Performance Gear Systems, Inc. of Woodridge, Illinois celebrated its 10th year in business on October 31st, 2007. The company founder and owner, Pat O’Donnell began the business as a gear design and consulting operation specializing in gears made from engineering thermo plastics. Eventually, the company began to manufacture some of the gears that they helped design, and has grown into one of the most respected specialty gear molders in the United States. Building a business during this time period has not been easy. Economic pressures, as well as a trend to move molding operations to offshore facilities has not deterred Performance Gear from creating a growing and profitable company. “I am truly blessed by the people who have come to work at Performance Gear,” says owner Pat O’Donnell, “they are what have made this company what it is today.” Performance Gear Systems, Inc. continues to grow in this niche plastic gearing market place.
Many companies, who have tried to source plastic gearing offshore, are now returning to domestic sources. In addition, repeat business from happy customers and new accounts have spurred on the growth. The engineering, design, and molding of plastic gearing is much different than generic injection molding. “There are methods of design, quality, inspection, and manufacturing that are so specific to plastic gears, that it is imperative a true gear company is contracted to do the job” says Keith Hansen, Marketing Director. “In addition, we take our customer’s proprietary design very seriously. After all, the gears are normally the heart of our customer’s mechanism, and no one wants those designs in the public domain.”
In addition to designing and injection molding gears, Performance Gear Systems, Inc. is also assembling plastic gear boxes, and provides many other value added gear services. They can be contacted at 630-739-6666 or visit their web site at www.performance-
