FAQs

Yes. Laystrom has received multiple prestigious recognitions, including: FMA (Fabricators & Manufacturers Association) Fabricator of the Year; INC 5000 listing; mHUB partnership recognition (2019); WCTI Safety Award (2021); FMA Safety Award (2020); and mHUB and MxD SME Manufacturer of the Year (2020).

Laystrom Manufacturing Co. has been in business since 1951 — over 70 years. However, the company’s roots trace back even further to a small machine shop and hardware store (Quality Hardware) founded by the Laystrom family in the early 1920s. During World War II, Quality Hardware was involved in major defense programs, including assembly of M-1 Carbines and stamping dies for machine gun ammo belts.

Yes. Laystrom Manufacturing is a family-owned business. The company is currently operated by 3rd generation Laystrom family members who are actively involved in the business daily. The founding generation included Len Laystrom, Hilding Laystrom, and Carl Schwartz, followed by Dick Laystrom, Bill Laystrom, Art Karsel, and Jim Briggs in the second generation.

Laystrom’s core values are Safety, Character, Connection, Contribution, and Cultivation. Safety means everyone deserves to go home the same way they came in. Character means acting with honor and integrity. Connection means valuing relationships with teammates, family, community, and diversity of thought. Contribution means taking initiative and depending on each other’s strengths. Cultivation means being creative problem solvers who continuously learn and grow.

Laystrom operates a 65,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Chicago, IL.

Laystrom Manufacturing is located at 3900 W. Palmer St., Chicago, IL 60647. They can be reached by phone at (773) 342-4800 or by email at sales@laystrom.com.

Laystrom Manufacturing was founded in 1951 by members of the Laystrom family to produce custom component parts and assemblies for OEM equipment manufacturers nationally and internationally. The company is owned and managed primarily by 3rd generation family members who work actively in the business daily. Laystrom operates a 65,000 square foot manufacturing facility at 3900 W. Palmer St. in Chicago, IL.

For parts previously produced or quoted by Laystrom, email inside.sales@laystrom.com. Include the part number, part revision, expected order quantities, and any information that has changed since the last quote or order. Review of pricing and lead times for previously produced parts can take as little as a few hours to a few days.

For new parts not previously quoted by Laystrom, email sales@laystrom.com. Include the part number, part revision, expected order quantities and need dates, EAU (estimated annual usage) information, the date the quote is needed, and all engineering information such as PDF files, CAD models, and specifications. Providing a quote for a new part can take as little as one day to a few weeks.

Quoted prices are valid for 90 days from the time of quote, unless otherwise specified. Due to market conditions for raw materials and outside services, quoted prices may be subject to change based on conditions beyond Laystrom’s control. It is common practice to adjust pricing based on changes in commodity price indexes for steel, aluminum, copper, gold, and stainless steel within the 90-day window.

Laystrom accepts SolidWorks files (DXF or IGES format), PDF files, CAD models, and image files emailed directly. Providing digital files accelerates the quoting process significantly.

For a new part, you should provide: part number and revision, expected order quantities and need dates, estimated annual usage (EAU), the date the quote is needed, all engineering documentation (PDF files, CAD models, specifications), and information about any tooling available for transfer to Laystrom.

Yes. Laystrom specializes in rapid prototyping and can produce prototypes in as little as 2–3 days. For some applications, expedited service allows shipping within 72 hours of receipt of the quote request. By being both the prototype and production source, Laystrom can shorten the learning curve and reduce total project cost.

Yes. While Laystrom is based in Chicago, IL, they serve national and international markets. Their customer base spans large and small companies, local and global.

Yes. Laystrom can adapt to customer scheduling and delivery needs and can control production to individual customer requirements. Laystrom works to optimize inventories through Kanban pull systems, consignment programs, and annual contracts, and continuously suggests improvements to customer inventory systems. Their replenishment system is designed to support on-time customer delivery while keeping inventory levels low.

