Draft:General Stamping & Metalworks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
General Stamping & Metalworks (GSM) is a metal fabrication company headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1922, the company provides precision metal fabrication to power generation and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide.[1] GSM also operates a second manufacturing facility in Tomah, Wisconsin.[1]
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Metal fabrication |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Founder | H.P. Axelberg |
| Headquarters | South Bend, Indiana, United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Stamped metal parts, laser-cut components, welded assemblies, roll-formed products |
| Website | gsmwinc |
History
Founding (1922)
General Stamping & Metalworks was founded in 1922 by H.P. Axelberg as General Sheet Metal Works in South Bend, Indiana.[1] The company was established as an industrial sheet metal contractor, primarily serving the Studebaker automobile company and the University of Notre Dame.[2]
Adapting Business Through the Great Depression (1930s)
During the Great Depression, GSM pivoted the business model towards municipal construction projects and supplying metal fabrication for public works.
Supporting the War Effort (1940s)
With the entry of the United States into World War II, GSM helped Studebaker reconfigure assembly lines in support of military production.
Post-War Expansion (1950s)
In the years following World War II, a nationwide housing boom created new demand for construction materials. GSM responded by manufacturing metal products for residential and commercial building markets. In the 1950s, a separate division was created — a five-person team focused on metal component manufacturing, supplying parts to companies such as Wheel Horse, one of the pioneers of tractor lawnmowers.[2] The company exited the traditional sheet metal business in 1959, according to company president John Axelberg, the founder's grandson.[1]
Metal Fabrication & OEM Supply (1960s–1970s)
GSM expanded capabilities during the 1960s and 1970s, to support Wheel Horse Products and other outdoor power equipment industries.
Entry into Solar Manufacturing (2000s)
GSM entered the solar manufacturing sector in 2009, which became a major US industry in subsequent years.[1] To meet demand, a new manufacturing facility was constructed in Tomah, Wisconsin.[1] By 2013, the company had reached $50 million in annual revenues, growing from $16 million in 2003 and $30 million in 2008.[2]
Name Change and New Location (2016)
In September 2016, the company officially changed its name from General Sheet Metal Works to General Stamping & Metalworks to better reflect the services provided to OEMs.[1] That same year, the company announced plans to move into a new 190,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on Old Cleveland Road in South Bend, constructed at a cost of $22.7 million.[1] At the time of the announcement, approximately 250 employees worked at the South Bend facility, with around 45 additional employees at its Tomah, Wisconsin plant.[1][3]
Partnership with University of Notre Dame iNDustry Labs (2020–2021)
In 2019 the company recognized areas needing improvement, GSM partnered with Notre Dame's iNDustry Labs — a program backed by a $42.4 million Lilly Endowment grant — to modernize its manufacturing operations through Industry 4.0 smart technology practices.[4] GSM already had smart technology capable of collecting real-time data, but needed assistance applying that data to improve operations.[4] iNDustry Labs conducted a detailed assessment — including interviews and plant floor visits — and developed a strategic transformation plan focused on capacity planning and production efficiency across GSM's more than 10,000 active part numbers.[4] The collaboration also involved Notre Dame undergraduates taking on capstone projects related to data mining and analysis for GSM.[4]
Present Day
Now operating as General Stamping & Metalworks, GSM reported annual sales of approximately $130 million as of 2026, with the company having been bending metal since 1922.[5] The company continues to serve OEMs on a global scale and offers a broad range of metal fabrication services including stamping, laser cutting, roll forming, bending, welding, tube fabrication,[6] tool and die, kitting and assembly, and five-axis laser processing. The solar sector became a significant part of the company's business, contributing to nearly 30% revenue growth in the year prior to the report.[5]
Operations
GSM operates two manufacturing facilities:
- South Bend, Indiana (headquarters)
- Tomah, Wisconsin[1]
The company purchased and integrated AAA Tool & Die, a tool and die operation based in South Bend.[1] GSM produces stamped, bent, and laser-cut metal parts for a wide range of industries including commercial, military, and recreational vehicles, lawn and garden equipment, heavy equipment, and utility-scale solar energy products.[4]