Automation Controls - OEM Panels

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Automation Controls - OEM Panels is a 50 year old panel shop specializing in process equipment applications. We were local for many years. Using the OEM Panels brand we now have customers across the US. We’re an unusual group with extensive experience. We work together constantly improving our quality, pricing and speed. Company Founding - 1966 In 1966, the founding owner started a process oriented control panel shop and provided instrumentation, control systems, and on-site services (calibration, start up, etc.) locally. In 1987, the US government began issuing municipal grants to speed implementation of the Water Quality Act. As the municipal water market grew, the company grew to serve it as a control systems integrator and provided instrumentation, control systems, and on-site services (calibration, start up, etc.) regionally. In 1993, the founder sold the company. The new owner had been working with the company for ten years. Current Ownership • 1994 In 1994, we continued the founding owner’s previous business model and focused on the growing municipal water market and on our growing control systems integration business. As this market matured and turned into a low price contractor business it became difficult to compete and remain profitable. In 1996, we dramatically reduced company size. This was a difficult and important time in our company development. Our new smaller company size allowed us to shift our focus from large municipal water projects to smaller process control applications where we could compete and remain profitable. In 1998, we started using a new business model. We were to became a process oriented control panel shop again, but with an emphasis on serving equipment manufacturers all across the US. To achieve this goal we started investing in new technology to provide more capability and better pricing than other panel shops. In 2000, we began using new business software that automates; estimating, document generation, parts management, scheduling, shipping logistics, etc. This was the first big step that allowed us to provide more capability and better pricing than other panel shops. In 2002, we began using a new Internet marketing campaign that introduced us to many new customers and applications and increased our revenue. This allowed us to invest in more new technology to provide more capability, and improve our delivery and pricing. In 2004, we began using new automated production equipment for wire processing; cutting, stripping, labeling, etc., allowing us to produce wires for standard (100% repeat) panels scheduled for production before their parts arrived. This further improved our delivery and pricing. In 2008, we began using new design software that produces the information our automated equipment will use during production as we design a panel, allowing us to produce wires for any panel scheduled for production before their parts arrived. This further improved our delivery and pricing. In 2012, we began using a new business software feature that produces the information our design software will use during design, and our automated equipment will use during production, as we quote a panel. This allows us to start planning our design and production before we receive an order. In 2014, we began using new color graphic printing equipment for door and device label processing; multi color printing, adhesive lamination, precision cut outs, etc. This allows us to create panel door artwork using our customer’s brand (colors / logo) to provide an improved panel appearance. In 2016, we moved into a new building that we purchased in 2008 and renovated in 2015. This expanded our production space by 50% allowing us to streamline production flow and