Timeline

Setting up two #1 Baird four-slide machines in a storefront on Cicero Avenue on the north side of Chicago, Bert & Glenn Keats founded G.A. Keats Manufacturing Company with the simple principle of producing the best quality product at the best price, delivered on time.

With their high quality standards, Keats was a perfect fit for the automotive industry. The company began by making spring clips and terminals for automotive applications in 1971 — now, in 2017, Keats parts can be found in nearly every car made in North America.

Keats maintains ISO:9001, ISO/TS:16949 & ISO:14001 certifications. The company was one of the first stamping businesses to adopt wire. EDM technology; with two wire EDM machines in-house, Keats can make replacement tooling parts for internal use in a matter of hours. They continually strive to stay at the forefront of technology in the industry.

An early adopter of state-of-the-art vertical slide-forming & stamping technology, Keats is the only company in North America to operate Wünsch machines, specialized vertical slide forming machines. With five machines in-house, the company continues to invest in the latest precision metal forming technology to further refine all processes.

Keats moved from their original Chicago location to their current corporate HQ and Technology Center in Wheeling, IL. The facility employs over 120 people and has nearly 70,000 square feet of manufacturing, design, tool development, and office space.

In response to customer requests, Keats established a facility near the Mexican border in El Paso, TX. The Keats Southwest facility has since grown to over 60 employees and 30,000 square feet, serving customers primarily in Northern Mexico, but also throughout the world.

To conform to QS 9000, which later became ISO/TS 16949, Keats implemented numerous quality standards to ensure that all facilities were operating with a goal of zero defects.

Continuing to lead the way in the industry, Keats achieved the highest level of environmental policy certification. The company is committed to lowering their environmental impact through reduced consumption of raw material and MRO products.

Keats’ newest facility is located in Queretaro, Mexico. This new 15,000 square foot manufacturing plant was established to meet growing customer demand for Mexican content in finished goods. The facility features progressive die stamping as well as four-slide/multi-slide stamping and tooling development.

Keats needed more space to meet growing demand. By tripling our size from 15,000 square feet to 45,000 square feet, we have room for more than 30 new machines. In the four plus years since we opened in Mexico, we’ve established a powerful presence as an industry leader. With more space and increased production capacity, we can accept more projects for our clients.