Started in 1981 as an automotive parts supplier, the company refocused its customer base seven years ago to include defense, homeland security, heavy industries, and aerospace and alternative energy companies. The new focus was designed to grow the company's bottom line as well as acting as a hedge against economic downturns.

Mission accomplished.

Now headquartered in Detroit, W Industries' annual revenue is up from $15 million five years ago to nearly $100 million last year. Revenues are expected to continue to grow at that pace over the next 5 years, according to Ed Walker, CEO.

W Industries generates a third of its revenue from defense contracts, a third from heavy industries with the rest divided between aerospace, homeland security, alternative energy and automotive contracts.

Defense and homeland security contracts helped lead W Industries into a diversified business portfolio. Walker targeted those contracts because they were well matched to W Industries core strengths and have requirements regarding domestic production.

"These contracts have to be manufactured in the U.S. which gives us an advantage in the global market," Walker said.

The company invested more than $50 million in facilities, tooling and equipment to ensure it could handle the move into new business segments. That investment allowed the company to attract the aerospace contracts it currently enjoys, including producing the mold that allows Airbus to produce a carbon fiber shell for its new A350 aircraft.

The largest 5 axis CNC mill in the world sits inside a 50,000 square foot warehouse at W Industries in Detroit and is the lynchpin to the company's expanding aerospace business.

In addition to the Airbus project, W Industries helps provide special armor for a variety of military vehicles used in the Persian Gulf, large fan blades and other components for windmills and other large parts for alternative energy products as well as automotive components.

W Industries makes about 100 components for the Stryker, a military armored personnel carrier used in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also is looking to expand into the alternative energy sector, making parts for the wind and solar markets. Those would include the carbon fiber molds for the blades, machining hubs, tower fabrication and solar panel structures,

The company uses a completely flexible plant floor layout to ensure it can meet the production demands of any of its diverse customer base In addition to the ever-changing floor plan, the company uses laser, plasma, machining, forming, welding and a massive painting facility to ensure it meets demand. These combine to ensure the company can fit and paint more than 1,000 military vehicles in a month, according to Walker.

W Industries operates three campuses in Detroit and Romulus and 70 percent of the company's 500 employees are Detroit residents. Walker expects that number to double during the next three years.

The company has taken advantage of enterprise zones and other incentives through its Detroit locations, Walker said. However, he said he's located in Detroit to help ensure the area returns to prominence as much as lure of financial inducements.

"Our intention here is to continue to expand within the city of Detroit," Walker said, adding that the company bought its first plant in the city of Detroit 10 years ago.

The addition of new facilities allows the company to meet its $360 million backlog of new contracts, but also it allows Walker to investigate new sources of revenue. Walker's next target is shipbuilding. The underused Port of Detroit combined with more than 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space provides Walker the infrastructure necessary to jump into that arena.

Walker noted he's actively discussing what W Industries can do in concert with the City of Detroit, the state and federal officials to improve the port.

"The Detroit Economic Growth Corp. needs a world class port in the city to attract new business to the area," he said.