Chamber Business Spotlight #4

Cambarloc Engineering & Manufacturing

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Chamber Business Spotlight, today we are featuring a local manufacture and I think you will find their story very interesting.

Cambarloc Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc  was founded in 1963 based on a patent for a special machine to insert stiffeners in men’s shirt collars through the use of a mechanism consisting of a cam, bar, and lock (hence the name Cam-bar-loc).

In 1972 the business was moved from California to its current location North of Lebanon.  The company was owned and operated by Howard Edwards along with several investors for many years and was purchased by Debbie and Mike Alwardt in 2004.

Over the years the company has emerged as a world leader in special machines that manufacture ribbon bows for the gift wrapping industry. The company has thousands of various ribbon converting machines currently operating around the world.

In addition to ribbon converting machines the company designs and builds special machines and automation for a wide variety of other industries including automotive, appliance, and consumer products to name just a few.

Debbie and Mike Alwardt purchased the assets of the former company in May of 2004 and began Cambarloc Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc.  Debbie is an accountant with many years of experience in corporate accounting and payroll and Mike is a mechanical engineer with 27 years in the special machine and automation industry.  They saw the opportunity to buy Cambarloc as an excellent way to utilize our experience and work together.  They truly believe that God had led us in the direction to purchase the business and have thoroughly enjoyed the move.

Mike told me what type of goods and Services they offer, “We design and build special, one-of-a-kind machines for a wide range of customers including the bow machine customers.  When the former bow machine customers find that we can do more than just the bow machines they come up with many different opportunities to automate or improve existing processes.  We have also done quite a bit of service work with machine assembly, design engineering and interim management”

With the current economy what are some of the biggest hurdles you have faced so far and how has the economy affected your business? “We have been very blessed in that even during most difficult economic times we have managed to keep our employees working.  We really don’t feel as if there were any major hurdles, just many smaller ones that only helped us to become a stronger business. The economy has hurt us due to the fact that many businesses are now very slow paying their debts which trickles down through their suppliers but we have been blessed not to have any of our customers go out of business.  A positive thing about the economy is that our international orders have increased due to the US dollar being weak worldwide.  Our prices are extremely competitive internationally.”

Mike it seems to me that you and Debbie along with your employees have built a very strong and stable business; what had been the most fulfilling part of this journey and what if any advice would you offer fellow business owners?   “The most fulfilling part for us is the fact that we have managed to provide a stable income for the families of our employees.  With much of our business coming from outside the area we are also bringing revenue back into Laclede County. If I could offer any advice at all it would be to treat every employee, customer, and vendor exactly as you would like to be treated if you were in their position.  (Matthew 22:37-39)”

Mike before we end our visit today is there anything new and exciting in your line of business or world of expertise that you can share with us? “There are many new and exciting things going on in manufacturing currently including 3-dimensional computer design software, robotics, enhanced vision systems, electronic devices, composite materials, and nanotechnology.  There is a definite need for highly-trained manufacturing personnel in engineering, machining, and other technical trades.  Nearly everything that we touch each day has been manufactured by someone, somewhere, and somehow.”

Mike please tell everyone the best way to contact you and your business? Cambarloc Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc., PO Box A, Lebanon, MO 65536, Phone: (417) 532-4601, sales@cambarloc.com

Mike thank you for visiting with us today and giving us an insight to your business.