Providing high quality metal stamping dies and heavy gauge stampings for over 30 years!!!
© 2012 Rockford Toolcraft, Inc.
The History of Rockford Toolcraft Inc.
1976 - Rockford Toolcraft opens on March 12 at 2323 23rd Avenue in Rockford, Illinois. Design and build Tool & Die job shop, 500 sq. ft. (2 employees)
1978 - Moved to a larger facility at 2101 23rd Avenue in Rockford, Illinois. 4000 sq. ft. (8 employees)
1979 - Bought first CNC Wire EDM in a Rockford Tool & Die shop. (12 employees)
1981 - Added second CNC Wire EDM. (15 employees)
1982 - Added large bed 250-ton tryout press (20 employees)
1983 - Begin planning construction of new plant and Stamping Division. (22 employees)
1984 - Broke ground on new plant. (23 employees)
1985 - Built and moved to a new 21,000 sq. ft., air conditioned plant. Started Stamping Division with three presses. (25 employees)
1986 - First plant addition; added large bed 600-ton press. (30 employees)
1988 - Second plant addition; added large bed 500-ton press. (35 employees)
1989 - Installed CAD Design System and added large CNC Machining Center. (38 employees)
1990 - Third plant addition. Added third C.N.C. Wire E.D.M. (40 employees)
1991 - Fourth plant addition; added 400-ton press. (44 employees)
1992 - Fifth plant addition; added 300-ton press line. (50 employees)
1993 - Sixth plant addition; added second CNC Machining Center. (60 employees)
1994 - Seventh plant addition; added new 150-ton press line. (65 employees)
1995 - Added fourth CNC Wire EDM. (75 employees)
1996 - Eighth plant addition; added new 1000-ton press line. (88 employees)
1997 - Ninth plant addition; added 300-ton and 600-ton press lines. (100 employees)
1998 - Tenth plant addition; added four new CNC Machining Centers. (115 employees)
1999 - Added 1500-ton press line. (120 employees)
2000 - Eleventh plant addition, 126,000 sq. ft. total; added two new press lines (150 and 300-ton). Leased 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse nearby and purchased 50,000 sq. ft. adjacent plant, on three acres of land, for future expansion. (130 employees)
2001 - Built 40,000 sq. ft. “Plant 2” on 13 acres. Added new 1000-ton press line @ plant 1 and a Robotic Weld cell @ plant 2. (135 employees)
2002 - Added five new large stamping press lines, new laser machine, and press brake and shear. (145 employees)
2003 - Built 40,000 sq. ft. addition to Plant 2. Added three 800 ton presses, a tool room and moved all secondary operations to plant 2. (165 employees)
2004 - Started a second 40,000 sq. ft addition at Plant 2. Ordered new 1000 ton Minster “HeviBlanker” press line. Added fifth CNC Wire EDM to plant 1. (190 employees)
2005 - Completed 40,000 sq. ft. addition at plant 2 (120,000 sq. ft. total) and added four press lines to Plant 2. Added massive coil line to 1500-ton press at Plant 1 with .500” x 36” @120,000ksi straightening capabilities. (205 employees)
2006 - Completed 30,000 sq. ft. addition at Plant 2 (150,000 sq. ft. total). Added 4400 ton transfer press line and a “Super-massive” coil line at Plant 2. Added Heat Flattening Department at Plant 2. (215 employees)
2007 - Added 3000 sq. ft. office expansion with large training facility at Plant 1. Added a Fanuc Robot to load large stampings in and out of 800 ton press at Plant 2. (225 employees)
2008 - Added a second robotic welding cell, a complete parts washing system and a new 6kw LASER system. (240 Employees)
2009 - Added new “Arku Flatmaster” precision parts leveler. Maintained employment of 240 people in a difficult business year. (240 Employees)
2010 - Added (3) 600 ton presses, new robotic welder, new wire E.D.M. and a new CNC Machining Center. (250 employees)
2011 - Added 41,000 sq.ft. addition to plant 2, a 4kw Amada Laser with full automation, an Amada Fabvision scanner, an 800 ton Minster press, a Genesis dual head robotic welder and 2 Romer portable 3D scanners. (300 employees)
2012 - Added Amada “Theta” 5 Axis Laser, (3) 500 ton “Verson” presses, (1) Extra Heavy Duty “Minster” Straightener, Installed (24 total) “Big Ass” Fans in both plants. (350 Employees) To be continued...
