As seen in LIA Today, July, 1999 Volume 7, Number 4

A family-owned and operated business seems to be a dying breed these days, especially in the high technology fields where keeping up with the latest breakthroughs is becoming increasingly difficult.

Laserage Technology Corporation, a family-owned job shop in Waukegan, IL, has faced these challenges and emerged as a major player in the laser processing service industry, reaching $11 million in annual sales.

Steve Capp is the company's president and CEO and it is truly a family endeavor. Capp's four brothers help run the company - Rick as head of marketing, Mike is in charge of the cable processing group, Dan leads the metal/glass/plastics group and John works as inside sales rep for the ceramics group. Capp's father started the company in 1979. "He made a deal with a company he was representing," Steve Capp says. Laserage bought this company out in 1989.

Laserage started out cutting ceramics for the electronics industry. Delco Electronics was a large customer and contributed to the company's large growth in the mid-80's, according to Mr. Capp. While ceramics is still one of the most profitable markets for Laserage, the company has expanded to many other areas of laser processing.

"With all the up and downs in the electronics world, we wanted to look at other things to stabilize our company," Mr. Capp says. The company found abundant opportunities in a number of market segments that demand fine, close-tolerance work. "That's definitely a growing part of the market."

Growing is a key word at Laserage. The company has been growing in giant leaps since the beginning, with the greatest increase in the last few years. Laserage currently has 35,00 square feet of laser facility with both CO2 and Nde: YAG lasers and employees 85 full-time employees and 20 contract workers.

Diversity is another success secret. The company is just as proficient at cutting, welding, drilling, scribing or heat treating. The range of materials that can be processed by Laserage is equally as impressive, and the company is ISO 9002 certified.

Laserage has also found the delicate balance between quality and quantity that eludes so many other companies. "We have different groups within the company that are managed separately. They function as different companies and we look at them differently. That is how we avoid distraction," Mr. Capp says.

As the market demands more from laser processing, it is crucial for companies like Laserage to stay up-to-date technologically and keep one eye on the future.

"We're looking at the new lasers that are coming out to see what possibilities there are," Mr. Capp says. Ultrafast laser technology is an example of a laser that deserves a closer look. "They look very interesting. With possibilities for smaller and finer features, they will enable more things and refine the things that are done now, but they have a way to go before they find practical use."

Since 1979, companies have looked to Laserage Technology Corp. for their laser processing needs. Like the laser itself, Laserage has found its home in the industrial marketplace and will continue to be a major force into the next millennium."