When J. Cameron Drecoll purchased Brad Foote Gear Works
Inc. in 1997, it didn’t take him long to apply his extensive industry
knowledge to his advantage. In the first
two years of managing the company, revenue doubled.
Drecoll understood
that in order for the
company to become
the superior provider
of large, high-quality
gear systems, it
would need to heavily invest in the latest
technologies and
people to significantly increase its overall
quality to better serve the wind energy segment.
The initial equipment improvements
allowed the company to shift from
“through-hardened” gearing to a higher
capacity “carburized” and “ground-type”
gearing. This was the steppingstone in
developing its superior reputation in the
marketplace.
More recently, Drecoll made the commitment to purchase 14 gear grinders. As a
result, the company has been able to enter
into the renewable energy market, and currently has a backlog of orders from GE
Wind and Clipper Wind.
The company currently produces three
units per week for Clipper Wind, with plans
to increase to 10 units per week. In addition, GE Wind is also increasing from seven
units per week to 15 units per week starting in September.
The company recently expanded its operating space by leasing an additional 140,000
square feet in Cicero, Ill., which will allow
adequate space for its 13 additional manufacturing cell networks.
Drecoll continues to develop a culture
of loyalty, and the majority of the
employees have been there for more
than 10 years.
HOW TO REACH: Brad Foote Gear Works Inc., (708) 298-1201
or www.bradfoote.com