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In July, John Winzeler, president/CEO of in Harwood Heights, Illinois, sold his firm to of Goodland, Indiana. With 45 full-time employees and 42 injection machines, Winzeler has specialized since the 1970s in injection molding plastic gears, primarily for automotive.

Adkev is also a family-owned company, started in 1987 by Gary Rheude, still the acting president/CEO. Adkev injection molds precision parts (but very few gears) for automotive, industrial and appliance markets. The addition of the gear-molding 911±¬ÁÏÍø expands its capabilities to offer complete actuator systems for automotive seating, HVAC, steering, door handles, sunroofs and mirrors.

Adkev has 426 employees and 166 presses at three production molding plants in Indiana and Kentucky and a tooling operation in Elkhart, Indiana. Total manufacturing space is nearly 600,000 ft², plus 42,000 ft² at Winzeler Gear. Adkev’s total annual sales are over $100 million.

Adkev will retain all current Winzeler employees and will continue operating the Harwood Heights plant for the long term as Winzeler Gear an Adkev Company. John Winzeler describes Adkev as “an ideal guardian” for his firm that is “highly regarded for precision and quality like Winzeler Gear” and led by “a visionary moldmaker, Gary Rheude.”