Cudahy manufacturer growing, achieves game-changing certification
Staff and community leaders gather to celebrate Modular Powers & Data’s recent ISO 9001 certification.
One walk across the manufacturing floor at Modular Power & Data (MPD) shows remnants of their metal fabricating history. From restaurant menu boards to lake piers, the company’s client base has been as diverse as the work they perform.
But now MPD is turning the lion’s share of its attention to next-generation technology, producing electrical components that are helping power data centers and other sectors, both here and throughout the country.
“We are a small company, however, behind the ownership and our talented team, we have pedigree,” said Erik Thompson, Chief Operating Officer. “Our products are going to hyper-scalers. Our products are going to the big guys. We’re doing business with large electrical contractors. We have access to employees on the labor side and professional side to scale and we’re hungry.”
Thompson and his business partner purchased C R Industries in 2022 with the vision of transforming the metal fabricator into a high-performing electrical products company. They began working with MPD – which was in that space – in 2023, merging the two companies last year. The company now has 90 employees between two sites, the other in Dane.
And just last week, MPD announced a huge milestone. The company achieved ISO 9001 certification, a rigorous process underscoring its commitment to quality, consistency and operational excellence.
“Five percent of manufacturing sites in the United States are certified,” said Erik Thompson, Chief Operating Officer at MPD, adding that many larger purchasers won’t work with suppliers that don’t have this level of certification. “It’s a pretty big deal and it’s already opened up bigger conversations.”
Bigger conversations involve larger orders from leading companies, many of which are now in the artificial intelligence and data center space. Thompson said that their work with data center developers is a growth sector for them.
“Last year we did about $10 million in data center work,” said Thompson, adding that figure was roughly half of the company’s business last year. “This year we’ll more than double that, for sure, potentially surpassing it in just two orders.”
But fulfilling those orders will involve more growth. Thompson said MPD is preparing for the increased business.
“We are adding a lot of professional staff right now in preparation for when these orders are released,” said Thompson. “I think we’re in a really interesting, really great spot.”
