Top 10 2025

1. PRODUCTION BEGINS IN NORTH BUILDING NEW ADDITION

After nearly a year of construction, production in the 70,000 square foot addition to the north facility began in May with the final piece of equipment moved in November. A mezzanine was designed and installed in the new addition, matching the Jasper building to aid in space savings initiatives.

2. EQUIPMENT INVESTMENTS CONTINUE

A new Mazak FG-400 Neo Tube Laser arrived at Co-Line in May and began producing parts in July. The new machine increased Co-Line’s capabilities and capacities, taking the tube processing power to a new level!

3. IOWA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR VISITS CO-LINE

In July, Co-Line was honored to host Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer, State Representative Barb Kniff McCulla, and Iowa State Senator Ken Rozenboom for a tour of the manufacturing facilities. In addition, Co-Line hosted many tours in 2025 from high school to college groups, electric REC’s to customer and vendor tours, Co-Line tries to be tour ready at all times!

4. TEAM CO-LINE DONATIONS ABOUND

Over $4,180 was donated to local Fire and EMS organizations on behalf of the Co-Line employees during the November Pay it Forward event. A record number of pounds of non-perishable food was brought in for Co-Line’s ninth annual food drive. Over 40 organizations with employee ties received monetary, product, or service donations from Co-Line and the Brand family in 2025. Co-Line partnered with Grinnell schools and participated in building an arch for the football field entrance, uniquely designed and fabricated by the fabrication team. In September, employees teamed up to cut wood for a former Co-Liner battling cancer.

5. WORK FLOW IMPROVEMENTS INITIATED COMPANY-WIDE

With the additional square footage added to the north building, continuous improvement ideas thrived for work flow improvements. Robot weld items not needing powder coat were realigned in the new north building addition leaving space in the south building for new equipment investments. The latch assembly joined the Jasper assembly building for labor share gains. The lathe department moved south to join forces with the saw department. The space gear lasers were moved north to align with parts coming off the stamping presses. And we aren’t done yet! More to come in 2026.

6. TRAINING INITIATIVES FOCUS ON DEPARTMENTAL SAFETY TRAINING

With safety at the forefront of everything we do at Co-Line, additional resources have been allocated to departmental safety training. With Bill Wilkerson becoming a dedicated trainer on staff now, along with additional resources from compliance and human resources, comprehensive training programs are being implemented throughout the company.

7. BUSINESS GROWTH AND NEW HIRES CONTINUE

While some industries and local businesses are reducing hours and showing a down turn in sales, Team Co-Line’s diversity continues to bring in new customers and see growth from established customers. Along with the sales growth, a large number of employees joined the Co-Line team this year. Employee referrals, outstanding fireworks, satisfied customers, and even our vendors are still the best marketing tools we have at attracting new team members and customers.

8. IMTS FEATURE – HEARTLAND IN MOTION

The Association for Manufacturing Technology hosts The International Manufacturing Technology Show each year and AMT spent several days filming and interviewing on the Co-Line campus. IMTS is where the creators, builders, sellers, and drivers of manufacturing technology come to connect and be inspired. A feature called “How Co-Line and Hexagon are Redefining American Manufacturing” hit media outlets in the fall of 2025. Co-Line’s nesting department was also featured in the September issue of Metal Forming Magazine.

9. FUN IN THE SUN AT CO-LINE

The annual Co-Line family picnic was held the first Saturday in August with nearly 600 family and friends in attendance. It was a wet and wild time for all ages! Foam cannons, sprinklers, bounce houses, fishing contests, food trucks, and dueling pianos were a huge hit for picnic goers. And of course, the fireworks were an amazing end to a fun evening. Fun with Fabulous Friday events also continued in 2025 with competitions, gifts, food, and more.

10. CAMPUS WIDE IMPROVEMENTS

New flag poles along with a relocation of the Co-Line made globe are on display at the entrance to the Co-Line campus, highlighting the company slogan, “Shaping the Metal that Moves the World”. New parking lots, west highway pavement extension, paved sidewalk along Lake Seven-A, and many landscape additions were all completed in 2025.