Location: 9600 55th St., Kenosha
Website: www.xtenindustries.com
Year Founded: 1940
Product or Service offered: Xten Industries is a contract manufacturer and plastic injection molder, with a proven record in supply-chain solutions. With over 70 years experience, Xten can streamline your processes, consolidate vendors, reduce your supply chain and offer you timesaving options. Xten provides a complete package from complicated molded assemblies to decoration and packaging. Xten applies high quality standards to all projects, ensuring customer satisfaction with exceptional service and a committed can do spirit.
Projected 2010 Revenue: $16 billion
President: Matthew Davidson
Other key leadership members: William Renick, vice president of operations; Conrad Hauser, vice president of sales; Mark Dirr, director of engineering; Tina McDonie, planner; Rob Korpela, production manager; Jennifer Koeppendoerfer, accounting manager; Bob O’Brien, sales manager
Business Organization Memberships: In Mold Decorating Association, Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Association for Corporate Growth, Kenosha Chamber of Commerce, Prime Advantage
What has fueled your company’s growth?
“Fierce dedication to our customers and to their success in their own markets. Xten is truly an XTENsion of our customers as we make their products for them the better we do, the more our customers succeed. The more successful they are, the more work we obtain. Our people make this happen with a can-do attitude that is really appreciated by our customers and increasingly wins over prospects.”
What has been the biggest obstacle to your company’s growth?
“Access to reasonable financing. Injection molding is a capital intensive business and requires capital to grow. The financial meltdown of the last few years has made it increasingly difficult to obtain that capital. Our revenues are up 30 percent over last year, but that kind of growth is not sustainable with internally generated cash.”
Do you have any planned changes for your company in the coming months?
“Xten has new customers and their needs will require us to purchase and install new machinery and hire additional people in the months ahead. We also intend to accelerate our investment in sustainable operations. During the last year Xten trimmed 40 percent its energy bill. This year we are finding additional ways to boost efficiency and trim waste.”
Who are the business people, locally or nationally, whom you admire? What traits do those people exhibit that make you admire them?
“Jack Stack of Springfield Remanufacturing Company for his open book management and honest approach to business. He was ahead of his time and allowed the entire organization to benefit from growth and prosperity. Mr. Toyoda of Toyota for the widespread use of Kaizen in his operations again allowing the entire organization to participate in continuous improvement. Eliyahu Goldratt who understands business and wrote the best manufacturing book in modern history called “The Goal.” If you read it, you will understand that cash really is king.”
What is the outlook for the business conditions of your industry over the next several months?
“Our industry, like most domestic manufacturing segments, is likely to see additional slow, incremental growth. Increasingly, we see customers and prospects pulling work back to the U.S. that they previously sent overseas. This is the brightest light I see on the horizon.”
What has been your company’s key strategy for rising out of the recession?
“Xten’s strategy will focus on taking good care of our existing customers and growing with them. Xten will also focus on obtaining new customers who value performance, high quality and exceptional employees. Keep it simple. First class engineering, manufacturing, assembly and fulfillment sets Xten apart from the rest of the industry and will create Xten’s recipe for success.”
