August 3, 2024

A staple of the Midwest has been the region’s hardworking mentality. Loos Machine and Automation is the perfect embodiment of what it means to work hard. The company builds automated systems for manufacturers of all sorts but have made a living creating manufacturing systems for the dairy industry.

The hardworking culture in place at the business started over 120 years ago when E.D. Loos created a company that primarily serviced farm equipment.

The culture of the business has largely been created using a tactic that you don’t see in other areas: find and keep employees from local areas. A good percentage of the company’s employees come from central Wisconsin. The Today, the company provides automation, engineering, machining, fabrication and process & installation. The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility utilizes modern techniques and machines such as: laser cutting systems, CNC machining centers and CNC press brakes.

In order to adapt to the constantly changing scope of technology and engineering, Loos has made several recent expansions. The expansions have also helped Loos better provide products for its existing customers. In 2020, the company has opened an engineering department located at 101 South First Street in Colby.

Loos owner and CEO Eric Mertens said
The purchase of the first street building (the old Nicolet Bank location) allowed us to expand our rapidly growing engineering team due to market demands, technological advancements, and the need to develop new products and services. Expanding the department allowed for the acquisition of new skills and knowledge within the team. We needed immediate space and this building allowed for that.

First off, on your guys’ website, it says Eric and Brady took over in 2018 but Kurt and Dennis didn’t stop owning the company until 2021. Was that just a transition period? Can you kind of clear up how that all transpired? It was the overlap of ownership of the transition period- we bought in/they sold out incrementally throughout those years.

Over the past three or so years, Loos Machine has expanded to a new office building on First Street, the old PCA site and has acquired CPH Enterprises in Bruce. How have you guys been able to increase your brand and footprint through these expansions? This might be a three-part question. All of the below have supported our vision statement to be the premier system manufacturer offering high quality service through the integrity of our people and business ethics within the food industry.

a. First Street building(Engineering Office) – The purchase of the first street building (the old Nicolet Bank location) allowed us to expand our rapidly growing engineering team due to market demands, technological advancements, and the need to develop new products and services. Expanding the department allowed for the acquisition of new skills and knowledge within the team. We needed immediate space and this building allowed for that.
b. Plant 2 - With the purchase of the PCA site, Plant 2 allowed us to expand our capacity and manufacturing operations by investing in state-of-the-art equipment and technologies that improve production efficiency and enhance product quality. Fabricating, laser cutting, parts prep and forming are housed inside this location which allows us to produce and deliver products more efficiently. Plant 2 also houses our shipping and receiving department. With the restructuring of production flow, we expand our machining and robotics departments in Plant 1 allowing us to invest in advanced manufacturing technologies.
c. Bruce expansion - This acquisition allowed Loos to allocate resources and production capacity to new products, supporting diversification and strengthening our portfolio by expanding its presence in the fruit/vegetable markets. By expanding operations and adding additional fabrication, machining and waterjet cutting capabilities we can now put additional focus in capturing new market segments while penetrating a new labor market.

What has Loos Machine and Automation been doing to increase revenue and grow the company?

We continue to instill our vision of being a team driven company delivering high-quality custom solutions using an innovative approach.

Is it just a matter of being busy and having the work available?

One could look at it that way but there’s much more to it under the surface. It’s really supporting our employees to engage their skills throughout all facets of our business, allowing us to build strong relationships with our customers. Or is there something in the company values that has allowed you to be successful? We are proud to say that Innovation, Team-Oriented, Passion, and Integrity; values of ours, all contribute to the success of Loos Machine.

What role have your employees played in the success the company has seen over the past decade or so? Employees are a vital asset to any organization and their contributions can significantly impact the success and growth of the company in various ways. Our employees bring their expertise, skills, and knowledge to the organization. Their specialized knowledge and abilities are essential for executing tasks, solving problems, and driving innovation within their respective roles and departments. Employees who work well together can achieve greater results, generate new ideas, and drive our company forward. The collective skills of our employees contribute to our overall success. Without them, Loos would not be where we are today.

How has the Bruce expansion been going? Were there any challenges in adding a location that was a good distance away from your home location? Overall, the addition of our Bruce location has been quite successful. There have been certain small challenges in integrating our operations and culture but some are to be expected within any acquisition. We are excited for the opportunities it has brought us.

How have you been able to create home-grown employees that want to stay in, or come back to Colby? A positive and inclusive company culture attracts and retains talented individuals, fostering a productive and engaged workforce. We feel our culture allows local talent to thrive in our environment. Employee engagement in continuous learning and development initiatives also fuels the growth and success of our company. We fully support those individuals starting in high school, throughout their continued education, and continued tenure here at Loos.

The last article we did said Loos Machine has built products for customers in Australia, Canada, Brazil, Barbados, Israel and more. Is there something you’re working on right now or have worked on in the recent past that has been unique or gone to a unique place? We continue to ship equipment to those countries, most recently we have partnered with an equipment manufacturer in Switzerland to better serve the European markets.

The company is super involved in volunteer work in and around Colby. Why has Loos taken it upon itself as a company to pour time, effort and money into volunteering in their community? Our communities are important to all of us at Loos- its where we all live and where most have grown up. Anything that we can do to give back and support those around our communities only further aides in securing our employee base and their families.

Similar question, but a different angle – Loos has been very supportive of their employees and has largely become a big family it seems. What does the culture of Loos have to do with the success of the business? It is important for organizations to recognize and appreciate the contributions of their employees by providing a supportive work environment and opportunities for growth. When employees feel valued and motivated, they are more likely to contribute to the success of our company."