Inside Weldon Solutions: Lessons From a Record Year and New Opportunities Ahead

A Q&A with President Travis Gentzler

As manufacturers face ongoing cost pressures, shifting domestic and global demand, and an increased focus on operational efficiencies, Weldon Solutions continues to prioritize practical, high-impact outcomes.

In our latest Q&A, President Travis Gentzler reflects on the company milestones that defined 2025, the challenges industrial customers navigated throughout the year, and how those experiences are currently shaping priorities for 2026. He also shares his perspective on automation investments and the role employee development plays in supporting long-term growth for Weldon Solutions.

Q: When you look back at 2025, what stands out as the most meaningful year-end milestone for the business and why?

In 2025, our most meaningful year-end milestone was achieving an all-time high in sales while maintaining consistent profit margins across our projects. That consistency reflects real improvement in how we quote work compared to prior years. It also speaks to the experience of our team—projects are being planned more thoughtfully, time is managed more effectively, and teams are focused on keeping hours down without sacrificing quality.

Q: How did your team help industrial customers improve their processes or operations in 2025?

By the nature of our work, every grinder and automation project we deliver is designed to improve customer processes. On the grinder side, projects are required to improve both cycle time and quality, and we consistently achieved those goals in 2025. On the automation side, our projects helped customers increase efficiency, reduce costs, and eliminate dark, dirty, and dangerous repetitive jobs—making their operations safer and more effective for the future.

Q: What trends or challenges did you consistently hear from customers last year—and how did that shape your solutions?

One of the most consistent challenges we faced in 2025 was the impact of government tariffs. Beyond the cost increases, the frequent changes made quoting and selling projects more difficult. This uncertainty caused many customers to slow their buying decisions as they evaluated whether tariffs might increase or decrease in the future, which influenced how we structured and timed project proposals.

Q: Based on those customer experiences, where do you see the biggest opportunities in 2026?

Based on our successes in 2025, we see opportunities in 2026 to pursue projects similar to the work we completed last year. That said, most economic indicators suggest 2026 will be a slower year overall, following a dip in production in the fourth quarter of 2025. Our biggest opportunities will be with customers who have priority projects that need to move forward regardless of tariff uncertainty.

Q: What advice would you give manufacturers evaluating automation investments this year?

The advice depends on whether a company already has automation in place. For those with existing automation, I would recommend focusing on projects that address their biggest bottlenecks—areas where limited resources are holding production back. Our sales and engineering teams can help evaluate where automation would deliver the most impact.

For companies new to automation, it’s worth starting with a broader evaluation of their processes to identify where automation makes the most sense. Beginning with a smaller, manageable project allows teams to gain comfort and experience before moving on to larger initiatives.

Q: What additional investments is Weldon making this year in its employee-owners and certifications to advance career development and scale new business opportunities?

As we entered 2026, we anticipated a slower start due to the economic downturn late last year. Rather than letting that time go unused, we focused on training and upskilling opportunities for our employee-owners. While we would always prefer to be busy, slower periods create valuable opportunities to invest in certifications, skill development, and engagement—strengthening our team and positioning the business for future growth.

Begin a project discussion with Weldon today. Our team of experts can help you determine the appropriate CNC grinder or engineer an automation solution to meet your specific facility needs, contact us today.

To hear more from Travis on the continued evolution of Weldon Solutions, check out our YouTube channel.