For the first three decades of Katech's life, the Clinton Township business specialized in automotive supplies for high-end race cars. That allowed the company to steadily grow until the auto industry started to falter a few years ago, which prompted the firm to begin diversifying.
The recession hit the company hard, winnowing its staff from 50 people to 14 by 2010. The 35-year-old company has been rallying ever since, adding clients in a variety of industries, such as defense and motorcycling. The company is now working to grow its customer base to the point no one industry has a majority of its work.
"We have developed a much larger client base thanks to a revamped website and our social media efforts," says Stephen Chue, president & technical director of
Katech.
That has allowed the company, which recently made the
Michigan 50 Companies to Watch list, to double its staff to 28 people in the last two years. It has hired five people in the last year and plans to add another three before this year is out.
"At that size we will be very effective and efficient," Chue says.
Source: Stephen Chue, president & technical director of Katech
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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