Rockford manufacturer Wilson Tool Corporation under new ownership

Wilson Tool, 2401 20th Street, in Rockford is pictured on Dec. 16, 2021.
Wilson Tool, 2401 20th Street, in Rockford is pictured on Dec. 16, 2021.

ROCKFORD — A southeast side manufacturing company that has been in business for nearly a half century is under new ownership.

Wilson Tool Corporation, 2401 20th St., has been acquired by the owner of Kadon Precision Machining, 5876 Sandy Hollow Road.

The deal was finalized Dec. 10, according to Kadon Precision Machining president Justin Franklin.

“They will continue to operate on 20th Street for at least the next year and then we hope to upgrade the facility,” Franklin said. “Everything will stay the same. What we offer is upgraded technology. We are the most advanced CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) shop in the area so we’re going to upgrade their systems.”

Franklin declined to comment on the purchase price.

More: Family-owned Rockford manufacturer reopens under new ownership. And they're hiring

Wilson Tool Corporation was founded in 1972. The company has 10 full time employees who work in a 25,000-square-foot plant.

“They’re strictly an aerospace shop,” Franklin said. “They do low volume/high mix parts for Collins Aerospace and Woodward. I look at it as a great opportunity. They’re fantastic people there. Buying a company is one thing, but we bought a talent pool.”

The purchase marks the second major acquisition this year for Kadon Precision Machining.

The company purchased Winnebago-based Rockford I.D. Shop in August and relocated the business from 105 N. Pecatonica St. to 3744 Publishers Drive.

Rockford I.D. Shop makes parts for the aerospace and medical industries.

The business temporarily closed after the previous owners retired.

Kadon Precision Machining was founded in 1954 and makes steel, brass and metal parts for a variety of industries including medical, hydraulics, aerospace and heavy equipment.

Kadon Precision Machining was purchased by Franklin’s father, Jeff, in 1973. Justin Franklin bought the business in 2016.

The company currently has 115 employees and is looking to fill 30 openings.

More: ‘It will be hard to walk away': Family-owned Winnebago manufacturing shop to close

Ken DeCoster: kdecoster@rrstar.com; @DeCosterKen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford's Wilson Tool Corporation sold to Kadon Precision Machining