Caterpillar honors Wayne Metals as one of the best among its suppliers

Wayne Metals, in Markle, was honored Thursday, Jan. 27, for providing excellent service to Caterpillar Inc., a manufacturer of heavy trucks and construction equipment.

The Markle company produces structural parts for the metal bodies of Caterpillar products.

Wayne Metals received Caterpillar's Bronze Certificate in recognition of its record of delivery, quality and pricing. By earning the Bronze Certificate, Wayne Metals is eligible to receive more work from Caterpillar in the future.

"This is a really, really special day for us," company co-owner told the assembled employees, who halted production for the award ceremony.

Community leaders from Huntington and Wells counties were also in attendance.

"This is one of those things we don't get to do very often," said Caterpillar representative Ken Baugh.
Myers called the award the first part of "a journey" that Wayne Metals will take in increasing its role as a Caterpillar supplier. The Markle company will seek to improve its performance to earn subsequent awards, he said.

Because of the changes already implemented at Wayne Metals, Baugh said, "Recertification should be a piece of cake every year."

Wayne Metals opened in Fort Wayne in 1945 and moved to Markle in 1952. Since early 2001, the company has been owned by Myers and Jerome Henry. Wayne Metals is a long-time supplier to Caterpillar, with its role in supplying parts to Caterpillar increasing substantially in 2005.