Business View Magazine | February 2019

50 sees specs for a new part on Mondaymorning, that part will be shipped on Thursday for the customer to receive on Friday.Never having made that part before, the company will manufacture it in four days. It definitely sets it apart from the competition. That being said, state-of-the-art automation is a high priority for Fotofab, going forward the com- pany is set to spend a large amount of capital in that regard.While Cohen hesitates to give away the details, he notes,“There are positive effects to add- ing automation in our processes.Number one: it will allow us to get the product in our customers’ hands sooner.Number two: it will allow for more intricate designs and tighter tolerances.Number three: it will reduce the environmental waste streams created by the manufacturing process.”When it comes to stew- ardship, Fotofab is confident about its environmen- tal impact and footprint.The company recycles 100 percent of its excess metal. Chemistry is all recycled and the majority has secondary uses downstream, being reused in additional manufacturing processes. It relies on help from Scientific Control Labs as a key consultant on environmental concerns. Fotofab has 45 full-time employees,mostly long- term,while temporary workers are hired during busy periods.While not family-owned, the company is run as a family business in terms of caring about its people. It’s an important part of the culture that has helped with the longevity of the firm and worker retention. In Cohen’s words: “People stay because we treat themwell and they knowwe care.” In addition to employee loyalty, Fotofab has earned recognition among its customers, suppliers, and industry peers. In 2017, the Photo Chemical Machinery Institute (PCMI) celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since Foto- fab also started in Chicago in 1967, and has been a PCMI member for many years, the company was pleased to host the trade association’s anniversary events. A signature marketing technique continues to keep Fotofab in the public eye.According to Cohen,“Prior to 2000, direct mailing was our primarymarketing strategy and received a great response rate com- pared to the industry average.Why? Because we have a unique etched metal business card.We’ve sent out hundreds of thousands of these cards over the years. People keep them forever–in their desk, in their toolbox–it helps them remember us.” The iconic metal business cards are still personally handed out, and mailed out,whenever the opportu- nity presents itself.