiding hand. For a team that rose to the occasion. For customers who stuck with us, suppliers who came through, and contractors who kept working to make our new facility a reality. We are thankful for the nation and community we are blessed to call home and look forward to celebrating with gratitude this weekend.
May your Thanksgiving holiday season be filled with health and happiness.
Thank you, and God bless you all,
Gary & Teresa Westermeyer
Progress Update – ONE YEAR LATER
Friends and customers,
Today marks One Year since the catastrophic fire that ravaged our business—One Year since the most challenging day in the history of this company. While the last twelve months began with uncertainty, they held a seed of hope, which has taken root and begun to flourish with vision for the future.
No one is ever prepared to face the difficulty of loss—the destruction of most of our facility, equipment, inventory, offices, papers, and documents—but we picked up the pieces and began pressing forward step by step. From a small group meeting in our home to the restart of our manufacturing operation, none of the actions taken to get this business back on its feet were started without prayer. Prayer for direction, favor, wisdom, and safety. We have been weary, shared tears, and faced obstacles and uncertainty all along the way, but I thank God that today, our company is alive and well.
Approximately 80% of our revenue was previously produced in the space that was lost that day. But our incredible team had the grit and determination to say, “Failure is not an option,” pushing this operation forward to recover over 90% of our pre-fire capacity in the building that was saved. These are undoubtedly close quarters, and our current situation presents many challenges, but reinventing ourselves to become more efficient and more resourceful has been critical to saving this business and providing a template for the future.
It feels like a miracle that we are still operating, let alone operating at these capacities. It’s a miracle that we came out of that fire with no loss of life, with all the necessary pieces remaining to put this picture back together. God was faithful to our prayers in the days following the fire, directing our steps with wisdom and grace to solve this puzzle—placing the corners, forming the borders, and then filling in the details piece by piece, section by section. We still have a few pieces left to place, but the picture gets clearer every day—our miracle in the cornfield.
What began with napkin sketches and handwritten assignments has taken shape as an 87,000-square-foot facility that is nearly completed. Electrical and mechanical systems are being installed, and much of the new equipment is already on site and awaiting installation. This is Phase One—we expect to move into this new space in the latter part of this year with full operation in Q1 of 2024. Phase Two—our new office building—is underway, and we are preparing for Phase Three to begin very soon, adding 14,000 square feet of additional manufacturing space. All told, we are replacing and expanding the 75,000 square feet that we lost with 110,000 square feet—a brand new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and our new home.
We wish to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has helped us out during the past year. From the courageous first responders, to our dedicated employees, our loyal customers, our trusted suppliers, and our diligent contractors—thank you. With you in our corner and God on our side, we have come farther than any of us thought possible. We are eternally grateful for all that you have done to assist our company. We are rebuilding more resourceful and more resilient—forged through fire and stronger than steel; with great humility and so much to be thankful for.
Stronger Than Steel. Stronger Together.
#westermeyerstrong
God bless you all,
Gary & Teresa Westermeyer
Progress Update – Eight Months
Dear Customers,
It has been eight months since a catastrophic fire tried to destroy our business. We are proud to report that our business remains fully intact and operating at the highest levels since the fire. Progress on the new building continues to improve, as we weathered winter in Illinois very well. The contractors have one last portion of concrete floor to pour, which will take place in approximately two weeks. Today, two-thirds of the building is up, and we have already begun to take delivery of new equipment that is being staged in this space.
The next three months will see the completion of Phase One (the new manufacturing space), with the hopeful expectation that by the one-year anniversary of the fire, August 26th, we will be operational in our new home. The construction of Phase Two, our new office space, will commence soon. We expect our daily output to increase over these next three months, with optimum levels achieved shortly after moving into the new facility.
Our entire team understands and appreciates your patience and continued trust in our ability—not only today, but the future capabilities we will realize together. We have learned many valuable skills throughout this process and have become a stronger team because of it. As we like to say, “stronger than steel and forged through the fire.” Some might say this sounds cliché, but those of us who have lived this experience know it is the truth.
This chapter is about to close, and the first chapter in a new book is about to be written—a new book for a new era building on past experiences to become the strongest supplier and partner we can be—to our customers today and to new customers in the future. Thanks again, and stay tuned.
God Bless,
Gary & Teresa Westermeyer
#westermeyerstrong
Progress Update – Five Months
Dear Customers,
Five months ago today, on August 26th, I sat on the ground in the evening hours, watching 22 years of hard work smolder. But sitting in the dark after that catastrophic fire, I caught a glimmer of hope, an inner peace, knowing that something greater would rise again from the ashes—that what God had started, he would continue. We would become stronger, better, and different.
