September 9, 2010 - St. Louis-based machine tool distributor Hartwig is marking its 50-year anniversary with a business strategy that stresses "minds over metal." Whether developing and installing systems for Halliburton's new plant in Malaysia or assisting smaller Missouri companies like Homeyer Tool & Die, Hartwig, entering its third generation of leadership, uses its knowledge assets to build relationships with customers like Herb Homeyer who says, "In manufacturing, suppliers can have as much impact on your bottom line as customers." Fifty years and 11,000 machines since its start, Hartwig today employs more than 120 people in eight office locations, and serves 15 states in the Mountain and Midwest U.S.
Founded by former tool and die maker Paul Hartwig and his wife Juanita in 1960, the company serves a diverse customer base of more than 4,000 manufacturers producing everything from tiny medical parts to giant aerospace components." Our company was founded on simple principles: represent the best lines of equipment, service what you sell, and always take care of the customer," said Gary Hartwig, second generation President and CEO of Hartwig. "We've added a new principle to succeed in today's market: surround ourselves with the smartest internal and external resources in application technology. This has allowed us to build relationships and earn the trust of customers to the point where we consult on manufacturing solutions, not just machine-tools.
They trust us to build the right solution for their needs, and then deliver it." The company provides sales, service, engineering and training for machine tool industry leaders such as Okuma, Hardinge Bridgeport, Miyano, Loxin and Hexagon Metrology. The key to Hartwig's "total solutions" approach is the knowledge base and expertise of the company's 13 application engineers. "Many of our clients use our team of engineers as a way to balance their staffing requirements," said Mr. Hartwig.
"We assess customer applications, recommend the right solution for the job and then provide the training they need to operate at full potential."