HomeMy WebLinkAbout4981-22 Special Resolution Celebrating 100 yrs General Stamping & Metalworks BILL NO.22-47
SPECIAL RESOLUTION NO. 4981-22
A SPECIAL RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,INDIANA CELEBRATING THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF GENERAL
STAMPING&METALWORKS
Cliaftio,it all began in 1923, when H.P. Axelberg, the son of a Norwegian immigrant,recognized
opportunities with the growth of the Studebaker Organization and the University of Notre Dame; and
6)ffam24,those opportunities included serving industrial sheet metal needs by designing and building paint
booths, dust collectors, and air handling systems for the Studebaker automotive plants and building ventilation
systems and metal roofing for Notre Dame, eventually including replacing the gold leaf on the iconic Golden
Dome; and
Oftrarara, originally named General Sheet Metal Works and located on South Main Street, the company
joined many other South Bend Industries in the early 20th century, including the Birdsell Manufacturing
Company, Bendix Corporation, Honeywell, South Bend Lathe Works, the O'Brien Paint Corp., the South Bend
Toy Company, South Bend Range and the South Bend Watch Company as an important member of the South
Bend business community; and
Oftrararas,many industries suffered or failed during the Great Depression, GSMW was sustained by
municipal construction projects; and
61‘rarara,by the 1940's and the United States' entry into World War II, GSMW took on several projects
for Studebaker, as assembly lines were reconfigured to produce equipment for the war effort; and
Wiraraw, after the war, residential construction products boomed, creating new metal fabrication
opportunities; and
Oftrarara,as these opportunities increased and demand for sheet metal contracting decreased,metal .
fabrication became GSMW's primary focus and it became the principal supplier to Wheel Horse Products,
another strong South Bend Company; and
Oftrarara, customer demand led to the building of a new, dedicated facility in Tomah, Wisconsin, to
simplify a major customer's logistics; and
G by 2010, the company's rapid response in producing mounting infrastructure for the secondary
energy market led to significant expansion of its stamping, welding and assembly capacities; and
G►ji now known as General Stamping&Metalworks, the company employs over 250 people in South
Bend and approximately 70 in Tomah and is located in a new 190,000 square foot factory, strategically located
less than a mile from the Indiana Toll Road and U.S. Highway 31; and
Oftrarara,much has changed over the past 100 years, but much has stayed the same with the company
continuing to be a valued member of the South Bend business community with an Axelberg (John) succeeding
his father, Jim, as the owner and operator of the family business.
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Section I. The South Bend Common Council congratulates General Stamping& Metalworks for its
growth and evolution over the past one hundred years.
Section II The South Bend Common Council thanks General Stamping& Metalworks for its
commitment to its workers and the South Bend community.
Section III. The Common Council looks forward to the next one hundred years with the company as a
valued business in the community.
Section IV. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the Common
Council and approval by the Mayor.
5M, (aidteP 2022
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SAVOlk• r4C-3441-
Sharon McBride, President Sheila Niezgodski, 6th District Council
South Bend Common Council Mem er To
Canneth Lee, 1st District Council Member Kaien L. White, At Large Council Member
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Hen'ry,Davis,Jr., 2"' D istrict Cour it Member Lori . Hamann, At Large Council Member
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Troy Warner, 4th District,Council Member ` Rachel Tomas Morgan, At Large Council
Member
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E i Wax, 5th District Council Member