Milwaukee-based Steel Rule Diemasters Inc. recently moved to a new, bigger location; hired a vice president; and has been experiencing double-digit sales growth.
Sales are growing each year by 10 percent to 15 percent, and this year it is on track to double in sales, according to Juliayn Rietzler, marketing project manager. The 14-year-old company’s growth, she said, is largely due in part to its Medical Presses division, which brings clean room die cutting into the medical industry.
Started about two years ago, the division involves using presses and dies to cut skin grafts, heart valves, wound dressings and other varied medical needs.
“We are very innovative in the medical world,” Rietzler said. “We provide top quality and customer service all while staying up to date with our customers’ technology and business needs.”
To better manage the uptick in growth, Steel Rule Diemasters earlier this year appointed Luke Eshleman to the newly created role of vice president. In his new role, he is focused on creating, communicating and implementing the company’s vision and direction.
Eshleman, who has been with the company for two years, previously served as project manager, overseeing quality control, streamlining production and assisting the president, Mark Jeske.
“Being part of a company where you can not only feel the growth but see it first hand is a very exciting thing,” Eshleman said. “Our continued development within Steel Rule Diemasters is delivered by a team of younger professionals all exceeding together towards a larger landscape of opportunity.”
Steel Rule Diemasters has approximately 20 employees, and it is currently hiring for a die designer. It recently hired five new employees, and it plans to hire some additional ones in the coming months.
“Although with our growth, we would like to remain a small company and really emphasize our family business,” Rietzler said. “We operate here as a family and are very close with our customers to make sure their needs are always met. Our employees are cross-trained in numerous areas and wear many different hats. Our team that operates as a family is something we are very proud of.”
Steel Rule Diemasters is located at a 12,800-square-foot facility at 8219 W. Bradley Road, where it moved in January 2014. It was previously located in a 5,500-square-foot location at W141N9312 Fountain Blvd., Menomonee Falls.
“The new space we purchased has given us some great ideas on how to expand our product offerings,” Jeske said. “After getting settled, we are plowing ahead into our growth strategy and have hired new employees and expanded our departments. 2015 looks and feels like another record year in sales for presses and dies alike and this move was instrumental to it.”
