History

A HISTORY OF GROWTH IN THE PRECISION MACHINED PARTS INDUSTRY

1950

Camco Founded

Bud Hawley opens Camco on North Avenue in Chicago.
1950
1952

Camco becomes Camcraft

1952
1961

Camcraft Expands

Camcraft moves to Franklin Park

1961
1986

 

New Owner

Bern and Jeanne Bertsche purchase Camcraft in December 1986 from Olive Hawley

1986
1994

Market Focus

Camcraft focuses on the mobile hydraulics market. Success in this market leads to a significant transformation of Camcraft’s customer base, moving us forward into hydraulic automotive applications and subsequently into high-pressure diesel fuel systems.

 

1994
1994

Camcraft Grows

Camcraft moves into its newly constructed headquarters in Hanover Park.

1994
1994

Employee Development

Camcraft initiates its formal technical training program. Basic Certification, Technical Certification, and Accredited Journeyman Apprenticeship Certification is awarded to employees who successfully complete the program.

1994
1998

Student Outreach

Camcraft initiates its student outreach program for local fifth and sixth grade students from Parkwood Elementary School. This leans Bern and Jeanne to form Crossroads Kids Club as a way to continue building relationships with the community. Crossroads now meets weekly in over 45 schools
1998
2001

 

New President

Mike Bertsche named president of Camcraft.

2001
2001

Increased Automation

Automated inspection, assembly, and machine tending are added to meet our customers’ quality, cost, and production requirements. Our initial small steps into automation led to significant investments in automating processes throughout the company. Camcraft ultimately purchased Matrix, aimed at making robotic automation more accessible.

2001
2001

Investment Initiative

At the urging of a board member, the company begins an aggressive reinvestment initiative into the latest machine tools, metrology, and tooling in order to compete with the top firms in our industry world-wide.

2001
2012

Operational Excellence

Camcraft launches our E2B2 continuous improvement initiative in 2012. Everybody, Everyday, Getting Better and Better encourages and engages all of our employees to make our workplace safer, more productive, and helps us deliver the highest level of quality to our customers.

2012
2013

 

Matrix Design Acquired

2013
2015

Camcraft wins IndustryWeek’s Best Plants Award

2015
2018

Camcraft & Matrix Expand

Camcraft expands into our new facility in Bartlett which is shared with Matrix.
2018
2019

Entered Aerospace & Defense Markets

Achieved AS9100 certification

2019
2020

International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registration

2020
2023

Bartlett Plant Expansion

Added 54,000 sq. ft. to created a turning and finishing plant in Bartlett, and a plant focused on machining larger, complex components from castings, forgings, and extrusions in Hanover Park.

2023
2023

Implemented our 50,000th e2b2

2023