Member Spotlight - JLW Instruments
|
|
A Conversation with Wayne Fetman, President, JLW Instruments:
1. How long have you been in business?
1947 Master Gauge Company, 1983 Miller-Peerless Manufacturing/JLW Inc., and 1992 JLW Instruments. It will be 35 years this October.
2. How did you get started?
Second generation family business, Wayne Fetman and Linda Center are brother and sister and own the company. The business was started by our parents, Jack and Jean Fetman. They became the first stocking distributor of pressure and temperature gauges for the U.S. Gauge Company. They were pioneers in the distribution business replacing a factory staffed office in Chicago handling all sales for the factory. Master Gauge became the source for gauges for industrial, pipe, and HVAC supply companies in the heartland.
3. What's unique about your story or business?
We have changed with the times. With the advent of logistics and big box supply companies, the need for a local stocking distributors diminished. Today, JLW Instruments concentrates on selling force instruments, material testing machines, torque instruments, pressure/temperature instruments and industrial weigh scales. Our service department has been A2LA accredited (certificate #1753.01) since 2001. Not only do we calibrate instruments, but we repair them as well. Our customer's are from all industries, including Fortune 500 corporations, professional and university sport teams, physical therapists, industrial hygiene, pharmaceutical, automotive, packaging. The list is endless. Virtually every consumable is tested in production, quality, and engineering. Another unique aspect of our business is our staff and location. We virtually have no turn-over and our staff bring their canine friends to work with them. You would find most companies similar to JLW, located in a suburban industrial park. We occupy a 7400 sq. ft. space in a residential/work building, The Hale Loft Condominiums at 14 North Peoria. We love West Loop and the vibrant atmosphere of a city location.
4. What is the biggest challenge you have faced in business and how did you overcome it?
In 1992 efforts by Linda and I to move the company forward were falling on deaf ears of our father. He wasn't capable of passing on the authority to let us make the changes to keep the business successful. With the help of our mother, Linda and I split from our father, opening our own company, JLW Instruments. It was a painful, bold and risky separation, but it was something we felt we had to do.
5. Please list a few of your most recent accomplishments or exciting upcoming projects.
We are were one of the 1st companies to achieve laboratory accreditation to ISO-17025. We developed a credit card peel testing machine (http://www.jlwinstruments.com/products/products-library/cc-peel-series-digital-test-system-for-isoiec-10373-1/) and have partnered with one of the largest purveyor of packaging test equipment, providing unique testing machines for corrugated industry.
1947 Master Gauge Company, 1983 Miller-Peerless Manufacturing/JLW Inc., and 1992 JLW Instruments. It will be 35 years this October.
2. How did you get started?
Second generation family business, Wayne Fetman and Linda Center are brother and sister and own the company. The business was started by our parents, Jack and Jean Fetman. They became the first stocking distributor of pressure and temperature gauges for the U.S. Gauge Company. They were pioneers in the distribution business replacing a factory staffed office in Chicago handling all sales for the factory. Master Gauge became the source for gauges for industrial, pipe, and HVAC supply companies in the heartland.
3. What's unique about your story or business?
We have changed with the times. With the advent of logistics and big box supply companies, the need for a local stocking distributors diminished. Today, JLW Instruments concentrates on selling force instruments, material testing machines, torque instruments, pressure/temperature instruments and industrial weigh scales. Our service department has been A2LA accredited (certificate #1753.01) since 2001. Not only do we calibrate instruments, but we repair them as well. Our customer's are from all industries, including Fortune 500 corporations, professional and university sport teams, physical therapists, industrial hygiene, pharmaceutical, automotive, packaging. The list is endless. Virtually every consumable is tested in production, quality, and engineering. Another unique aspect of our business is our staff and location. We virtually have no turn-over and our staff bring their canine friends to work with them. You would find most companies similar to JLW, located in a suburban industrial park. We occupy a 7400 sq. ft. space in a residential/work building, The Hale Loft Condominiums at 14 North Peoria. We love West Loop and the vibrant atmosphere of a city location.
4. What is the biggest challenge you have faced in business and how did you overcome it?
In 1992 efforts by Linda and I to move the company forward were falling on deaf ears of our father. He wasn't capable of passing on the authority to let us make the changes to keep the business successful. With the help of our mother, Linda and I split from our father, opening our own company, JLW Instruments. It was a painful, bold and risky separation, but it was something we felt we had to do.
5. Please list a few of your most recent accomplishments or exciting upcoming projects.
We are were one of the 1st companies to achieve laboratory accreditation to ISO-17025. We developed a credit card peel testing machine (http://www.jlwinstruments.com/products/products-library/cc-peel-series-digital-test-system-for-isoiec-10373-1/) and have partnered with one of the largest purveyor of packaging test equipment, providing unique testing machines for corrugated industry.