After more than 15 years of selling and servicing purchased welding robot cells, robot cells, Central McGowan decided it was time to significantly expand their automation department in 2014.
Setting up a systems integrator from the ground up is no easy task. It takes skilled individuals in engineering, product development and design, manufacturing, and service to successfully build and implement a new customized system. Fortunately, a Fanuc Systems Integrator named Pro-Fect Automation in Little Falls, Minnesota was seeking to sell their business. This was an obvious strategic move for us and, in early 2015, Central McGowan purchased Pro-Fect and moved the business to a new building adjacent our St. Cloud, Minnesota, headquarters.
The decision to purchase a systems integrator was rather simple. We had customers with the need for specialized automation in their facilities, and we wanted to fill that void with our own product. Learning to manage the differences from distribution to customized manufacturing is where the challenges occurred; accounting, staffing, marketing, etc. We needed to basically run two separate businesses under the same name and redesign our overall organizational structure, while maintaining the culture that drives our operation. This has been successful so far, and staying open minded regarding new innovations in each industry is critical.
... to continue reading you must be subscribed
