General Sheet Metal Works completes training center construction

General Sheet Metal Works Inc., a precision sheet metal fabricator in South Bend, Ind., has completed construction on a training and conference center. The new space holds up to 50 people for customer conferences, company meetings, and employee training seminars.

One of the most notable features in the meeting space is the stainless steel "ribbon" hanging from the ceiling above the conference tables. The large stainless steel panels were designed and fabricated by company employees.

Continuous improvement of employee skills and company processes was the main driver behind this project. Said John Axelberg, president, "First of all, we wanted to create a fun environment that was not only great for learning, but that would inspire people to think about using metal in different ways. Hence the floating stainless steel 'ribbons' and metal surface finishes. Secondly, we wanted all the technology to be seamlessly integrated and utterly reliable. In this building, you push one button and everything just works," he continued.

The company, which employs more than 150 people, has made capital investments of more than $5 million over the past three years at its South Bend, Ind., and Tomah, Wis., locations.