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Throwback Thursday: 75 Years Since Bremen Castings Opened its Doors

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You know a company is tied to its community when the community is in its own name. We’re proud to call Bremen Castings Inc. an Indiana Chamber member, and sincerely congratulate this Northern Indiana company for its milestone this month in celebrating 75 years in business.

We featured this innovative company in BizVoice magazine last year, so check out the article. And being a social media person, I enjoy seeing how Bremen Castings honors its employees in its social media feeds. A thoughtful way to include staff in the company’s messaging. Be sure to get BCI’s updates on Twitter and Facebook.

And a release from the company offers more on its anniversary:

The iron industry has been around for generations but over the years, the face of foundries has shifted away from small, family-run businesses to large corporations.  Bremen Castings Inc. (BCI) in Bremen, Indiana, is not one of them.

The family-owned foundry will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in March and James (JB) Brown, President of Bremen Castings, credits the longevity and success of the company to its forward thinking business model, streamlined day-to-day operations, and above all, having each employee feel as though they are a member of the Bremen family.

“It is crucial for everyone to be a team member and an active citizen within our communities so we strive to cast each employee into a valuable and responsible individual,” says Brown.  “We have a set of core values that we want everyone to have and appreciate.”

Originally named, Bremen Gray Iron foundry (the name was changed to Bremen Castings Inc. in 1972), the company was established on March 17, 1939 by Ellis Brown, Charles W. Kling and Harold Heckamen with an initial investment of $10,000.  Some of the first customers included Bendix Corporation, Clark Equipment, and Ford Motor Company.

Since its inception, Bremen Castings has grown from an 800 square foot building to its current 125,000 square feet with more additions planned for the future.  The company has continued to stay at the forefront of the foundry industry, having won numerous awards for its safety, technology and environment-friendly manufacturing.  Today, Bremen is still privately owned and operated by the Brown family.

All in the Family: Bremen Company Offers Sage Advice for Family Businesses

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I had the privilege of visiting Bremen Castings last week to interview the company for a BizVoice article. Having been a family business for seven decades, the company's executives know a thing or two about how to keep the lights on as time passes. Outlined on the Midwest Handling Wholesaler site, here are Bremen Castings president JB Brown's four gems to live by for family businesses:

  1. Honor Thy Father:  A large percentage of family-run businesses do not make it past two generations, so the key to longevity is ensuring the business is managed with effective leadership.  When there is a strong management team, a solid business plan can be implemented which takes into account the highs, lows and future direction and goals of the company.
  2. Cash is King:  Since family members are often the majority stock holders in a family business, strong cash flow is imperative to ensuring stocks (and voting power) stays within certain hands rather than being sold for a liquid dividend.  “No company is going to survive very long without generating a positive cash flow,” says Brown.  “We keep tight books and prepare for the hard times by getting ahead of the curve.”
  3. Instill an Estate Plan:  Some owners of family businesses become so engrossed within their companies; they forget to look at the big picture and understand how various situations can affect both the business and the family’s assets.  “A defined estate plan is essential for smooth functioning of both the family system and the business system,” adds Brown.
  4. Enlist Outside Expertise:  Although the brunt of the business may belong to the family, it is important to enlist non-family members onto a board of directors to help with important decisions regarding the company’s future.  An outside board can instill a sense of accountability and perspective on everything from conflict resolution to financial planning.