Aries Industries Inc.
550 Elizabeth St., Waukesha
www.ariesindustries.com
Industry: Manufacturing/wholesale
Employees: 125 (95 local)
2014 annual revenue: $28-32 million
Operational improvements and a commitment to product reliability and service have continued to drive the growth of Waukesha-based Aries Industries Inc.
Much of the country’s underground infrastructure is in a state of disrepair, and Aries has positioned itself as the North American leader in improving that infrastructure. The company makes inspection and rehabilitation systems often used for infrastructure applications.
“We are projecting continued growth,” said Nick Kroll, president and chief executive officer of Aries. “Internally, we’ve improved our service levels and invested in new equipment that will help us grow our domestic presence while also entering the international marketplace.”
Aries Industries currently has four locations throughout North America, and recently began leveraging a new product to add to that growth. The Anaconda utilizes fiberglass and UV light to reline damaged pipes, Kroll said.
The UV lighting process has been popular in European countries for 15 years, and Aries is quickly becoming an industry leader in North America and across the globe.
Launched in late 2014, The Anaconda has already garnered nearly $2 million in new bookings for the company.
“We’re getting some good traction,” Kroll said. “Our goal is to continue to provide value to our customers.”
The company also remains committed to its employee training partnership with Waukesha County Technical College, and to employee wellness. Both initiatives help maintain and develop the next level of leadership in the company and recognize the work the employees do for the company.
“We have a live and vibrant wellness program that is part of our extensive benefits package,” Kroll said.
According to Kroll, the company recently established a dedicated fitness center and pays to bring in fitness trainers twice a week to work with employees who want to participate.
Launched in February, the company already has 20-25 percent active engagement from its staff. While the payback is difficult to quantify now, Kroll knows the investment allows his employees to be healthy, become fully rounded individuals, and be their best for the company and its customers, he said.
“We want to be the company that’s known for offering the most cost-effective, value-added solutions to our customers,” he said. “We hope our customers see that value in the services and products we offer them.”
