Manufacturing success

2009 Business Growth Awards: Manufacturing Category – Sales Growth

When your annual growth rate outpaces industry growth by a factor of 10, you know you are doing something right. That’s the position Dirk Benthien and his company, Construction Polymers International Inc., are in right now.

Over the last five years, Benthien, co-founder and CEO, has seen his company’s sales increase by 1,567 percent and employee growth has gone up 650 percent.

During the past few years, Benthien has guided the company to become the undisputed leader in spray foam rig manufacturing nationwide. The company now enjoys about 62 percent market share and leads in terms of quality, customer value, availability and service.

CPi has also established itself as the first multilocation business in its specialty segment of foam insulation with training facilities for foam applicators in two locations. The Foam School in North Canton is the biggest of its kind worldwide.

CPi’s overall success is based on a unique service model resulting in very high customer retention and very strong customer relationships. Likewise, Benthien has helped the company progress on its path of being a knowledge-based organization providing the backbone for many of its customers’ businesses.

Of course, no one person can do it all, and that’s why the company’s success would not be possible without the team around Benthien.

Team members are encouraged and empowered to make decisions within their area of responsibility. Benthien carefully selects highly motivated individuals who thrive in a fast-paced, challenging and fast-changing environment. In fact, the company doesn’t have time clocks and its absentee rate is very close to zero.

But, just because the company is doing well, that doesn’t mean Benthien and his team are going to just sit back and relax.

CPi employees are working every day to fulfill the company’s Loyal Customer Promise.

The promise includes: employees will answer the phone, the company will provide a Web site for the sole benefit of its loyal customers, and employees will be honest, forthright and open.

While the promise sounds easy enough to fulfill, in reality, it takes a dedicated team to believe in the message. From the looks of it, the team at CPi has bought in completely.

How to reach: Construction Polymers International Inc., (330) 861-5200 or www.cpifoam.com