General company/product description

1.Please describe the product/service your company provides? Ben’s provides structural steel, metal joist, metal decking and miscellaneous metals to commercial construction efforts throughout the upper Midwest.
2.How does your company impact a specific industry? Ben’s is an industry leader in staying ahead of the pack with continual investment in technology and machines to bring efficiency to our customers.
3.Are you a corporation? We are a Minnesota Corporation established in 1959.

Company history

1.When was the company started and who founded it? The company was founded in 1959 by Benjamin Schwartz the first generation of the family-owned business
2.When has there been major changes to the produce line or expansions? The company started essentially as a black smith shop making, modifying, and sharpening tools for the granite industry. Ornamental iron fabrications such as railings and spiral stairways grew from the earliest days. After several successful years building and installing the ornamental iron products, the company was asked to provide some simple structural steel for projects in Central Minnesota. In 1980, a new shop was built to accommodate the company growth and added efforts of the second generation of the family involvement in the business. In 1990 the first member of the third generation joined the company. A focus on working smart became an emphasis for the business. Automated equipment has been gradually added to the company since that time. In 2000, a new facility was built to accommodate even more company growth and plans for a greater concentration of heavier and more complex structural steel fabrication. Since 2000, steady growth and continual investment in technology has driven company successes. 
3.What is significant/interesting about the history? The significance of the third-generation business is attributed to early ownership involvement of the next generation.
4.Who are the current owners? The current owners of the business are Rob Schwartz and Ben Schwartz - both are third generation family members.

Customers

1.Who are your customers? Our customers are typically commercial construction general contractors in the five-state region.
2.Where are they located? (Regional, national, international) We have shipped our products all over the United States, California to New York, Minnesota to Florida.
3.Who do you want for customers? Our ideal customers are ones that value relationships and who become partners in our process to deliver successful projects.
4.Who should prospects contact at your company? Prospects can contact Craig Miller and Ann Schwartz, 320-251-8563. BuiltbyBens.com

Current stats

1.How many people work at your company today? 40
2.How many products/services does your company provide in a month/year, etc? Annually we provide over 4500 tons of steel products.
3.Current certifications? (ISO, etc.) We are currently American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) certified building fabricator.
4.Other interesting stats? In 1960, there were 14 trip hammers running from one electric motor via central drive shaft.

Future

1.Are there currently plans to expand or change? We are currently in process of installing the newest generation of automated CNC controlled equipment with automated material handling between the machines.
2.What are the future goals for your company? Future goals include positive growth in our customer base and expanded operations to include additional products.

Other questions

1.How has AMFA, CMMA, RRMEA, or TSMA benefited your company? We believe the networking opportunities within the organization are valuable to new relationships and potential work opportunities.  
 
Photo caption: The pictures are from a recently completed project at UW La Crosse - a new fieldhouse for the campus.