Precision Manufacturer Growing in Steuben County

March 23rd, 2016


News Coverage:

March 22, 2016

Precision Manufacturer Growing in Steuben County

Dan McGowan

ANGOLA -

A northeast Indiana contract manufacturer is planning to pump more than $2.5 million into an expansion. Angola-based C&K Tool, which does business as Eva-Lution, is investing in grinding, Swiss Turning and etching capabilities.

Eva-Lution currently employs 28 and plans to add nine workers as a result of the expansion.

The 20 year-old company has clients in the aerospace, automotive and medical device industries. Eva-Lution has received approval from the Angola City Council for tax abatement on the investment.

The company is a Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier for medical device companies in nearby Kosciusko County and says it was brought "to its knees" during the Great Recession. Angola Mayor Richard Hickman says "Eva-Lution (C&K Tool) has been through some lean years over the past six to seven years, since Mike (Pahl) acquired the company. It is always great to see a locally owned company emerge from tough times to enjoy the type of growth Mike and his team are experiencing."

Eva-Lution says it has moved forward by investing in improved equipment, the highest level of quality control, hiring "the right people" and establishing a foothold in the medical device industry. Officials say cutting back on unprofitable lines has contributed to annual sales growth of nearly 100 percent over the last two years. Eva-Lution is now a preferred vendor for multiple companies.

Plans call for the new equipment to be installed between next month and June 2017.

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