In 1973, Josef P. Hecker started Eifel Pattern and Model Company in Fraser, Michigan to provide tooling to automotive suppliers. After immigrating to America from Kreuzau, Germany and working more than 15 years in the automotive and aircraft industries, Hecker looked to capitalize on his wealth of knowledge in the industrial patterns and models trade and established a company of his own.

The small shop, named after a mountainous region in Germany, takes in more than 200 custom jobs per year and employs more than 20 highly skilled professionals. Eifel has grown into one of the industry's leading product development and production tooling firms with a number of prominent Tier 1 automotive customers.

Specializing in the product development cycle, from supporting studio styling with full product design to prototyping and production tooling, Eifel produces such products as steering wheels, vehicle aftermarket parts, air bag housing units, car center consoles, headlamps and seat back panels. Eifel also provides specialized services such as studio consulting, on-site data presentations and professional contracting services.

Though Eifel's current and future status appears promising, this was not always the case. As with any industry, the business was subject to ebbs and flows and Eifel was not immune. During the mid-eighties in a technology-driven automotive industry, many small businesses, like Eifel, experienced a reduction in business and suffered from an inability to compete for jobs. Many of the small businesses folded.

In the mid 1980's, Josef Hecker brought in his son Richard to help refocus the business. Richard, who grew up working around his father's shop, had made a name for himself in the industry after obtaining a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech and working as an engineer for General Motors.

The younger Hecker came in with a plan to capitalize on advanced technology and merged the new discipline with Eifel's existing capabilities. By 1989, his responsiveness to industry trends and efforts to modernize Eifel's resources and equipment, proved to be successful. Eifel attracted new business and growth, allowing the company to survive when hundreds of other small tool and die shops couldn't make the transition from handcrafted patterns and models to computer-assisted design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM).

"The whole industry had collapsed and there was no need for a model shop anymore," says Richard Hecker. "It was just me and my dad at the time and we knew we had to change the face of the company in order to survive. Instead of modeling and patterns, we went to CAD design and injection molds."

For Eifel, survival and future success meant keeping a steady eye on industry trends and taking advantage of cutting edge technology. Over the past 10 years the company has invested $3 million into advanced computerized design software and state-of-the-art CNC machining centers. Of the company's multimillion-dollar capital investments, $700,000 was made during the past year alone.

"Though the amount seems like a substantial investment for a small company, it was something we had to do to remain competitive," says Rick Hecker. "The upside of that investment was the company seeing immediate positive results."

With a new arsenal of technology, equipment and know-how at its disposal, Eifel positioned itself as one of the quickest "Concept to Completion" toolmakers in the business. Using cross-functional teams of CAD designers, engineers, and toolmakers in the initial concept phase of a program, Eifel not only ensures that all design and manufacturing concerns are implemented in the part design, but also that the overall product development cycle is shortened, part repeatability is delivered and program costs are reduced.

In 2000, Eifel emerged from the shadow of a shrinking industry with a new approach to business and a new company name - Eifel Inc. But the Michigan design and manufacturing firm's evolution would not stop there. Shortly following came new ownership. Richard Hecker completed a buyout of his father's company, taking the reigns and guiding Eifel into the future.

Richard built on a philosophy that existed under his father's leadership and made it a focal point - People, Process & Technology. The three combined form the nucleus of a successful business operation.

"Within a good business model each of these areas should be just as important as the other. We put the best people in place and support their growth while devoting resources to obtaining the right equipment and implementing the best methods." said Hecker. "You have to invest in all three in order to be successful."

Today, Eifel's expertise is derived from more than 30 years of business experience in providing turnkey solutions for the company's many satisfied automotive and aerospace customers. Computer aided design and manufacturing are an integral part of Eifel's on-going success in a highly competitive marketplace.