Industrial Icons: Wilke Enginuity’s Partnership With Thomas Spans Decades and Generations

Thomas has been connecting industrial buyers and suppliers for more than 125 years. The Industrial Icons blog series celebrates the longtime customers who have grown their businesses with Thomas and the marketing and advertising solutions that have evolved along with them over the years.

Wilke Enginuity, based in Hanover, Pennsylvania, is a leading contract manufacturer specializing in precision CNC laser cutting and laser engraving services. Since the company got its start in 1987, Thomas has been by their side as an indispensable marketing partner.

From Chicken Shed to State-of-the-Art Facility

Fred Wilke founded Wilke Enginuity when he saw an opportunity to turn decades of manufacturing experience into a backyard business.  

“My dad worked at Black+Decker for 25 years, and when Black+Decker was moving south, he needed a job. So he bought a Bridgeport mill, a surface grinder, and a little lathe, and he put them in his chicken shed at home,” said BJ Wilke, Fred’s son and CEO of Wilke Enginuity. 

After taking on a variety of  jobs for local customers in the 1990s, a major job opportunity prompted Wilke to invest in an emerging technology: laser cutting. Wilke Enginuity became one of the first laser job shops on the East Coast, winning bids across the country.

Today, the company has grown through three facility evolutions to occupy a 28,000 square foot facility with eight laser cutting and engraving machines, and serves a diverse client base — from custom art installations to stainless steel crab mallets for the food industry, and everything in between

The Power of an Enduring Partnership

Wilke Enginuity’s relationship with Thomas began in the company’s first year, when it advertised in the Thomas Register, a print precursor to the digital Thomasnet database. The partnership that began in 1978 has endured for nearly four decades, carried on by BJ Wilke and Thomas Account Executive Lisa Griegel, who took over the account from her father in the 1990s. 

Wilke Enginuity has continued to work with Thomas because Thomas’ offerings have evolved with the times. “It's always been really steady as far as opportunities knocking on our door because of Thomas,” Wilke said. Wilke Enginuity receives an average of eight to ten requests per week from companies that found them on Thomas.

The company’s collaboration with Thomas has grown from print to digital marketing, including:

Website development: Thomas has built multiple versions of the Wilke Enginuity website, creating a visually striking and effective online presence. Wilke learned firsthand that small adjustments to a website or keywords, guided by Thomas’ industrial expertise, can make a big difference in company perception and lead generation. 

Video marketing: The company had one of the first Thomas factory tour videos, which is now being updated to showcase its new facility and equipment.

Investing in the Future of Manufacturing

Having Thomas as a trusted, strategic partner has helped Wilke Enginuity adapt and grow in an ever-changing market. The company continues to adapt to industry trends by investing in updated machines and fostering the industry's future workforce. 

In an effort to pave the way for future generations of manufacturers, Wilke Enginuity was a major donor in the campaign to help its local New Oxford School District build a 25,000 square-foot career and technology center. The vocational facility features a full machine shop with CNC and manual machines, to teach the next generation essential trades and manufacturing skills. 

Playing an active role in educating the next generation gives Wilke hope for the future, knowing that the company is nurturing a group of potential future employees. As Wilke Enginuity continues to grow and evolve, Thomas’ continued partnership will ensure that they remain a leading force in the industry.