The Material Works, Ltd. (TMW) is a privately-held company committed to excellence in the toll processing of flat rolled metals. Our Processing Division performs slitting, blanking, cut-to-length, leveling and EPS processing for service centers and OEM manufacturers in the central and southern USA. The TMW Technology Division researches and develops new steel processing technologies that are used worldwide.
Many ingredients go into a successful enterprise, but the values by which the business is guided are the most important. TMW is guided by a set of principles, rooted in the Bible which, together, form the acronym ‘SHIELD.’ We learned of the SHIELD principles from our friends at Kingdom Capital, and adopted them as our own. They guide our planning, decision making and, above all, how we interact within the TMW family and with our customer and supplier partners.
Leading by Serving creates an empowered workforce and healthy team culture. Servant-leaders are cognizant of the power dynamics present in leadership and seek to serve and give, rather than coerce and take.
Scripture: Mark 10:42-45
Humility enables the flow of ideas and contribution by others. Leaders and teams marked by a confident humility celebrate each other, hire the best talent, and create strong feedback loops organizationally.
Scripture: Romans 12:3
Integrity creates the culture of trust and credibility needed for leadership and teamwork to flow. Trust is essential to the psychological safety required for teams to reach their highest contribution zone.
Scripture: Proverbs 10:9
A culture of Excellence reflects a high performing team who proactively and energetically challenge the status quo as they blend their strengths together synergistically.
Scripture: Colossians 3:23
Choosing to Love creates a magnetic culture where team members are seeking the good of the various stakeholders and empowering one another to their full potential.
Scripture – John 13:34-35
Diversity enables teams and organizations to harness the full perspectives, experiences, insights and skills of team members needed to face challenges and seize opportunities.
Scripture: 1st Corinthians 12:12
Our philosophy of service extends to our community and charitable causes that advance and glorify God. We help with both financial contributions and volunteer time from our employees. The organizations below are some of those we are blessed to be able to support. Please click on their logos to learn about them; perhaps you will want to support them as well.
The Material Works, Ltd. was founded in 1992 by Kenneth Voges, a pioneer in coil processing technology who, in 1959, had founded Red Bud Industries, a leading coil processing machinery producer. Though TMW and Red Bud Industries are separate, independent companies, this common heritage gave TMW a particularly strong foundation in metals processing technology.
IL Governor Jim Edgar, Kenneth Voges, Kevin Voges and Alan Mueth at the 1993 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
TMW moved into a new 90,000 sq. ft. building with a single processing line. Kenneth Voges led the original 15 employees, most from RBI, and began toll processing for many of the same companies who had previously purchased processing equipment from him.
A second cut-to-length line is added to meet demand.
Kenneth Voges begins a multi-year effort to restore historic buildings in downtown Red Bud. One of those buildings – the Ziebold Bank Building – later becomes the administrative offices of TMW.
TMW Headquarters at the Christmas Holiday season.
Kenneth Voges officially retires. His son – Kevin- takes on the role of President of TMW and begins planning an aggressive expansion of the business.
The 1997 TMW Team Photo. In two years TMW had gone from one cut-to-length line and 15 employees to four cut-to-length lines and 45 employees.
Construction begins on a state-of-the-art 216,000 sq. ft. TMW processing center on the Kaskaskia River just outside Red Bud.
TMW’s new Toll Processing Center ‐ served by road, rail and barge ‐ opens at 10351 Riverview Lane.
Industry’s most advanced high-speed slitter ‐ capable of 2000 fpm speeds ‐ added to the new plant.
TMW installs world’s first heavy gauge stretcher-leveler which produces flatter material than temper pass.
TMW’s Technology Division is established with the goal of developing new processing technology.
A Technology Division prototype innovation – SCS – is installed at the new plant. Ten more SCS processing lines were eventually commissioned around the world.
The 2005 TMW Team with SCS line in background.
TMW achieves ISO 9001 certification for flat rolled metals processing.
Technology Division begins developing environmentally friendly replacement for acid pickling – Eco Pickled Surface (EPS).
The first-ever EPS pickling line enters commercial production, having demonstrated performance and economic feasibility in its testing phase.
EPS technology wins the American Metal Market’s ‘Excellence in Steel’ award in the Best Environmental Responsibility/Stewardship” category.
TMW Team 2011 with EPS Sheet Line in background
EPS Generation 2 technology enters operation in the EPS Sheet Line at TMW. Generation 2 improves EPS economics and is the catalyst for global EPS acceptance.
The 270,000 sq. ft. TMW-Jingu facility in Fuyang, China
TMW establishes a joint venture with Jingu, China’s largest wheel manufacturer, to build EPS Cells for the Chinese and Korean markets.
EPS wins another American Metal Market Excellence in Steel award in the category ‘Best Process Innovation.’
The original TMW plant is adapted to be the Technology Division Development Center, where new innovations are tested, proven and demonstrated.
Generation 3 of EPS Technology is implemented in the new EPS Coil Line installed in the Technology Division Development Center.
TMW Team 2017 with EPS Coil Line in background
As TMW enjoys its 25th year, we proudly reflect on:
5/16″ Stretcher Leveler (T18) Major Upgrades:
5/16″ Slitter (T22) Begins Production:
TMW Kicks off its 30th Anniversary Year in a Big Way
EPS Generation 4 debuts, replacing the Gen 3 Turbine Chamber with two smaller, simpler and more efficient Turbine Chambers. Gen 4 further lowers EPS pickling costs and ushers in a new era of growth for EPS Technology.
