A Chamber Member's Story

Founded in 1929, Toledo Metal Spinning has had its fair share of ups and downs as a business. But nothing could have prepared owners Ken, Craig, and Eric Fankhauser for the call they got from their plant's security company the night of February 4, 1998.

A wildfire in downtown Toledo, fanned by 40 mph winds, had engulfed the company's facilities. The Fankhausers arrived at the scene and watched as 90-plus firefighters battled the 6,000- degree inferno well into the early morning. When the smoke cleared, the metal forming and pressing company was in ruins–40,000 square feet of manufacturing space was gone, and 95% of the equipment was destroyed, including more than $2 million in new machinery. The total loss would turn out to be more than $15 million.

The Fankhausers were faced with questions of what to do next as employees began showing up for work. They drew inspiration from their workers, who remained positive despite the grim scene.

"From that point on, it was about looking ahead–not back," says Eric Fankhauser. "We agreed that we were going to rebuild this thing and would do it together."

They set up a "war room" in the cafeteria and got to work. Employees broke into groups to salvage what they could. With some inventory housed in an adjoining building unaffected by the fire, the company was able to fill immediate customer orders. Some of its competitors chipped in, lending equipment and resources, and one company in Toledo provided production space. Within 48 hours of the fire, Toledo Metal Spinning had a bare bones operation up and running. 

Gradually, the company came back to life. Thanks to annual appraisals and solid record keeping, the family had insurance coverage necessary for rebuilding, something they advise every company to do. Their loyal workforce was also key to the rebirth–they didn't lose one single employee because of the fire and weren't forced to lay off anyone, even when the national economy began to sour a year and a half after the blaze.

The new Toledo Metal Spinning may be even better than before. It has been streamlined into a lean manufacturing facility, using half the equipment  to churn out the same volume of goods, proving that a disaster is no match for a well-run company with dedicated and driven personnel.

To share a Success InSight of your own, e-mail Greg Galdabini at ggaldabi@uschamber.com, phone 202-463-5563, or fax to 202-463-5707.