WST EXPERIENCES SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH, CHALLENGES OVER PAST TWO YEARS

Over the past 2 years, WST Fab added more than 100,000 square feet of space and a substantial amount of equipment to their operations. The substantial growth has allowed WST to better meet the needs of their customers, while bringing additional capabilities, capacities and challenges to the company.

Additional Services

WST Fab added 25,000 square feet of space to their facility in 2020 and recently leased a 20,000 square foot warehouse. The additional square footage allows WST to offer additional services to their customers.

“One of the biggest benefits of adding our first addition was that it allowed us to add a fabrication department, which has been a key factor to our growth in the last two years. We have become a true one-stop shop,” says WST Fab General Manager Charlie Lenn. 

With the additional space, WST is now able to offer production milling and turning, fiber laser cutting, press brake forming, manual and robotic welding to customers.

Faster Service Delivery

The first addition is just the start of WST Fab’s plans to expand their capacity and maximize their productivity. By the end of 2022, WST is going to have an additional 60,000 square feet of facility space. The space gives WST additional manufacturing space and more loading docks. 

“I think every one of our employees is really looking forward to having more space in general,” says Charlie Lenn.

WST is also looking forward to the effects the expansion will have on their customers. WST is going to add more equipment and increase their efficiency. 

Increased Capacity

The expansion also presents an enormous opportunity for WST Fab. WST is in the process of adding a Bystronic Smart Factory with three lasers (2-15kW lasers, 1 20kW laser) and 11 laser automation towers to their facility. 

“We are really excited about this investment, not only because it will add a tremendous amount of capacity, but it will really help solidify as a leader in the industry,” says Charlie Lenn. “The automation will be a game changer for us. We are really excited for the part sorting capabilities to help automate our de-nesting process. Our goal is always to be on the cutting edge of the latest technology, and we believe that we continue to stay ahead of the curve.” 

The new system gives WST the ability to store more than 1.5 million pounds of steel vertically and maximize every inch of floor space. WST’s customers can also benefit from the faster cutting speeds and larger variety of plates and plate thicknesses that can be cut by the new lasers.

New Challenges

WST Fab’s expansion has come with some challenges, especially with a rapidly expanding workforce and facility. Fortunately, WST is fortunate enough to have the people to face the challenges ahead. 

“We are so fortunate to have an incredible Director of Organizational Development. Molly and her team have done an amazing job not only recruiting and onboarding but working incredibly hard to drive our culture,” says Charlie Lenn.

The equipment and space have set WST up for a strong future; however, everyone at WST is focused on the relationships that make WST an industry leader in metal fabrication.

“Adding all this new equipment has allowed us to dramatically increase our capacity and take on some really large-scale projects,” says Charlie Lenn. “We have been able to take several multi-million-dollar pieces of business, which has allowed us to strengthen our strategic relationships. We will continue to focus on growing with our partners and we are always evaluating new relationships.”