The past five months have tested us in every way. We face new challenges daily—some that are common and some that are new. No team is perfect, but we have done our best to get our footing, not only in continuing to run the company, but to rebuild the business as well. We remain grateful for every bit of progress. The Illinois winter has been kind, just as we prayed it would be, allowing work on the new building to carry on. Approximately 30% of the structure is up, and the contractor plans to move to the next 30% soon.
While we may be in the cornfields of the midwest, we are building a world-class facility for the future of our business and our customers. Virtually all of the replacement equipment is on order, with most of these new machines being new technology for new, automated processes. We are doing our best to ship more product every day, but our current working space has filled up. We look forward to the increased speed and capacity that will come with the new building and new equipment later this year.
Over the next six months, many exciting changes will take place. In a short time, the things we have endured will be a fleeting memory, and our eyes are already on the future. Teresa and I, along with our entire team, thank you for your continued trust and patience throughout this process. It is greatly appreciated.
Best Regards,
Gary Westermeyer, President
#westermeyerstrong
Thanksgiving 2022
November 24th marks 90 days since a catastrophic fire destroyed over 70,000 square feet of our facility. It is fitting that this date should fall on Thanksgiving Day—While losing most of our resources has been trying, we have much to be thankful for, and we remain grateful for the Grace of God and His wisdom as we reinvent this business and get back on track.
Our customers purchase from a business—Westermeyer Industries—but this Company is more than a brand or the products we make. It is the People—the Company of People who have been plowing through. The Company of Men and Women who go home at night, ensuring their families that this business is still intact. In the face of extreme difficulty when the future seemed uncertain, our team—our Company—dug deep and found the courage to continue.
No business is perfect—we have faults like most—but our Company remains grateful for the continued support and trust of our customers, suppliers, community, friends, and family. Your support and encouragement have given this Company of People the fuel to do the unexpected—striving every day to climb the mountain we face with strength and speed.
This Thanksgiving, Teresa and I want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to our Company of People, the Westermeyer Industries family. Without you pulling alongside us, we could not have accomplished all we have in the past 90 days.
THANK YOU to the firefighters who worked without fail 90 days ago to save the 40,000 square feet we are currently working from. Likewise, THANK YOU to the contractors who are working to get our new home completed in record time.
THANK YOU to our valued customers for their outpouring of support and continued business; and THANK YOU to our trusted suppliers who have worked tirelessly to get us inventory, supplies, and machinery. Our future together is looking brighter every day.
We thank God for all of you and look forward to walking out this next chapter together with God’s direction and grace.
Happy Thanksgiving, and God bless you all,
Gary & Teresa Westermeyer
#westermeyerstrong
Progress Update – Week Twelve
Dear Valued Customers,
It’s the beginning of our twelfth week since the fire, and we remain thankful for many things. The level of assistance provided by our suppliers and customers has been truly humbling, allowing our company to get back on track quickly. We continue to move forward with this purpose in mind—to serve the needs of our customers and maintain our position in the market.
Preparations for the new building are underway, with 75% of the concrete foundation already completed. Work on the concrete slab will begin this week, and construction will begin shortly after the first delivery of building materials on December 9th. We eagerly await that day and are excited to see our new home take shape. In addition, new equipment has been ordered for installation in the new facility, with a focus on automation. This equipment will allow our company to produce more in less space, increasing efficiency, consistency, and capacity.
Meanwhile, we continue to increase our output in the existing space, regaining approximately 70% of our pre-fire capacity. Inbound materials receipts have also improved, allowing us to build and ship more products. There are still some gaps, but we focus daily on eliminating those shortages to get our customers their orders as soon as possible.
Teresa and I, along with the entire Westermeyer team, are thankful for your patience and assistance through this process. While the road has been difficult, we know that with God’s grace and His direction, we will rise again stronger and better than before. Forged through the fire. #beautyfromashes.
Best Regards,
Gary Westermeyer, President
Westermeyer—Stronger Than Steel
#westermeyerstrong
Progress Update – Week Seven
Dear Customers,
It’s now the end of our seventh week since the fire, and there is much for us to be thankful for—great progress is being made in every area of our business. We look forward to the future with hopeful determination as we work through each challenge together.
