Universal Technologies; a niche business thriving in the local economy

Todd Fromme’s desk is covered by parts and ideas. It’s accented by a computer screen that could hold service for four at a small cafe’ if it had legs.

It’s a mess but when he’s talking about what he does at Universal Technologies everything is within arm’s reach. In a way this is exactly what defines his business; his company is within arms reach of all the local manufacturers and they reach out to him for help in supplying hard to find or specialized components for the furniture industry.

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“We made a decision to service the local economy. I don’t want to travel all over the country,” Fromme explained. “This (furniture components) is where we felt we could find a local niche.”

Fromme started his business about four years ago. “It’s the standard two car garage and storage building start up.” Fromme said. “Eventually we had enough business we moved over to this location (a 3500 square foot building and workshop on Vine Street), but we outgrew it a year ago.”

The company specializes in components and custom designs involving plastic, metal, films, and LED lighting. Popular pieces they manufacture are modesty panels for desks and plastic door inserts, but Fromme is really excited about LED lighting and the plethora of applications it can have.

“We are putting LED lights on the back of headboards for hotels and its a neat effect and saves energy,” Fromme explained.

Another application is LED lighting in desktops for auditoriums. “A little light on the desktop allows people to see without interfering with a PowerPoint presentation. Nancy Eckerle (Executive Director Jasper Chamber of Commerce) was really interested in this and may have come up with a new product when she was here. She said that when she attends presentations she has a hard time taking notes in the dark, so a couple of LED’s would be helpful for her to write with.”

This is Fromme’s element.  He was a designer for medical devices in Indianapolis after he graduated from Purdue with degrees in Mechanical Engineering  and Computer Integrated Manufacturing. “The idea and design process is probably my favorite part of this business,” He said.

Fromme has purchased a building just down the street for his expansion. The 22,000 square foot building has two levels. The plan is to have the offices and production on the bottom floor and the top floor would be an 11,000 square foot design showroom.

“I want to invite designers, architects, furniture manufacturers, anyone involved in design to come up and have displays,” Fromme said, “There will also be a conference room for these designers to get together and collaborate on projects. How else do you get that type of a think tank together, if I can pay for it then I would love to just be involved in that process.”

Fromme and his wife Karen are from Jasper. After school they lived in Indianapolis where he did design work and Karen was a bank examiner. The Fromme’s  began having children and decided to move back to Jasper. Todd worked as a project manager for Keusch Glass until he began Industrial Technologies.

These days the husband and wife team work together. Karen is the companies book-keeper and likes delivering the customer’s orders. “We work well together; she’s quit once and I’ve fired her twice.” Fromme laughs. “Really that’s one thing that’s really important to me, I don’t want to miss any of my kids events.”

Fromme doesn’t see huge expansions in his future; he’s happy serving local customers.

“You know the best part of this business is the ‘thank you’ from the customer,” Fromme said. “Please and thank you go a long way with me and I just love solving our customer’s problems.”

http://www.universaltechnologies.us