About Keats - Custom Small Metal Stampings, Wire and Assemblies

KEATS MANUFACTURING CO. (KMC) was founded on October 1, 1958 by Bert and Glenn Keats on Cicero Avenue in the northwest side of Chicago. It was a small store-front shop with three employees and two machines. The Company's steady growth necessitated moving to Columbia Avenue, also in the city. KMC's third location was in Evanston on Dodge Avenue near Dempster Street. The Company then settled at 350 West Holbrook in Wheeling, Illinois in March of 1989.

On August 1st of 1994, in response to customer requests to open a facility that could better serve the maliquiladora assembly market and the southwestern United States, Keats Southwest (KSW) was opened in El Paso Texas. This move was facilitated by the purchase of McCarthy Metal Products of Libertyville on December 29th, 1987, which operated as a satellite and was prepared for the transition to the Southwest. KSW purchased and integrated the assets of Rio Grande Tool and Stamping on September 29, 2003. KMC recently purchased the assets of CC Tool and Engineering of Oakland Park, Florida September 10, 2007, and operate that as their third location now know as Keats Coastal Stamping.

The Companies manufacture small metal stampings, wire forms and assemblies used in a variety of applications, including automobiles and home appliances. From its inception, Keats has been dedicated to Quality. We remain on the competitive edge of industry through our emphasis on Quality, which has become a part of the Keats tradition.

Keats Manufacturing Co. produces the most intricate custom small metal stampings, wire and assemblies in the world. The Company was founded in 1958 and now has 3 locations that house more than 142 metal stamping and wire forming machines using four slide/multi slide and stamping press technologies that operate 5 days a week, 24 hours a day. This means that Keats can handle virtually any size order from prototypes to over 500 million pieces. Customers served include automotive, appliance, medical, aerospace, communications, electronics, military, construction, furniture and others who are looking high quality metal parts at a fair and economical price.

Keats engineers all its own dies and tools from inception to first piece sampling, ensuring that the most exacting tolerances are maintained from the very first to very last production run. Keats combines technological innovation including CAD/CAM, 8 EDM and CNC machines with 25 of the industries most experienced die makers to create tools of uncompromising quality

Quality control and quality enhancement are an important of the Keats Companies. A 12 person team reports directly to CEO Wade Keats. All of the locations are ISO 9001:2000 compliant and in addition, the Illinois and Texas facilities are TS 16949 compliant. Strict adherence to the quality control system results in customer satisfaction and, more importantly, customer confidence.

Testimonials:
"My business relationship and dealings with Keats Manufacturing is a great experience. They are very responsive, pay attention to detail and are very conscious on building a long term relationship. You will find them cost competitive and the quality to be at a high level. If an issue does arise they are quick to get it resolved and in a very timely manner. They will also work with you on expedites and do everything possible to take care of your needs. I encourage you to visit their facility in Wheeling as I know you will be impressed with the operation and the people you meet." -Buyer, Grote Industries

"Keats Manufacturing and Keats Southwest are trusted vendors to Delphi. Their responsiveness, attention to detail, and technical abilities make them my preferred "go to" metal stamper, and they have been an integral part to many key platform launches. They are a vendor I can count on and trust them to get the job done on time." - Product Engineering Supervisor, Delphi