About LMI Manufacturing
LMI is a 40,000 sq. ft. facility with a team of around 35 dedicated employees, delivering expert fabrication services with personalized attention you won’t find at a massive manufacturer.
From Our Roots in Agriculture to Advanced Fabrication – 60+ Years Strong
Founded in 1960 on a family farm in the Midwest, LMI Manufacturing began with a simple goal: make life easier for local farmers. Our story started with the invention of the Luedke Hay Mover/Hay Conditioner that dramatically cut down harvest time—and continued with innovative equipment like bale throwers that eventually caught the attention of companies like Ford.
Over the decades, LMI has grown from farm-based ingenuity to full-scale, professional metal fabrication, always staying true to our hands-on, customer-first approach.
As time progressed, LMI’s reputation began to be known in the community in which internationally known manufacturers asked to work with LMI within a fabrication relationship. This catapulted LMI from a small agricultural manufacturer to a full-blown welding and fabrication shop.
Today, LMI is a recently renovated 40,000 sq. ft. facility with a team of around 35 dedicated employees. Our commitment to continuous improvement and adaptability ensures that we meet the ever-changing demands of our clients.?
Lloyd Luedtke Hay Mover/Hay Conditioner Invention Source: Jim Luedtke Photo Collection
Leadership Team
Randy Hasby
President
Focuses on managing the technology and ensures the plant remains operational while making critical decisions that contribute to LMI’s success.
Marcie Gundrum
Controller
Oversees the financial management, ensuring the company’s financial health. While playing a pivotal role in LMI’s production flow.
Ryan Konicek
Owner
Purchased the company in 2018 and is responsible for growth, with a key focus on expanding LMI’s market presence adn capbilities.
Joe Swessel
Engineering Manager
Leads the engineering team to ensure every part is made to perfection and maintains high-quality standards.
Adam Bertz
Shop Manager
Manages plant operations and maintains high-quality standards at LMI. Works closely with teh staff on the floor to ensure every part is made with the utmost precision.
Company History
1960
Early Beginnings
LMI was founded in Hartford, Wisconsin, as a small job shop. During this time, Lloyd Luedtke invented the Bale Thrower, which was patented and manufactured for Ford Motors.
1969
Innovation
LMI revolutionized tractor pulling with the creation of the first mechanical tractor puller, “The Elimnator.”
1985
Lance Industries
LMI created Lance Industries, which was the first tumbler in the United States. With the creation of the tumbler, Lance industries was founded and has been serving the food processing industry for 40 years.
2018
New Ownership
LMI was purchased by new ownership, ensuring continued growth with significant expansions to the building’s infrastructure and capabilities, while maintaining the company’s strong history, customer service and culture.
2025
ISO Compliance
LMI achieves ISO Compliance, setting a new standard for quality and excellence in manufacturing.
Precision Metal Fabrication with a Human Touch
At LMI, we’re more than a metal fabricator—we’re your partner in production. Our expertise centers on three core capabilities: laser cutting, forming, and welding. These are the areas where we truly shine, delivering top-tier results with exceptional speed, quality, and consistency.
Whether it's tight-tolerance laser work, precision forming, or complex weldments, our team combines technical know-how with advanced equipment to bring your parts to life exactly as designed. From robotic welding systems to a 6kW big bed fiber laser with a large cutting bed to offline-programmed press brakes, we’re equipped for efficiency and excellence.
But our capabilities don’t stop there. We also offer a full suite of metal fabrication services under one roof, including turret punching, machining, grinding, sawing, and assembly. That means we can support your entire project, from prototype to production—seamlessly and with fewer handoffs.
No matter the complexity or volume, our goal is always the same: to deliver smart, reliable, and scalable fabrication solutions with a personal touch.
Why Customers Choose LMI
Fast, Accurate
Quotes
With our new estimating software, 80% of quotes-especially for standard materials and processes-are turned around within 24-48 hours.
On-Time
Every Time
We reserve 20% of shop capacity for emergency jobs to help customers hit critical deadlines.
Smart Shop
FLoor
Real-time dashboards show machine status, track part progress, and ensure we can promise accurate lead times prior to taking on a project.
Creative
Manufacturing
Support
Need help optimizing a part? Our team helps customers prototype and move efficiently into production.
Outstanding
Weld Quality
Our welding department is our pride and differentiator-customers regularly tell us we provide the best quality weldments they’ve received.
Built on Values. Driven by Technology.
We believe in:
Dependability & Trust
our clients know we'll come through.
Professionalism & Expertise
with a small-town feel-combined with over six decades of experience.
Collaborative Communication
because partnership and your production matters to us.
Continuous Improvement
through investments in the latest technology and process innovation.
We’re not just fabricators. We’re champions of performance and mentors in metal-offering tailored solutions, honest advice, and long-term support that helps our clients grow.
Investing in the future
LMI is embracing the next era of smart manufacturing. We’re actively investing in technology that will soon link our quoting software directly to our ERP system-paving the way for real-time insights and a fully paperless production process. Combined with recent innovations like robotic welding, part tracking, and advanced capacity planning, we’re positioning LMI to set a new standard for what a mid-size metal fabrication shop can deliver.
And we’re not stopping. We’re exploring future technologies-from AI-driven data decisions to human-assist robotics-that will enhance precision, productivity, and partnership.
Staying True to Our
Community
Though we’ve evolved into a nationwide metal fabrication partner, we never forget where we came from. Whether it's helping a local farmer with a quick weld or supporting nearby tech schools with internships and job opportunities, we stay rooted in community connection. We’re proud to offer good-paying jobs to local talent and contribute to the region’s industrial growth.
Let’s build something better – Together
Whether you’re launching a new project or looking for a more reliable fabrication partner, we’d love to hear from you. Start with a quick call or in-person visit to see if we’re the right fit. If you value quality, precision, and partnership, you’ll feel right at home with LMI.