Astro Engineering & Manufacturing Inc. is Minnesota’s single-source manufacturer of quality metal products. From left: Tony Ross, Chief Operating Officer; Sue Ross, Chief Executive Officer; and George Ross, Special Projects and former owner.

Astro Engineering & Manufacturing Inc. constructed the railings, fencing and handrails for Target Field Station in Minneapolis.

Astro Engineering & Manufacturing Inc. (Astro) takes pride in building real products for the real world. From ornamental and decorative metals for the architectural industry to custom industrial equipment fabrication, Astro has been Minnesota’s single-source manufacturer of quality metal products for more than 30 years.

“We are very collaborative with clients,” says CEO Sue Ross. “They often come to us with a concept, and we work with them to develop the design and select the right materials and finishes for the job. Our goal is to produce the product they need on time and on budget.”

In the past 12 years, Astro, headquartered in Hanover, Minnesota, has quadrupled the size of its business in revenue and employees and has in place expert teams for welding, drafting and engineering. “We take on complex projects that others in the industry simply wouldn’t do and maintain a focus on function and quality,” she says.

With full fabricating capabilities on-site and a certified welding inspector on staff, the company’s skilled craft workers have the knowledge and experience to deliver expert metal fabrication in stainless steel, aluminum and carbon steel. Equipped to take on project-based work, Astro easily accommodates changing schedules and designs. “We’re problem solvers. If a specified component is not available at the right time or in the right timeframe, we work with the client to find a compatible solution to fit the budget and schedule,” Sue says.

Taking on New Challenges

When George and Sue Ross purchased the business in 2005, they were each at a turning point in their careers. A mechanical engineer by training, George was working for his father-in-law’s greenhouse business. Sue had served as a medical technologist and was running the family farm, with two of their five children still at home.

“There were terrifying moments of buying a business with no knowledge of the industry,” Sue says. “But George likes machinery and knows how to make things work. He was excited about learning a new business and having the opportunity to design and produce products.”

Sue also appreciated the challenge. “I taught myself accounting and learned the business side of running a successful company.” One of Astro’s early challenges centered on learning the machinery. “When we purchased the company, there were four employees who each ran a particular type of operation. If that person was out, we didn’t have a second person who knew how to do that job. Our priority was to cross-train employees and build up our team so each job is at the very least double-covered,” Sue says.

With the help of a redesigned website, business picked up quickly. Early work focused on creating metal pieces for the industrial industry. “We fabricated screw conveyers and machine frames for cheese manufacturers, as well as completed single jobs for other customers. George would meet with the customers to find out their needs and work through the design,” Sue says.

Diversifying the Business

Like many U.S. businesses, the Great Recession hit Astro Engineering. “We wanted to expand into other business sectors to make our company more robust,” Sue says. A tragic event catapulted Astro into the architectural industry. In August 2007, the Interstate 35W Mississippi River bridge in Minneapolis, collapsed, sending cars, trucks and a school bus into the river below. “That was such a sad day,” she recalls. In the aftermath of the collapse, there was an urgent need to rebuild the bridge. With experience as a fabricator of cable railing for the residential housing industry, the company was called on in 2008 to construct cable railing for the newly designed bridge. Astro fabricated the cable railing that lines the walkway underneath the bridge along the riverbank.

Seizing the opportunity to broaden its customer base, Astro hired Chris Rock to expand its capabilities with the construction industry. Rock’s vast experience in architectural metal fabrication helped to strengthen that side of the business. “George is highly adept at designing and problem-solving for the industrial industry, while Chris brought skills in working with architects and interpreting architectural prints,” Sue says. The company soon began to win high-profile contracts, including a project to provide stainless steel guard railing and other fabrications for the Minneapolis-St. Paul light-rail transit system.

The Best and Brightest

Astro takes pride in hiring only the best and brightest. The company offers an attractive compensation package, provides on-the-job training and has developed an apprenticeship program. “Our lead welders take new employees under their wings to show them the ropes,” Sue says. “They receive hands-on training on actual projects, and we provide opportunities to stretch their abilities, gradually increasing the complexity of their projects so they continue to grow.” The company provides a flexible work environment, accommodating employee schedule requests as much as possible.

The company also brought on son, Tony, who worked various roles, eventually becoming Chief Operating Officer. “Tony had worked with the company throughout high school, and George really felt he would be a good fit for the business,” Sue says. With a degree in industrial engineering and an affinity for business, Tony put in place processes and procedures that provided a solid framework for the growing business.

Tony attributes the company’s success to expertise and a collaborative team environment. “We have very talented and skilled craft workers, and they work very well together to solve problems and meet the needs of our clients.” The company also encourages a “lean” mindset. “If an employee has a better way to do a job, we want to know. We are always looking for efficiencies,” Tony says.

The company expects employees to look out for themselves and others. “If an employee is doing a job that becomes very repetitive, we want to change up the job and routine to avoid a repetitive-motion injury. We care about the health of our employees,” he says. To recognize good work, Astro rewards employees for “random acts of excellence” and awards yearly bonuses.

“Helping to grow and transform the business into where we are today has been a very exciting process,” Tony says. “This is an exciting industry, and there is a uniqueness to every project.”

The company shares these unique projects at quarterly meetings. “We love to see the end result of our work,” Sue adds. “We share photos of completed projects, and our people get to see what they’ve created out in the community. Astro employees create real products that people need and use.”