What's next?

In 2008 Laystrom focused on growth, development of new markets, and new equipment required to satisfy strategic planning, strength through diversity and strong customer service.



And this year's themes?



Strategic planning, strength through diversify, and strong customer service! These still remain the core elements upon which we run our business. The world around us may be suggesting specific tactical decisions and areas of focus, but the fundamental strengths that our customers rely on remain the same.


We have been around for a long time, we have seen a lot of up and downs, and we have stayed true to the belief that we can and will succeed in meeting our customers expectations. The foundations of our business are solid and our relationships with our customers and suppliers remain strong.



With these factors in mind, we are always in position to focus on long term strategic planning. Coming soon, I will have an update here that will lay out some of the plan for us to maintain our high level of customer service and our diversity.

Stay tuned!

2008 Letter to customers and friends

Just before Christmas, Bob and I personally signed and sent this letter to many of our customers and friends, along with our annual calendar. If you didn't receive either, let me know and I'll remedy that!

Dear Customers and Friends,

Like many of you, we have found this to be an interesting year. As we wind the clock forward to 2009, we all have questions that need to be answered, and a vision of the future to be understood.

Has the sky fallen?
Our answer is No. Some of our customers are up, and some are not – none have filed for bankruptcy, and we don’t expect any will. We remain positive about the long-term direction of manufacturing and, for our part, we will continue to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations as we have for 58 years.

Concerned about costs?
Twice this past year a major customer of ours was faced with escalating costs and asked us to join them in the pursuit of cost containment. We readily agreed, and through a co-operative design process we reduced our customers’ costs by 20% for upwards of $60,000 in annualized savings. How can we help you control costs?

What are you planning for the 2009?
Earlier this year we purchased a Flexible 4000W Laser Manufacturing System. This system delivers speed, agility and lights-out 24/7 automation. It is another significant and strategic investment that keeps us firmly at the forefront of metal processing capability. We are planning our future and, while we do not expect it to be easy, it is a bright future. Come see for yourself!

We are a diverse organization, not beholden to the Big 3 and we do not need a bailout!
With you, our customers and friends, we are working our way towards a stronger, more resilient manufacturing industry. At the core of our relationships is a belief in collaborative effort and partnership. It is in the melding of our strengths with yours that we both grow stronger and help each other remain at the competitive edge of industry.

For questions about our new laser, our plans for the future, and for more on how Laystrom can help you meet your goals, call me at 773.852.3863, or email me at colin.cosgrove@laystrom.com.

Lets make it a prosperous 2009 together!

Colin

Merry Christmas!

From all of us to all of you

Tower and shuttle are in place

Automation

It gets bigger! We have begun to add the automation capabilities to shuttle material to the laser and shuttle parts away...

Staying on the "cutting edge" of technology - pun very much intended!

And now... in the starring role in Laystrom's future...

The result of a lot of hard work

Now that we have a clean floor, we could have a barn dance or a rave, but I think we'll maybe just wait a couple of weeks to let the concrete cure and then...

Stay tuned!

Colin
colin.cosgrove@laystrom.com
http://www.laystrom.com/

More progress...

It may look like bobcat rodeo or bobcat demolition derby, but it's really just a bunch of guys working hard!

Colin

colin.cosgrove@laystrom.com

www.laystrom.com

The steel pile moves out... what will move in?

Space is starting to be cleared... but what could be put into this space???

Stay tuned :)

Colin

www.laystrom.com

Changes - first there was a lot of steel...

This are images from our factory floor in mid-June 2008

Stay tuned for changes!

Colin

www.laystrom.com

Photos

As can be seen above, a photograph can say a thousand words!

We recently brought in a professional to get product shots, as well as people and machinery. The results will be posted on our website (http://www.laystrom.com/) as will as in some sales and marketing literature. We expect this will show the diversity of industries and markets that we serve, highlighting our capabilities in stamping, fabrication and, as always, in quick-turn prototyping.


More to come soon!

Colin
colin.cosgrove@laystrom.com

PMA Sales and Marketing Roundtable

Looking forward to reporting next week on the PMA Sales and Marketing Roundtable in Nashville, which is taking place this Thursday 5/15.

Topics for discussion will include - among other things - Market Trends, Quoting, Material Pricing, International Opportunities & Strategic Planning.

Tooling and Manufacuring Association

We are also listed with the Tooling and Manufacturing Association - although this listing is permanent!

I am currently serving on the Marketing Committee with TMA as we work together with our peers to find the best ways of marketing this industry to the public, as well as to our customers!

Colin

PMA Member of the Month

On the website of the Precision Metalforming Association, we are now listed as the "Member of the Month!"

Click on the title of this post to get to the site and scroll down just a little.

Another selection of samples

Quick-turn prototypes - we made these in 3-5 days to help our customer get their product to market quickly
These were a fun project - we produced a multitude of these for the telecommunications industry



















Acquisition of these upright parts was a dire emergency for our customer, so we turned them around in rapid fashion and helped them close the deal with their customer.
A 20-piece assembly, often called a "card-cage" for the electronics industry

Engineering examples

The frame - critical to machine stability! - for an industrial packaging customer














Industrial packaging - 7 ga. construction. This particular item is part of a major project where we are working together with our customer to reduce costs - even in the face of increased steel costs!

We came across this article written about the incredible depth and diversity of the Chicago manufacturing base. Best I can figure, this was written in the early 1970's. Have things changed since then in Chicago (and at Laystrom - see the highlighted section on page 3) - yes and the rate of change is constantly increasing. For those of you who are 'seasoned' like I am, seeing a few of the old company names serves as a reminder of how much things have changed.

I would argue that the Greater Chicago area still has the most depth and diversity of any US manufacturing center. Many of the company names mentioned are gone, but we still have a lot of talented companies!

Has Laystrom changed -- sure. Just like Chicago, we have developed a lot more depth and diversity to what we do. Back then, we made metal stampings for 'aircraft and automotive' markets. In 2008, we still make metal stampings but our processes are just as much CNC sheet metal fabricated parts (lasers/turret press/robotic welding) and short run type metalformed parts as it is stampings. And we do very little these days for the automotive marketplace and instead concentrate on other markets - Among many other market segments, we service medical, telecom, ag. and construction equipment, packaging systems, and lab testing equipment. We do a lot of prototyping today. Bob Laystrom

New Amada Press Brake!

With 130T of forming power and a 10' bed, our Amada HDS is versatile and productive every day!




Not just a big hammer, but a practical and efficient machine!



The ability to program offline, as well as form multiple bends in one set-up is critical to our success in meeting and exceeding customers' expectations.