W Industries is a great example of a company that is growing its way out of its reliance on automotive customers. Several years ago its primary work was welding the racks that carry automotive parts between assembly lines. Now the company is an important manufacturer in the defense, aerospace and wind power industries.

 

Part of that change required a huge new investment in computerized machining equipment. With help from DEGC, W Industries secured state and local tax abatements and other help that allowed it to invest $18 million re-tooling. A significant part of its investment built the world's largest machining station. It's mounted on a crane that can travel over 200 feet along precision rails, cutting holes and shaping molds 30 feet wide.

 

The unique tool can be used to make subassemblies for moveable cranes, military vehicle chassis and the layup molds for carbon-fiber airplane parts or wind turbine blades.