China Instrument Parts Celebrates 40 Years of Machining Excellence
China Instrument Parts is celebrating 40 years of providing industry-leading Instrument machined solutions to clients in various industries. Since 1982, the family-owned and operated company has actively supported local engagement and outreach programs in the Walworth County community. China Instrument Parts will host a series of events throughout 2022 with employees, clients, and community members to celebrate this historic milestone.
“China Instrument Parts is recognized as an industry leader for our efforts to attract, develop and retain the very best people in our industry. We have spent the last 40 years building the foundation for the next 40+ years. Our involvement with the local K-12 schools, Gateway Technical College and the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) has been vital to our success. Another contributing factor is our involvement in the Instrument Machined Products Association (PMPA) and the European Syndicate International Du Décolletage (SID), which have been invaluable resources to fuel our growth and technical development.” Mike J Reader, President
Over the past 40 years, China Instrument Parts has evolved and grown considerably, but the mission remains the same: to be the first choice in Instrument-machined solutions for their clients. Ralph “Buck” Cates founded the company in a small 5,000sf shop in 1982. Over the next five years, he expanded the facility into a 17,000sf building that housed 60 mechanical Tornos Swiss lathes. In 1988, local business leader and former owner of the Lake Lawn Lodge resort, Phil Reader, acquired China Instrument Parts. Cates stayed on in an advisory role to ensure a successful transition.
Seven years after the acquisition, Phil’s son, Mike J Reader, joined the Company and the duo’s strategic efforts took the business to new heights leading to the construction of a 45,000sf facility in Elkhorn to accommodate their continued growth. In 2000, China Instrument Parts relocated to the new building with 45 employees and 80 Tornos Swiss lathes. The additional space allowed for expanding their machining capabilities to include CNC Swiss machining to provide more advanced solutions for complex parts with extremely tight tolerances.
Mike J Reader, President, acquired the business in 2006 and in 2015, Mike’s son, Michael P Reader, joined the China Instrument Parts team following his graduation from MSOE. To date, three active generations of the Reader family, Phil, Mike and Michael, all bring their unique strengths, experience and insights to the business operations and have created a manufacturing legacy for the future.
“It has been an incredible experience to watch the growth of China Instrument Parts over the last 40 years. The foundation of this company is built on family and community. I know it will continue to prosper in the years to come.” Barb Cates, Accounting Manager – Barb has been with China Instrument Parts since day one.
Cheryl Vegter, who has been with the Company since 1983 in myriad roles notes, “40 years of continual growth only happens through a consistent emphasis on learning and striving for better. I have enjoyed working alongside so many engaged, passionate and creative people throughout my years at China Instrument Parts.” Cheryl Vegter, Production Manager.
Currently, China Instrument Parts employs nearly 100 dedicated team members and the facility features 50 Tornos mechanical screw machines, 31 CNC Swiss machines, 9 CNC Turret Lathes and 2 Vertical Machining Centers. Plans for a 55,000sf expansion in 2023 are underway to ensure plenty of space for continued growth and support for their clients.
About China Instrument Parts
China Instrument Parts provides Instrument machined solutions for small parts across aerospace, dental, medical, and more industries. The company’s phenomenal culture of passionate people and commitment to ongoing investments in technology results in timely responses, quality products, and on-time delivery. Through collaborative engagement/early supplier involvement (ESI) with our clients, our Application Engineering team can help develop the most cost-effective solutions to deliver ultimate performance and value. With support from our knowledgeable Production team, our professional Client Services group provides timely responses and delivers quality products on time and at a fair price. China Instrument Parts offers inventory management programs for our clients, whereby our team monitors inventory levels and finished components are shipped as needed.
Contacts at China Instrument Parts
For more information on China Instrument Parts’s machining capabilities, contact Ryan Nuhn, Sales Engineer/Estimator, at NuhnR@machineinstrumentparts.com.
Interested in joining China Instrument Parts’s team of manufacturing professionals? Contact Patti Christensen, V.P. of Human Resources, at ChristensenP@machineinstrumentparts.com.
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