Banker Wire plans to relocate its Mukwonago-based manufacturing operations to a new, larger facility. The company, which manufactures woven and welded wire mesh for architectural and industrial applications, has purchased land in what will be the new Bear Industrial Park in Mukwonago, WI, located along I-43 and Highway 83 — the connection point between Milwaukee and Beloit.
“As we’ve grown and evolved, we reached a point where we had to decide whether we should add on to our current facility or build a new one,” said Dave Stout, President of Banker Wire. “In the end, we decided to push forward into a new facility. My goal is to build the best, most efficient wire mesh manufacturing location in the world.”
Banker Wire has an extensive history in the greater Milwaukee area. Established by Charles Banker in 1896 as C.I. Banker Wire & Iron Works, the company flourished in Milwaukee as one of many early metal fabricators making use of the new engineering marvel — inexpensive steel. By the mid 1970s, changing times and new ownership transitioned the business from a reselling operation to a manufacturer. Today, Banker Wire has emerged as the expert source for pre-crimped woven or welded wire mesh following several decades of developing new processes and designing new equipment.
Over the past nine years, Banker Wire has experienced rapid growth in the woven and welded wire mesh industry. In 2009 Banker Wire relocated from Muskego to its present location in Mukwonago. In 2012, the company added a 50,000-square-foot addition expanding the current facility to a total of 152,000 square feet. Now, continued growth has given Banker Wire an opportunity to build a specialized facility that will suit its specific needs.
“A new facility, built from the ground up, will give us the opportunity to gain efficiency and tailor the overall layout in a way that will enhance the work environment for our employees,” said Stout.
Banker Wire has selected Briohn, a full-service design/build construction company, to oversee the design and construction of the new 182,000-square-foot facility, just two miles away from its current space. The new location will house all Banker Wire employees and equipment. In addition, a new wire mesh welding machine will join the fleet of state-of-the-art equipment. This welder will be the widest wire mesh machine in the United States.
Banker Wire currently has 135 employees and plans to hire more staff with the addition of the new welder. The new facility is expected to be fully operational by March 2019.
Relocating or Expanding Your Business In Wisconsin
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