New Berlin Metal Fabrication Company Celebrates 30 Years
NEW BERLIN, WI — Part of the thriving metal fabrication industry, Sharpe Products of New Berlin, Wisconsin is celebrating three decades of business.
The company is giving back to the community where it operates with a donated bench at Biwer Park, 3495 S. Sandalwood Drive. The donated park bench will coordinate with the overall design of the newly constructed playground area while adding additional seating around the site structure, according to a city news release.
“On behalf of myself, the entire Common Council and the community, we whole heartedly congratulate them on three decades of success and wish them continued prosperity and growth in the years ahead," Mayor Dave Ament said. “We are pleased to operate our company in City of New Berlin and are thankful to the City for supporting our business growth over the past years,” Paul Krickeberg, President & CEO, Sharpe Products said in a release.
Sharpe Products celebrates 30 years
The CEO of story of Sharpe Products started from humble beginnings.
"It takes took a lot of hard work and sticking with it and perseverance preserve," Krickeberg told Patch. Prior to going into business, Krickeberg already had knowledge in the industry from a previous career.
Krickeberg remembered how the company started with very little.
Starting in 1990, on the outskirts of Milwaukee, the company began with a focus on architectural handrail fittings and metal fabrication for a variety of regional customers.
"We rented a cheap building in Delafield just because it was available," he said.
In 2002, the company purchased and moved into a 51,000 square foot facility in New Berlin to help accommodate larger projects and anticipated future growth. Over the next years, seeing increased market demand for custom tube bending it began to expand into more complex tube forming as well as laser cutting, - servicing customers in the aerospace, agricultural, automotive, medical device and recreation industries.
In 2015, the company purchased additional 38,000 sq. ft. facility in New Berlin, using 20,000 for the industrial handrail fittings and components products, additional bending machines and a second shipping area. Staying in line with market demand, the company has plans for future expansion as well as updates to its existing technology.
Krickeberg, who is from West Allis, found New Berlin to be very industrial friendly. The company is near the highway which is a benefit for shipping and customer/client traveling.
"It is very business friendly," he said.
Working through the pandemic
The company has 40 employees and thankfully hasn't had to lay anyone off. The pandemic has caused a slowdown and customers have put orders on hold.
"We are definitely down for the second quarter but were able to pick up work which was COVID related," he said.
Krickeberg said the company was able to get work orders from the medical industry. One product they build a piece for was an ultraviolet system which kills the coronavirus at hospitals.
The company was able to take advantage of the payroll protection plan and also have some employees work from home.
To protect employees, Krickeberg said they hired an outside cleaning service to do deep cleaning. Employees have to wear masks and keep six feet apart.
Keys to success
Sharpe Products assembles important parts of a larger projects for automotive, agricultural, aerospace and other industries.
"You never know what is going to come through the door for us to produce," Krickeberg said.
Everyday it is something different, the CEO recalled an inquiry for staff to make a frame fabricated to make fancy dog dishes.
The company's success is also attributed to ongoing expansion, focus on machine technology and relationships.
“We have great appreciation to those who have supported us through the years, and value the relationships we have built with customers across North America,” Krickeberg said. “We look forward to meeting the challenges of an ever-changing industry and business climate as we enter our fourth decade.”
Staying in line with market demand, the company has plans for future expansion as well as updates to its existing technology.
For more information please visit www.sharpeproducts.com
This article originally appeared on the New Berlin Patch
