February 23, 2023 - Gateway Extrusions, based in Union, MO, outside St. Louis, is celebrating 20 years of operation in 2023. The national aluminum fabricator, who just closed out a record year for sales revenues and quantity of metal extruded, is marking this milestone with events for employees and others during the year.
"Gateway has achieved very steady growth in the past 20 years, and we are not slowing down,” said Brent Robb, General Manager for Gateway. “Our sales efforts have made great inroads in the Midwest and East Coast and we are now expanding in the Southeastern US. We have new equipment coming in this year, along with new automation software to enhance our efficiency and increase capacity. These are exciting times for Gateway.”
Gateway opened in 2003 with the acquisition of the shuttered Cupples Aluminum Products plant in the Union Industrial Park by Gateway’s parent company, national manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems. Over the past 20 years, Gateway Extrusions has grown beyond merely supplying the parent company with two thirds of its sales now coming from other companies. Gateway has also expanded from a regional operation to a national supplier whose customers can be found coast to coast. Gateway supplies such diverse industries as lighting, shelving and storage systems, partitions, solar racking systems, railings, fencing, and boat and trailer accessories.
In recent years, Gateway completed a major $15 million-dollar multi-year expansion program, which included the purchase of existing adjacent industrial buildings and properties, giving the company room for further future expansion. The company also added new 7-inch and 9-inch extrusion presses and a state-of-the-art vertical powder coating line, expanded and renovated factory space, and reengineered workflow. As sales climbed and Gateway added new fabrication services, the workforce was doubled. The company currently employs 101 at its Union plant and will be adding employees this year as sales continue to grow.
“Gateway is proud to be an employer of choice here in Missouri,” said Robb. “We offer our employees a bonus for referrals, which has worked out very well. Our apprenticeship programs with the local career center and colleges to bring new talent into manufacturing are seeing great results. Many of our employees have been with Gateway over 10 years, and two started with Gateway 20 years ago at the very beginning.”
Gateway will be commemorating its 20th Anniversary with several events, activities, and promotions during the year, culminating in a celebration with all its employees this Fall.