1978 - Moved to a larger facility at 2101 23rd Avenue in Rockford, Illinois. 4000 sq. ft. (8 employees)
1979 - Bought first CNC Wire EDM in a Rockford Tool & Die shop. (12 employees)
1981 - Added second CNC Wire EDM. (15 employees)
1982 - Added large bed 250-ton tryout press (20 employees)
1983 - Begin planning construction of new plant and Stamping Division. (22 employees)
1984 - Broke ground on new plant. (23 employees)
1985 - Built and moved to a new 21,000 sq. ft., air conditioned plant. Started Stamping Division with three presses. (25 employees)
1986 - First plant addition; added large bed 600-ton press. (30 employees)
1988 - Second plant addition; added large bed 500-ton press. (35 employees)
1989 - Installed CAD Design System and added large CNC Machining Center. (38 employees)
1990 - Third plant addition. Added third C.N.C. Wire E.D.M. (40 employees)
1991 - Fourth plant addition; added 400-ton press. (44 employees)
1992 - Fifth plant addition; added 300-ton press line. (50 employees)
1993 - Sixth plant addition; added second CNC Machining Center. (60 employees)
1994 - Seventh plant addition; added new 150-ton press line. (65 employees)
1995 - Added fourth CNC Wire EDM. (75 employees)
1996 - Eighth plant addition; added new 1000-ton press line. (88 employees)
1997 - Ninth plant addition; added 300-ton and 600-ton press lines. (100 employees)
1998 - Tenth plant addition; added four new CNC Machining Centers. (115 employees)
1999 - Added 1500-ton press line. (120 employees)
2000 - Eleventh plant addition, 126,000 sq. ft. total; added two new press lines (150 and 300-ton). Leased 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse nearby and purchased 50,000 sq. ft. adjacent plant, on three acres of land, for future expansion. (130 employees)
2001 - Built 40,000 sq. ft. “Plant 2” on 13 acres. Added new 1000-ton press line @ plant 1 and a Robotic Weld cell @ plant 2. (135 employees)
2002 - Added five new large stamping press lines, new laser machine, and press brake and shear. (145 employees)
2003 - Built 40,000 sq. ft. addition to Plant 2. Added three 800 ton presses, a tool room and moved all secondary operations to plant 2. (165 employees)
2004 - Started a second 40,000 sq. ft addition at Plant 2. Ordered new 1000 ton Minster “HeviBlanker” press line. Added fifth CNC Wire EDM to plant 1. (190 employees)
2005 - Completed 40,000 sq. ft. addition at plant 2 (120,000 sq. ft. total) and added four press lines to Plant 2. Added massive coil line to 1500-ton press at Plant 1 with .500” x 36” @120,000ksi straightening capabilities. (205 employees)
2006 - Completed 30,000 sq. ft. addition at Plant 2 (150,000 sq. ft. total). Added 4400 ton transfer press line and a “Super-massive” coil line at Plant 2. Added Heat Flattening Department at Plant 2. (215 employees)
2007 - Added 3000 sq. ft. office expansion with large training facility at Plant 1. Added a Fanuc Robot to load large stampings in and out of 800 ton press at Plant 2. (225 employees)
2008 - Added a second robotic welding cell, a complete parts washing system and a new 6kw LASER system. (240 Employees)
2009 - Added new “Arku Flatmaster” precision parts leveler. Maintained employment of 240 people in a difficult business year. (240 Employees)
2010 - Added (3) 600 ton presses, new robotic welder, new wire E.D.M. and a new CNC Machining Center. (250 employees)
2011 - Added 41,000 sq.ft. addition to plant 2, a 4kw Amada Laser with full automation, an Amada Fabvision scanner, an 800 ton Minster press, a Genesis dual head robotic welder and 2 Romer portable 3D scanners. (300 employees)
2012 - Added Amada “Theta” 5 Axis Laser, (3) 500 ton “Verson” presses, (1) Extra Heavy Duty “Minster” Straightener, Installed (24 total) “Big Ass” Fans in both plants. (350 Employees) To be continued...
