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Technique Manufacturing in Hutchinson remains a force in the Hutchinson community despite tough economics, a pandemic and even part of its roof coming off during December’s windstorm.
The company, owned by Ted Robinson, has been in business since 1990 when it was founded by Tom Goering.
Technique Manufacturing, 614 East 1st Street, recently was named Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month.
The Technique Manufacturing building has been in existence since 1905, when it was the CK Supply Building owned by Dick Curry.
Robinson came on board at Technique Manufacturing in 1994 and was 50% owner by 1996. He became 100% owner in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Business battles through pandemic, windstorm and supply shortage
In addition to COVID-19 issues, a December windstorm tore off part of the company’s roof, and it had to be replaced.
“I purchased his (Goering’s) half of the business, then COVID hit,” Robinson said. “The last couple years have been challenging.”
When the business started in 1990, it had six employees and now has 10. The business operates 40 hours a week, plus some overtime.
“We’re an architectural mill shop — a job shop,” Robinson said. “Everything we do is custom-made for the job. We’re strictly commercial. We don’t do any residential. We work through general contractors. We probably have a dozen contracts going on at the same time. We cover the whole state. The majority of the work is in Wichita.”
Robinson said the company also does a lot of work in Hutchinson as well.
“We just finished up a new edition at the Prairie Star Health on K-61,” he said. “The type of facilities we do are are medical, education, banks and financial places. Medical places include dental and vision. We’ve done a lot of work at Hutchinson Hospital for 25 years.”
Like many businesses, Technique Manufacturing was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We continued to work during the pandemic,” Robinson said. “We’re a small company. We’re spread out (in the building). We had a few people who were quarantined. The biggest problem was a materials shortage. Anything with steel in it became a problem.”
Hutchinson business goes up against larger companies across state
Robinson said the projects and the bids the company works on are coming in on a steady basis.
“We have a backlog of work going into next year,” he said. “It’s a heavy backlog. As a job shop, the business is up and down. It depends on the bid market. We’re competing against other larger shops in the state.”
Currently, Technique Manufacturing is in a transitioning phase where workers are moving equipment around “to better flow,” Robinson said.
“We have bought some equipment,” he said. “We went to a woodworking fair in Atlanta in August.”
Robinson said part of the transitioning phase includes new computer software.
“We have a CNC machine (Computer Numerical Control) for cutting parts,” he said. “We have to program it here in the office. We hope to purchases another CNC router that has more capability than the one we have now. With the lack of skilled people (in the work force), buying equipment is my only choice.”
‘I’ve put ads out for workers. I just don’t get any response.’
Robinson said there is a shortage of workers willing to do the work he needs at Technique Manufacturing.
“It’s a tough market for personnel right now,” he said. “I’ve never seen it like this. There’s just a lack of people willing to work. I’ve put ads out for workers. I just don’t get any response. Being a small company with 10 people, we have to compete with larger companies because of wages.”
Technique Manufacturing employees are insured through Kansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
“I have always believed in taking care of the employees,” Robinson said. “We are a family business.”
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