Biography

RAYMOND THOMAS WILTGEN

Deerfield, IL 60015 • 847-826-8740 • rwiltgen@comcast.net

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY

During the past 20 years, Raymond Wiltgen has achieved exceptional results in transforming manufacturing operations into highly profitable, efficient, and productive enterprises. Applying extensive knowledge of financial, engineering, sales, manufacturing, HR, and technology functions, Mr. Wiltgen has been able to effect positive change in all operational areas. Whether opening remote facilities, relocating corporate offices, overhauling business and manufacturing processes, or merging companies into a cohesive unit, he has realized rapid outcomes in bringing companies to greater levels of excellence.

Most recently, Mr. Wiltgen served as CEO of Northwestern Precision Manufacturing, an ultra-high-precision mold manufacturer. Recruited to boost the profitability of an under-performing company, he immediately reduced overhead, eliminated non-performing business units, streamlined the finance department, and restructured the sales team. The resulting improvements were widespread and impressive. In just three months, Mr. Wiltgen eliminated $2 million net annual cash burn to zero. He refocused the manufacturing team on quality and delivery and the engineering team on service, while slashing accounting costs 50%. This was just another example of his ability to turn companies into top performers.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Wiltgen, with two business partners, purchased the Majestic Mold Corporation, growing the business 18% each year for eight years (1990 – 1998). In his position as Managing Partner, he increased revenues from $1.2 million to $4.5 million by introducing advanced mold design techniques (including 3-D solid modeling) and implementing sales initiatives that generated 50% of overall business. His manufacturing upgrades resulted in 50% decreased lead times, 99% on-time delivery, 40% reduction in rework, and revenue-per-employee increases of more than 100%.

All of these improvements attracted the attention of Product Development Technologies (PDT). Mr. Wiltgen conducted the due diligence and orchestrated the merger/leveraged buyout with PDT and became one of the four principals of the newly merged company (1998 – 2005). In typical go get ‘em fashion, he smoothly integrated the companies, staff, and operations. His impact on PDT can be seen in the advanced tool design and corporate technology that he spearheaded. He managed an IT staff that supported branch offices in three remote U.S. locations and two international locations, and he facilitated PDT acquiring ISO 13485 and 9001 certifications.

Among his other PDT achievements are a 133% increase in sales, very favorable real estate lease terms, expansion of suppliers throughout Europe, Asia, and South America, and introduction of SMART-Tooling™ design and manufacturing techniques. While his competitors struggled in the post-dot.com bust, Mr. Wiltgen led his company to sustained and increased profits. As Managing Partner, he was the driving force in PDT becoming one of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in 2000 and 2001.

When the Australian-based TZ presented an unsolicited bid to purchase PDT, Mr. Wiltgen headed the negotiations and received four times the EBITDA. Staying on for a two-year commitment (2005 – 2007) to oversee the transition, he exceeded the target EBITDA after a one-year earn-out period. During those two years, he led the technology group in maintaining 99.5% uptime for eight remote locations in the U.S., Europe, and Australia. He opened sites in Boston, Detroit, Austin, and Los Angeles, and relocated the TZ corporate headquarters to a new Chicago location.

Among Mr. Wiltgen’s professional accomplishments are induction into the Chicago Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame, winning of KPMG’s High Tech Award in 2002, and earning PTC’s 2001 Design and Engineering Award. Much of the success in keeping his companies on the leading-edge of technology is a direct outcome of his own technical proficiency, having completed 10,000 hours of design experience with Pro-Engineer and another 10,000 with a variety of other manufacturing and design systems. Raymond is the former Chairman of the Tooling and Manufacturing Association (2008) and has been an active board member since 2001.

EDUCATION

Mr. Wiltgen received his MBA (with a concentration in Finance) from Webster University and BS in Industrial Engineering (with a concentration in Aerospace) from Texas A&M.