Within the next week, the final piece of replacement equipment will be delivered, brought online, and put to work. Additionally, we have two crucially important machines that were able to be saved from the fire. They are out for repair and should be returned to us fully restored in the next month. Shipments containing parts and materials also continue to arrive, replenishing our inventory bit by bit.
The steady resolution of equipment and supply issues has given our team the ability to increase our output significantly. While we have not yet returned to our normal run rate, we continue to expand our capacity day by day. We are on our way to achieving much higher production levels that will improve further over the coming weeks and months.
Looking toward the future, the site of our brand-new building has been surveyed, with concrete work beginning as early as next week. The building itself has been ordered, and the materials now have a confirmed arrival date of December 19th. Our contractor will commence construction immediately after delivery. We await that day with great anticipation.
I want to express sincere gratitude for the orders and bookings that continue to arrive from our valued customers. I am also profoundly thankful for our trusted suppliers, who have gone above and beyond during this challenging time. The loyalty extended to us is deeply appreciated, and we thank you.
The journey to rebuild this business has not, and will not, be easy, but I firmly believe we are becoming a much stronger company through this process. While the road has been hard, it will result in a more capable and resourceful team that stands ready to serve your needs both today and tomorrow. I believe that these experiences are forging strength for the long term, positioning us to face any challenge the future holds.
Best Regards,
Gary Westermeyer, President
Westermeyer—Stronger Than Steel
#westermeyerstrong
Progress Update – One Month Later
Dear Customers,
It has now been one month since the fire that destroyed a large portion of our facility, and I’d like to take the opportunity to update you again on our progress. We have made significant strides over the past weeks, and I’m happy to say that we are well on our way to rebuilding.
We continue to receive shipments of raw materials day by day to replace what was lost. As a result, our daily output is improving as we begin to produce items as their required materials come in. Over the past week, we have received additional equipment, with still more to be delivered soon, and manufacturing capacity is improving with every new installation.
The site of the fire has been cleared of debris and is now completely ready for the construction of our brand-new building. This manufacturing facility will be bigger and better in every way, with new equipment including several robotic machines. We aim to place orders for this new building within the next week, with construction to begin immediately after the expected delivery in December.
Our entire team appreciates your patience as we move into this next phase, ramping up our production capabilities and increasing our capacity with every step. Very soon, you will gain the benefit of our new world-class manufacturing facility, and we believe that we are laying a firm foundation for all of us to build into the future.
Thank you for your continued trust in our company. It is never taken for granted, and your support through this time will not be forgotten.
Best Regards,
Gary Westermeyer, President
Westermeyer—Stronger Than Steel
#westermeyerstrong
Progress Update – Week Three
Dear Customers,
It’s the end of our third week since the fire, and I want to provide another progress update. The process of replacing our lost inventory is moving along—our supply base has been very responsive, and replacement materials have begun to arrive. Additionally, we are using subcontractors to perform some aspects of fabrication that were lost in the fire. New equipment is being installed, with more to be delivered over the next two weeks.
On the production floor, we continue to produce those items we have the raw materials to process, and our output will increase as replacement materials and equipment come in. Our team is expediting orders and will be communicating with you when we can serve your needs; understandably, some items will be able to be produced earlier than others as we walk through this process. We ask that you please be patient with us during this time.
I am confident that production will be flowing at a much better rate over the next two to three weeks. Please work with your salesperson to help us prioritize your orders, and know that you and your business are important to us.
Best Regards,
Gary Westermeyer, President
Westermeyer—Stronger Than Steel
#westermeyerstrong
Progress Update – Week One
Dear Customers,
I am providing an update on our progress from the recent fire. As previously stated, a portion of our facility was saved from the fire, and utilities have now been restored in that remaining building. Demolition of the destroyed building has begun, and a new building is already being planned. All IT systems and phones have now been restored. New equipment, including fabrication and welding equipment, has been ordered, and these items will arrive within one week. Our team has completed an inventory and also saved some inventory from the destroyed building. Additionally, nearly all fixtures were recovered and are in usable condition. Your current orders are being prioritized, with missing materials being ordered.
My message to you is this—we have the space and will soon have the additional equipment and raw materials to get your orders moving again. Our team is committed to staying your supplier and are working to ensure that you get the same service you have grown to expect from us over the past 21 years. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have.
The entire company thanks you for your understanding and your prayers.
Regards,
Gary Westermeyer, President
Westermeyer—Stronger Than Steel
#westermeyerstrong
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Westermeyer Industries, Inc.
1441 State Route 100
Bluffs, IL 62621
P: (217) 754-3277
F: (217) 754-3288