A Hartland manufacturer is planning a significant addition to his prototyping facility that will allow the company to add more technology and hire additional employees.
Midwest Composite Technologies Inc. will add 40,000 to 45,000 square feet to its 75,000-square-foot plant at 1050 Walnut Ridge Drive.
“I’m probably the best kept manufacturing secret,” said Helmut Keidl, president at Midwest Composite Technologies. “We have 40 employees and zero sales people; if I had one, I would have to shoot him. We do a great business already by word of mouth.”
Midwest Composite Technologies currently has 26 rapid prototype machines, creating the first models for everything from full-size tractors to MRI machines. By the end of the year, the company will have 30 machines, Keidel said.
Keidl also hopes to hire eight to 10 more employees over the next year.
Midwest Composite Technologies was started 40 years ago in Keidl’s garage. Repeat customers kept the business growing.
“I’m 64 years old, I used to make all of these things by hand,” he said. “A Harley motorcycle engine (once) took me three months (to build). Now it takes 24 hours.”
Keidl hopes to complete the expansion sooner than later, but said it will depend on his financing. He is tentatively working with Oconomowoc-based MSI General on the project.
