After 16 weeks, 22 states, and over 13,000 miles, the Manufacturing Express has finally arrived at our 80th and final event of the 2024 tour. We could not have picked a better company to close out our expedition than Husco in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Located less than 30 minutes away from the city of Milwaukee, Husco is a quintessential example of the strength of midwest manufacturing, and the positive impact it can have on surrounding communities.
Husco manufactures hydraulic components for vehicles. Anything with an engine and wheels requires hydraulic components to function, and Husco ensures they function efficiently. Here at their Waukesha facility, which employs 450, they specialize in the automotive industry. The components made here are used in vehicles made by General Motors, Subaru, Volkswagen, and many others. Even the Ford F-150 we are giving away has 10-20 internal parts that were manufactured by Husco.
The company has built a strong reputation in the industry due to the bespoke solutions it offers every customer. There is no Husco product catalog, rather every piece is made custom to accommodate the needs of the buyer. This level of care and attention to detail is why so many manufacturers choose Husco to supply their products with the hydraulics they need.
Husco also puts a lot of care back into the community in which they operate. One of the company’s main philanthropic efforts, the brainchild of former CEO Gus Ramirez, is their significant contributions to St. Augustine Preparatory Academy in Milwaukee. Started in 2017 with only 200 students, the school has quickly grown into one of the top K-12 schools in the city with 1700 students and is on track to educate 5% of all students in Milwaukee. This school is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of students through its highly rated engineering and computer science programs and creating opportunities for young people right here in Milwaukee.
This initiative is an enormous source of pride for Gus Ramirez. Having acquired the company in 1985, Ramirez was instrumental in growing the company from $20 million in revenue to $550 million. An immigrant who moved to the United States from Puerto Rico when he was 5 years old, Ramirez and Husco embody the great American story. With a little hard work and a dream, anything is possible in America.
That’s why Husco has been so dedicated to creating educational opportunities for young people in Milwaukee. They know the value of a good education, and are focused on growing the next generation of leaders that will keep the midwest strong and power the country into the future.
As American manufacturing leads this country into a stronger future, Husco will be a part of it.. Their hydraulics are what make our engines more fuel efficient, whether they are traditional or electric. This creates a more sustainable future for all of us, and allows drivers of all kinds to go farther than ever before. And as we’ve seen over the past 16 weeks of this tour, equipment manufacturers make it easier for the Americans who build, power, and feed our world.