Lead times vary significantly based on the part specifics. For prototype applications, Laystrom can provide expedited service and ship within 72 hours of receipt of a quote request. For standard production parts, lead times depend on raw material type, the number and type of manufacturing processes involved, and subcontracted operations such as plating or painting. Complex parts may require up to 12 weeks due to special raw material lead times, tooling requirements, or part approval processes. The specific lead time for your part will be identified on the quote.

It is difficult to provide a “Standard leadtime” without specific details regarding the particular part, the raw material type, the number and type of processes required to make the part, and subcontracted operations such as plating or painting. For some prototype applications we provide expedited service and ship within 72 hours of receipt of the quote request. Some items may require 12 weeks to produce because of issues such as complex manufacturing processes, lead-times for special raw materials, or time to produce tooling or to complete part approval processes. We will identify a part’s leadtime on our quote.

Yes. Laystrom’s skilled personnel provide kitting and hardware assembly using fastener insertion equipment, projection welders, rivet equipment, and manual assembly. They also perform secondary operations such as tapping, deburring, and machining. Laystrom works with qualified heat treating, plating, and painting suppliers so customers can receive parts that are ready for assembly — complete, finished to specification, and delivered on time.

Yes. Laystrom utilizes a CNC Robotic MIG Welding System that significantly improves welding consistency while increasing productivity and decreasing overall costs. Robotic welding is used alongside manual welding to offer flexibility for both low and high production quantities.

Every part manufactured at Laystrom starts with a rigorous New Part Introduction (NPI) planning process. During NPI, Laystrom reviews engineering data and specific customer requirements to develop and document a manufacturing process, including raw material and subcontract specifications, inspection methods, and packaging. Shop orders are generated for each production run and the approved process is rigorously followed. Any changes from approved methods are controlled through formal Process Change requests for the life of the part.

Laystrom has several production methods, each with different thickness capabilities. Stamping methods process materials from .005″ to .187″ thick. The laser can cut material up to 1″ thick in some applications, with most work ranging from .030″ to .25″ thick. CNC turret presses typically process material from .030″ to .12″ thick.

Laystrom offers a comprehensive range of manufacturing processes including: laser cutting (fiber and CO2), CNC turret press fabrication, precision press brake forming, MIG welding, TIG welding, projection and spot welding, robotic MIG welding, value-added assembly and kitting, fastener insertion, and various secondary operations such as tapping, deburring, and machining.

Laystrom commonly produces electronic chassis, enclosures, EMI/RFI shielding components, card cages, weldments, medical equipment components, agricultural and construction equipment sheet metal fabrications, and telecom equipment enclosures and housings. They work from 14 gauge up to 1/4″ thick for structural weldments, and can handle a wide range of complexities.

Laystrom performs MIG welding, TIG welding, and projection and spot welding. They weld mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, on both low and high production quantities using both manual and robotic welding systems.

Yes. Laystrom’s lasers run 24 hours a day, typically without an operator on-site. Their automated material handling system can process up to 35,000 lbs of raw material without manual labor input, and their peak throughput reached 70,000 lbs over a single weekend.

Laser cutting provides several key advantages: no tooling charges (no expensive dies or punches needed), shorter lead times, flexibility for evolving designs, excellent edge quality, and superior dimensional accuracy and consistency. Laser cutting is ideal for parts with low to moderate quantities, parts with similar features but many variations, and parts in early-stage or frequently changing designs.

Laystrom’s lasers can hold dimensional accuracy and repeatability to within ±0.003″ in both thick and thin materials when required.

Laystrom operates three fully automated laser systems: one 6,000 Watt fiber laser and two 4,000 Watt CO2 lasers. All three are equipped with ‘Lights Out’ Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) that allow fully automated, unattended operation — 24 hours a day.

Laystrom’s fiber and CO2 lasers can cut 5′ x 10′ sheets and handle: mild steel up to 1/2″ thick, stainless steel up to 1/4″ thick, aluminum up to 1/8″ thick, and many other materials. The material handling system can process up to 35,000 lbs of raw material without manual labor input.

Yes. Laystrom works with aluminum sheet for laser cutting (up to 1/8″ thick), fabrication, welding, and assembly. They also offer aluminum anodizing as a finishing option.

