The Piece Makers

Based in Oklahoma City, Wilspec Technologies, Inc. is about as centrally located as a US company can be, but owner and CEO Larry Wilhelm doesn’t see this as an obstacle to expansion. By 2001 Wilspec had established operations in China, and by 2005 it had fully penetrated the Asian market, moving on in 2006 to establish itself in Europe as well. Now, a decade later, the firm has solidified its reputation as a leading supplier of sensors, controls, and engineered systems for HVAC, refrigeration, automotive, and general industrial applications worldwide.

After expanding into Europe, Wilspec continued to introduce a range of new offerings to its product lineup, including contactors, relays, pressure transducers, filter driers, and accumulators. At the same time, the company continued its reach into new markets, establishing itself in India, Scandinavia, Turkey, Egypt, and Korea. Today, Wilspec sells products to more than 150 OEM manufacturers in 28 countries around the globe.

Such phenomenal growth cannot come without passionate leadership, and Wilhelm’s passion for design and engineering started at an early age. Throughout his childhood, Wilspec’s leader dreamed of being an astronaut and designing space vehicles, but after completing his degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of Oklahoma in the early 1990s, he was unable to find a design-engineering position in the aerospace industry.

As a result, Wilhelm changed his career path and focused on the industrial-equipment market, where he began as a product-development engineer before returning to Oklahoma to start Wilspec. “I wanted to create an American-based company that offers extensive customer service while providing engineering solutions to meet specific application needs and industry expertise to assist customers in field applications,” Wilhelm says.

Wilspec’s current range of products includes pressure controls, electrical components, and valve and line components—with available services including customer-specific design, physical testing of products, and on-site technical assistance, all of which complement the company’s customer-centered approach. “We approach customer service with an open mind because we understand that all our customers’ specifications and needs are unique and equally important,” Wilhelm says.

The company also prides itself on providing its products and services globally, an effort that requires the work of a dedicated team focused on staying abreast of the latest advances in the industry. “I feel our best ‘best practice’ would be hiring the best people and, in turn, educating our employees and broadening their knowledge of this industry,” Wilhelm says. “Once employees have a better understanding of the industry and how we as a business fit in the industry, we can determine which department would benefit most from their skill set. This approach also aids in offering individuals opportunities to grow their careers, specifically within Wilspec.”

And Wilhelm adds that Wilspec’s global capabilities and employee base are robust enough to handle a variety of different demands. “Customer applications differ from continent to continent,” he says, “due to variations in conditions in which applications operate. Therefore, our components are tailored to meet end-user application needs while maximizing operating efficiency.”

Wilhelm foresees future opportunities in after-market sales and would eventually like to penetrate the e-commerce market by better using the Wilspec website. “Wilspec is dedicated to providing the highest-quality products, designed to meet customer specifications,” Wilhelm says. “Our dedication is backed by strong core values, including world-class engineering, leadership, and a passion to exceed customer satisfaction.” ABQ