[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 82 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING TOLEDO METAL SPINNING COMPANY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 10, 1999

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Toledo Metal 
Spinning Company (TMS), a business in my district recently honored as 
one of only six recipients of the Blue Chip Enterprise Initiative 
Award. This award, given to companies who have overcome both internal 
and external struggles throughout their organization, was extended to 
TMS in recognition of their exceptional ability to cope and rebuild 
virtually their entire business after a fire ravaged their operation.
  TMS Vice Presidents Eric and Craig Frankhauser are to be commended 
for their efforts to restore their corporation. After a disastrous fire 
that destroyed much of the plant in February 1998, the two brothers 
worked tirelessly to fulfill customer orders and remain in production 
mode. Remarkably, five days after the fire, the company was back online 
and serving its customers with the same level of professionalism and 
courtesy as before the tragedy. Clients turn to TMS for a wide range of 
products including parts for missiles, passenger jets, and military 
aircraft, as well as stainless steel, cone-shaped hoppers used for 
countless purposes from releasing fruit into yogurt to processing 
pills.
  As the Frankhausers rebuilt their facility their innovation and 
ingenuity led the way. Forced to rebuild not only their physical 
building but also their business structure, the Frankhausers revamped 
their entire production operation. They redesigned the company's 
production system, stressing flexibility of machinery and workers. The 
two owners realized both the importance of giving their employees more 
responsibility and the success that results as workers interact with 
each other.
  Despite the terrible fire, their improved operation successfully kept 
sales at 83 percent of 1997 levels. The Frankhausers and all of those 
employed at TMS have created a family business by which all companies 
should follow. TMS will be paid a tribute this week as it receives the 
Blue Chip Enterprise Initiative Award, which is co-sponsored in part by 
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
  On behalf of the citizens of Ohio's Ninth Congressional District, I 
rise to congratulate TMS, the Frankhausers, and the many employees for 
their outstanding success and innovation as they stood in the face of 
disaster. The TMS example is certainly a business model to be followed 
as we enter the next millennium.

                          ____________________