Yes. Laystrom works with stainless steel for laser cutting (up to 1/4″ thick), fabrication, welding, and assembly. They also offer stainless steel passivation as a finishing option.

Laystrom works with a wide variety of materials including cold rolled steel, hot rolled steel, stainless steel, coated sheet steel, aluminum sheet, and brass and copper alloy sheets. Material thicknesses up to 1/2″ can be processed depending on the process chosen.

Yes. Laystrom offers both painting and plating through their finishing services. They work with vetted, approved suppliers to manage these processes, ensuring quality and consistency. Customers can receive fully finished parts ready for assembly.

Laystrom offers a full complement of finishing services including: plating, painting, silk screening and pad printing, vibratory deburring and burnishing, shot blasting, stainless steel passivation, aluminum anodizing, and heat treating. Laystrom partners with qualified outside suppliers for services such as heat treating, plating, and painting so customers receive complete parts ready for assembly.

Yes. Laystrom works closely with customers during new product design reviews, making suggestions regarding cost reduction and quality improvements that result in more robust design concepts. Through interaction with customer engineering departments and development of prototypes, Laystrom helps ensure a better end product. Their team can review your engineering data and work with your team to optimize designs for manufacturability.

Yes. Prototyping is one of Laystrom’s specialties. They integrate their engineering group, quality team, and fabrication department specialists to deliver prototypes quickly and at a reasonable price. Prototypes can be produced in as little as 1–3 days for many applications.

By using Laystrom as your source for both the prototype and production phases of a project, you can reduce total cost, compress lead times (as little as one to two days), and eliminate the learning curve typically associated with transitioning between different suppliers. Laystrom’s knowledge of your part from the prototype stage directly benefits production efficiency and quality.

Yes. Laystrom has built a trusted network of suppliers over 60 years. Their approved vendor list covers metals, hardware, and finishing services. Vendors are periodically reviewed, and supplier performance is regularly measured and monitored to drive continual improvement.

Yes. Continuous improvement is a core part of Laystrom’s culture. As they state, ‘Getting better every day is the lifeblood of any great company and we have been doing it since 1951.’ Their quality management objectives support continual improvement across all parts of their QMS, and they regularly measure and monitor supplier performance to improve supply chain quality as well.

Laystrom uses a documented Quality Management System (QMS). Every part starts with a New Part Introduction (NPI) process that documents the approved manufacturing process, raw material and subcontract specifications, inspection methods, and packaging requirements. Shop orders for each production run reflect the approved process, and any process changes are formally controlled through Process Change requests for the life of the part.

Yes. Laystrom has built a trusted supplier network over 60 years to provide metals, hardware, finishing services, and more. They regularly measure and monitor supplier performance, conduct periodic vendor reviews, and continually work to improve supply chain reliability and quality.

Yes. Laystrom supports Kanban pull systems, consignment programs, and annual contracts to help customers optimize inventory. Their replenishment system is designed to support on-time customer delivery while keeping inventory levels low — as one customer noted, ‘We have seen product arrive days after we inform them of our needs.’

Laystrom sources materials including cold rolled steel, hot rolled steel, stainless steel, coated sheet steel, aluminum, brass, and copper alloy sheets through its long-standing, approved supplier network, which has been cultivated over more than 60 years.

Yes. Laystrom’s customer base includes both large and small companies, local and global, across many industries. Their responsiveness, culture, and competitive pricing make them a fit for a wide range of OEM customers regardless of size.

You can reach Laystrom Manufacturing at: Address: 3900 W. Palmer St., Chicago, IL 60647 | Phone: (773) 342-4800 | Email: sales@laystrom.com | For existing customer quoting: inside.sales@laystrom.com | Online: www.laystrom.com

To get started, contact Laystrom at sales@laystrom.com and provide your part number, part revision, expected order quantities and need dates, estimated annual usage, and all engineering documentation (PDF drawings, SolidWorks/DXF/IGES CAD files, specifications). If you have existing tooling that could be transferred to Laystrom, include that information as well.