About Us
History
State Line Foundries opened as a privately held business in 1963. In 2018, after 55 years as a successful iron castings producer, it purchased a competitor, Winnebago Foundry, another iron-casting facility only five miles away.
The acquisition poised the company for significant growth. The two foundries now coordinate and collaborate, but the facilities remain separate. This arrangement provides extra capacity and flexibility that help keep casting orders on track – and customers’ needs fulfilled.
The company’s history also includes a commitment to quality. State Line has been certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) since 2002. It received certification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) the same year.
There has been a great deal of change in the company – and the industry – over the years. The original facilities have been overhauled, digitized and automated. The furnaces and material handlers of today are dramatically different. Even pattern tools are not as commonplace since 3D sand printing entered the scene.
Despite all the modernizations, castings are still only as good as the commitment of those behind the iron. Understanding this concept is at the heart of the company’s history.
Company Values
At the very core of State Line’s values are people – specifically, customers and colleagues.
Customers
“Treat customers how you would want to be treated.”
It’s a clear directive from State Line leadership. That means providing the best service, highest quality products and shortest lead times.
State Line believes that a customer’s deadlines are sacred. Meeting them often requires extraordinary efforts and finding opportunities for improvement along the way.
Communication is essential. Customers may have questions at various steps of the process, and the State Line team is committed to responding quickly, professionally and knowledgeably.
Colleagues
The company’s success is due to the contributions of each (and every) one of the approximately 115 employees at the two foundries. State Line therefore prioritizes staff advancement and retention along with competitive compensation packages and other accommodations, such as flexible scheduling.
Employees also appreciate job security. Industrial markets have ups and downs, and State Line works diligently to maintain its workforce during slower times, and conservatively grow during high demand times.
State Line cross-trains workers during lean times. Then, when the market turns around, there is already a skilled employee in place. This approach has paid off well for employees, customers and State Line.
Retention and recruiting efforts have reaped dividends. Average employee tenure is over 10 years, and many have more than 25 years of service. Many employees have been hired through referrals over the years, resulting in a close-knit group of families and friends, including some third-generation employees.
Quality
State Line delivers quality through its advanced technologies and industry experience.
Its specialty is unique, low-volume castings. The staff has seen castings of virtually every shape and size. Today could bring a challenge that has not surfaced for a year – or even a decade.
New processes and technologies help tackle these issues, as iron casting is a science-based process. Yet certain projects require experience, creativity – and even a touch of artistry. This is why employee retention plays such a central role in quality.
The Future
State Line will continue to focus on strengthening its longstanding workforce, exceeding customer expectations, and gaining the trust of new customers. It will embrace new technologies that maximize quality and shorten lead times.
The business will be operated with an eye toward long-term success. That means a conservative financial mindset, little to no debt and a measured approach to the ebb and flow of the market.
First and foremost, the company will always remember that customer satisfaction is the force behind its success.