Made in the Suburbs: Morgan Bronze Products, Inc.

Morgan Bronze employee Melanie Castillo quickly accesses tools off a rack on the machine shop floor. Photo courtesy of Morgan Bronze

Morgan Bronze has invested heavily in state-of-the-art technology. Pictured here, a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) is used to measure the diameter of a bushing to ensure specific accuracy for a client's project. Photo courtesy of Morgan Bronze

Morgan Bronze Products Inc. has been a leading manufacturer of quality bronze bushings, sleeve bearings, and motion-controlled bronze products. Photo courtesy of Morgan Bronze

Morgan Bronze Products Inc. has been a leading manufacturer of quality bronze bushings, sleeve bearings, and motion-controlled bronze products. Photo courtesy of Morgan Bronze

Morgan Bronze Products Inc. recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. Photo courtesy of Morgan Bronze

Morgan Bronze Products, Inc.

340 East IL Route 22, Lake Zurich, IL, 60047

(847) 526-6000

www.morganbronze.com

Industry: Manufacturing servicing the hydraulics, pump and valve, agriculture, heavy equipment, oil and gas, actuation, and aerospace industries.

Annual revenue: $27 million

Number of employees: 56

An interview with Ron Rogers, owner and president at Morgan Bronze Products, Inc.

Q: Describe your company. What product(s) do you make and what are they used for?

A: For more than 75 years, Morgan Bronze Products Inc. has been a leading manufacturer of quality bronze bushings, sleeve bearings and motion-controlled bronze products. An early adopter of computers in manufacturing, Morgan Bronze was the first in the Chicago area to implement 4-axis CNC into the machining process 40 years ago, and soon after we added robotics to the manufacturing floor for increased precision and efficiency.

Our commitment to manufacturing innovation and our uncompromising focus on quality have made us a trusted supplier of products to the commercial truck, heavy equipment, hydraulic, oil, gas, pump, valve, actuation, aviation and defense industries, both here and abroad.

We also stock a significant supply of bearing bronzes in rounds, tubes and rectangles, that not only allow us to turn projects quickly, saving time and money for our customers, but allow us to be a source of raw bronze material for other local machine manufacturers who need smaller quantities quickly. Our long-standing relationships with bronze mills both domestically and across the globe ensure we have material on hand. Distribution of these materials is an area we see growing in the near future.

Q: Describe the process of making your products.

A: We work closely with our customers to manufacture their bronze products to customer specifications. Our team will often visit the customer site to have a better understanding of their needs and will host the customer at our facility so they can see how their product will be made. Our experienced team of production CNC technicians oversee the manufacturing process, utilizing a variety of processes that include state-of-the-art machining and automation. With an emphasis placed on service and quality, Morgan Bronze holds ISO9001:2015 and AS9100D certifications.

Q: Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?

A: I believe that it's imperative to invest in the company each year. In 2022 we made a significant investment in advanced technology -- about $1 million in robotics and state-of-the-art CNC machines. We also invest in people; we are actively hiring second-shift CNC production operators.

Q: Do you have enough space in your current facility or are you looking to expand/find a new facility?

A: We moved into our current 58,000-square-feet facility eight years ago and have enough space. Our site consists of 8.5 acres, so we have the area to expand if and when we need to.

Q: What will your company's main challenges be in the next year?

A: The biggest challenges in the manufacturing industry will be personnel and supply chain issues. Labor shortages are affecting the manufacturing sector, just as they are affecting other industries.

The supply chain issues that were magnified during the pandemic are still a problem. Transportation issues, decreased material inventories, and labor shortages are all affecting the ability to get product needed to meet demand.

To survive and meet our customers' needs, we need to be more proactive. More planning and commitment are required from both us and our customers. We need to anticipate our bronze needs further in advance and continue to build our relationships with suppliers both on and offshore. Smart procurement is key.

Q: What's the hottest trend in your industry?

A: Companies are focusing on regionalized sourcing and reshoring. A decade ago, many companies took their business out of the United States and decreased the number of vendors they worked with. In the past few years, companies have been challenged with sourcing and transportation, and they are diversifying their vendors. We have been fortunate that we have had long-term sourcing relationships with both domestic and international bronze suppliers, so we have mitigated the risk of supply chain issues for our customers. The focus on regional sourcing provides great opportunities for us, as we have the sourcing relationships and are centrally located in the Midwest, close to all major transportation, allowing us to deliver to our customers in a timely manner.

We also have an increased focus on how we handle scrap. We segregate, clean, and recycle scrap better than other manufacturers, and seek the best outlet for that scrap, which provides us higher value while being environmentally friendly.

Q: Do you have a business mantra?

A: No matter what the issue we want to be the solution.

We are committed to being there for our customers, especially when they have a critical need. We pride ourselves on being flexible, accommodating and providing a helpful response.

Q: What is one interesting fact about your company that most people may not know?

A: Jack Morgan founded this company in 1947, and my late father-in-law, Leonard Harder, who purchased the company from Jack Morgan in 1979, took Morgan Bronze from a one-man business to a leader in the use of technology in manufacturing. Leonard was a visionary and recognized the opportunity to address a market need with custom-machined bronze parts. His early use of computers -- for business and manufacturing -- and investing in custom robotics in the 1990s, allowed Morgan Bronze to grow and thrive by focusing on quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

But it never would have come to be without Leonard's mother, Johanna. She joined the company in 1953 and stayed, managing office processes until retiring as controller in 1988. It was Johanna who brought Leonard into the company in the 1960s. If Johanna hadn't worked for Jack Morgan, I would not be owner and president today, and Morgan Bronze would not have developed into the innovative manufacturing leader it is.

Q: What are the benefits to you of making your product(s) here in the Chicago suburbs?

A: The Chicago suburbs are a great area for manufacturing. We have superb access to transportation for receiving and shipping products. It's easy to find a flight in or out of O'Hare for trips to see our customers, and for them to come to see us. O'Hare is so close that when our customers are coming in for a day trip, I or one of my staff members will pick up our customer at the airport to save them time in making their way to the rental car center.

There are also many supporting businesses in our area. All the major tooling vendors have showrooms or corporate offices in the Chicago area, so when I'm looking to purchase equipment, I can see it and talk with a representative in person without leaving the area.

There's definitely a strategic advantage for us to being right in the middle of the Midwest.

Q: If you could make any product other than what you do make, what would it be?

A: I'd like to serve the electrical and housing markets better. With the growth in demand for electric vehicles, there's a growth in the need for copper components, both for vehicles and electrical transmission. As the number of people in their 20s and 30s who have delayed homeownership look to purchase a house, there will be an increase in construction. These are markets where we could provide products where we don't do a lot of business.

Q: If you could pick someone famous to promote your product, who would it be?

A: Mike Rowe. I really admire the way he, in the last 15 years, has talked about getting our kids back into the trades and the need for people to do be willing to do certain jobs. I think our high school kids have been sold a bill of goods on what they should or shouldn't be doing and what their opportunities are. We've portrayed manufacturing as some dirty, old sweatshop that you shouldn't want to do, and it's just not the case.

It's not your dad's factory job anymore. With the technology we're involved in these days, there's all kinds of opportunities for kids in manufacturing, trade schools and trade jobs that would make them more money than a college degree job would without the debt.

• Do you have a company that manufactures its products in the suburbs? Email us about it at [email protected].