History
In 1982, Brothers-in-Law Drew Boersma and Kurt
VanVels decided to go into the business of manufacturing
dies. They were in their early 20s and collectively
had about eight years of experience in die making
- but they also had very limited capital. Armed
with confidence, a strong faith in God, and
willingness to take risks, the pair borrowed
some money and bought a two-stall garage in
Comstock Park. Advanced Tooling Systems, Inc.
(ATS), the business they started there, has
since added five expansion companies Engineered
Tooling Systems, Inc. (ETS), Mold Tooling Systems,
Inc. (MTS), Dienamic Tooling Systems, Inc. (DTS),
Specialty Tooling Systems, Inc. (STS) and Controlled
Tooling Systems, Inc. (CTS). Together, they
form Tooling Systems Group (TSG). Each company
has its own niche in the manufacturing of tooling
for the automotive, furniture and appliance
industries. Together, the six divisions generate
annual sales in excess of $29 million.
Humble Beginnings
Boersma believed so strongly in the potential
of starting a tool and die shop that he talked
VanVels into leaving college to become his business
partner. After securing a location, the two
started looking for basic toolroom equipment.
Finding most of what they needed in a newspaper
classified ad, they hauled their inventory in
an old pickup truck and later spent their Saturdays
painting it.
Boersma and VanVels still needed a tryout press
before they could open. Because presses are
costly, the two expected opening to be delayed.
However, a chance drive led them to exactly
what they needed. "We were out driving
one day and passed a local die shop where we
noticed an old clunker press sitting outside,"
explains Boersma. "We bought the thing
for practically nothing and had an excavator
haul it over to our shop. Suddenly, we realized
we had the equipment, so there wasn't anything
standing in our way. We were in business."
Boersma intended to keep his night job while
making sales calls for the new business during
the day. Almost immediately, customer contracts
started coming in, and after only three months,
he quit the night job and joined VanVels full-time.
By the end of the first year, business had grown
so rapidly - thanks to word-of-mouth advertising
from satisfied customers - that the two had
hired 15 employees. "We had to hire people
fast in order to keep up with the work coming
in," Boersma says. "When you do a
good job for people and you treat them fairly,
it doesn't take long for word to get around.
Most of our business has always been repeat
business."
Tooling Systems Group
The success of ATS in the 1980s led the way
for ETS, DTS and MTS in the 1990s, STS in 2000
and CTS in 2001. ATS builds medium to large
sheet metal stamping dies; ETS builds small
to medium sheet metal stamping dies; and MTS
specializes in die cast dies, plastic injection
molds, and hydroform tools, an innovative process
that uses high-pressure water to inflate steel
tubes. DTS also builds and repairs medium to
large sheet metal stamping dies, and provides
regional support in the southern states. STS
builds unique, one of a kind machinery for applications
in welding, drilling and assembly, as well as
machining for replacement items. CTS offers
electrical controls design and documentation,
machine controls wiring, PLC and computer programming,
all types of automation controls and provides
machine controls troubleshooting. While each
company operates as an independent corporation,
they share resources whenever possible in order
to maximize efficiency. A key ingredient for
the success of the new divisions has been on-site
managing partners at each company - Dan VanEnk
at MTS, Jim Grotenrath at ETS, Mike Walker at
DTS, Dave Ruthven at STS and Tom Hopp at CTS.
TSG customers are primarily first-tier automotive
suppliers, or companies that supply fenders,
floorboards, dashboards, door components, and
shifter knobs to the automobile industry. The
group also supplies dies directly to the furniture
industry for making parts such as table legs,
seat components, and desktop brackets, as well
as various dies and molds for appliance manufacturers.
The Team
Boersma and VanVels are related by marriage,
and a strong sense of family permeates the entire
company. "When someone asks us about our
greatest asset, we automatically tell them about
our people," Boersma says. "Our employees
are an outstanding bunch - the backbone of our
business. We spend a lot of time nurturing our
relationships with them. At most larger tool
and die shops, the management team is isolated,
and has very little to do with employees. It
couldn't be more different here."
TSG encourages teamwork both on and off the
job. Boersma and VanVels say that being involved
with employees on a personal level helps enhance
relationships and keeps the group cohesive.
Many employees team up to play softball, basketball,
and hockey, as well as to participate in the
company golf league.
An Eye on Technology
The TSG companies are committed to remaining
abreast of the latest technology and investing
in the resources necessary to stay at the top
of their industry. All designs are done by computer
and the company has key employees in the CAD/CAM
(computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing)
areas who continuously research and make recommendations
about technology. "In our field,"
says Boersma, "technology is key, and we're
prepared to make whatever investments we need
to stay current. We send our employees to national
trade shows and encourage them to join user
groups. They really know what's going on out
there, and when they come to us with ideas and
recommendations, we listen."
Word of TSG's technical expertise and capabilities
has spread, and business is coming in through
new channels. The group has had major automakers
suggest to their first-tier suppliers that they
turn to TSG for their dies and injection molds.
Boersma and VanVels say they're sometimes astounded
at the growth they've achieved, which averages
about 15 to 20 percent per year. The company
has come a long way since 1982, when the goal
was to have 20 or 30 employees and enough money
to pay the bills and put food on the table.
TSG's goal for the future is steady, managed
growth; continued dedication to employees; and
100 percent customer satisfaction. "We've
been blessed," says Boersma, "and
with God's help, we'll continue to be successful
in the future."
