Superior Die Set Corporation Celebrates 90 Years of Manufacturing Excellence

On September 12, 2013, Superior Die Set Corporation will begin a weeklong celebration to commemorate 90 years of manufacturing excellence. Founded in 1923 by Kasimir Janiszewski, Superior Die Set Corporation is a manufacturer of die sets, mold bases, pins/bushings, three platen presses, cut-and-ground machined plate, fabrications and forging products.

Kasimir J. Janiszewski, a blacksmith and eventual tool and die maker, left his native Poland in 1910 at the age of 23 with twenty-five dollars to his name to build a better life in America and to help his mother and father back home in Poland. With entrepreneurial spirit, hard work and perseverance, Kasimir founded Superior Die Set Corporation thirteen years later and created one of the nation’s oldest family-owned and run corporations. Today, they employ over 500 people worldwide, including a wholly owned subsidiary in Poland.

Leadership at Superior has been passed on through four generations. In the 1960’s, Kasimir’s sons Alphonse, Casimir H. and Edward led the company. In 1968, Casimir H., or “Casey,” became President, serving the company for 55 years. Today he still serves as Chairman at 89 years young. In fact, on September 12th, Casey will celebrate both his 90th birthday and 90 years in business and will be present to partake in the festivities.

In the mid-1980’s Casey’s sons, Casimir J. (also nicknamed “Casey”) and Frank J. became executives of the company, and in 1991 they were named CEO and President and Executive Vice President respectively. Casey’s sons, Nicholas and Steven, have also joined the company with the roles of Customer and Product Support Manager and Regional Sales Manager. Franks son Jacob, serves the company as Production Scheduler. The later three are fourth generation family members to assume roles within the company.

Superior Die Set Corporation has several manufacturing facilities, warehouses and distribution facilities, with the capability to serve a global market. They also produce plate products, weldments and a variety of metalworking services and have a forging division for the repair and replacement of forging equipment. Their Poland-based subsidiary FCPK Bytów produces plates and components for the mold and stamping industry. The Bytów plant manufactures components for molds and dies. The Kielce plant produces plates for molds and stamping dies up to two by five meters and fifteen tons. Both facilities serve buyers worldwide. 

FCPK Bytów was founded twenty years ago. FCPK Bytów General Director Tom Sobierajski, Sales Director, Piotr Matuszewski and Financial Director, Krystyna Zielinska will join three generations of today’s current Janiszewski leadership to partake in the weeklong celebration.

Superior has survived the great depression, offshore manufacturing in the early 2000’s and the recession in 2008. This past year Superior added dozens of jobs worldwide and invested millions of dollars in new equipment. Expansion is planned for later this year. Customers, suppliers and the media will be able to tour Superior’s Oak Creek facilities on September 12th or 13th to view firsthand their state-of-the-art manufacturing plant which includes a sophisticated ERP computer system. The ERP computer system allows Superior to be completely paperless on the shop floor while maintaining over 2500 work orders per day. Additionally, the system reschedules the entire plant three times a day, providing faster speed and flexibility.

The system has helped Oldenburg Metal Tech in Port Washington, WI according to Operations Manager, Jeff Decker. “I have worked with Superior for fifteen years and they always bend over backwards to deliver die sets in a timely manner so we can meet our customers needs. I attribute much of our success and growth to the great working relationship we have. They make my job easy. In the past four years we’ve grown 75%.” Oldenburg Metal Tech manufactures progressive stamping dies for the automotive, healthcare, appliances, and lawn and garden industries. 

In addition to Superior Die Set Corporation in Oak Creek, the Janiszewski family also owns Greendale Precision Services (GPS). In 1974, GPS started manufacturing precision punches for the metal stamping industry.  Over the years, they added mold and medical components to the mix. The center of their precision services includes climate controlled 4 axis grinders and hard turning which are supported by CNC Swiss, CNC center less and CNC turning. GPS products are used in the automotive, off-road, aerospace, furniture and medical industries.

When asked what they attributed their longevity and success to, and why they had not sold out to equity firm or another company, Frank Janiszewski stated, “Manufacturing is in our blood. We have never contemplated selling our business due to our strong family roots and loyalty to previous, present and future generations. Further, we are committed to our employees, our great customer base and our supportive vendors. Our goals and vision for the future are to build a stronger company and develop new innovative manufacturing techniques to allow us to serve our valued customers with both better products and greater productivity.”