Company Snapshot
- Manufacturer: Imago Manufacturing
- Location: McHenry County, Illinois
- Industry: Precision CNC Machining
- Products/Services: Production CNC machining specializing in mill-turn components, five-axis machining, robotic automation, and close-tolerance manufacturing.
- MEP Partner: IMEC (Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center)
- Marketing Partner: B2Btail
The Challenge
Since opening its doors in 2007, Imago Manufacturing has focused on continuous improvement. Owner Ryan Bankel has consistently invested in automation, employee development, and operational excellence to remain competitive in an increasingly demanding manufacturing environment.
Like many small manufacturers, however, finding the resources to fund strategic improvements can be challenging. Whether pursuing ISO certification, training employees on new technology, implementing automation, or strengthening marketing efforts, every investment requires both time and capital.
Ryan wanted a trusted partner that could help identify opportunities, connect the company with resources, and maximize the impact of every investment.
That partner became IMEC.
A Long-Term Partnership for Growth
Ryan was introduced to IMEC through the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA), where he first learned about the organization’s grant-funded programs for Illinois manufacturers.
Over the next several years, IMEC became much more than a resource for grants. It became a trusted advisor that helped Imago identify opportunities to strengthen nearly every aspect of the business.
“We’ve had a good working relationship with IMEC for probably six, seven, maybe eight years now, and they’ve been really helpful facilitating a lot of these projects, not only grant-funded projects, but also continuations of those projects at a reasonable cost so we can keep improving.”
Through IMEC, Imago successfully leveraged numerous state, federal, and local programs to support strategic business initiatives, including:
- ISO certification
- Employee training
- CNC programming education
- Equipment implementation and training
- Automation initiatives
- Website development
- Search engine optimization
- Business development and digital marketing
Making Strategic Investments Possible
One of the greatest values IMEC provided was helping Imago access funding that allowed the company to make investments it may have otherwise delayed.
Ryan explained that virtually every time the company purchases new equipment or introduces new technology, IMEC helps connect the business with training resources and grant opportunities.
“If we buy a new piece of equipment… I always get a grant, and I ask the equipment supplier to break out the training so I can have a grant written for that and funded.”
Those investments have helped Imago continuously improve employee skills while keeping pace with advances in manufacturing technology.
Supporting Business Growth Beyond Operations
As Imago’s operational capabilities matured, IMEC helped the company focus on another critical area of growth, business development.
Working with McHenry County and trusted service 3rd party providers like B2Btail, IMEC helped Imago launch a digital marketing initiative designed to increase visibility, strengthen SEO, and build meaningful relationships through LinkedIn and educational content.
Rather than simply improving the company’s website, the project created a long-term strategy for communicating Imago’s expertise and differentiators.
The results extended well beyond marketing metrics.
A simple optimization to Ryan’s LinkedIn profile ultimately led to an invitation to appear on the MakingChips “Lights Out” podcast, an opportunity that expanded Imago’s visibility within the manufacturing community.
“That one little piece of information got me an opportunity to do several podcasts… It’s the kind of organic traction that you just can’t pay for.”
Measurable Impact
Over the course of its partnership with IMEC, Imago Manufacturing has achieved meaningful business improvements across multiple areas.
The digital marketing initiative alone produced:
- Significant growth in LinkedIn visibility
- Expanded YouTube and social media engagement
- Increased website-supporting content
- A disciplined content strategy
- Greater confidence in business development efforts
More importantly, customers began noticing.
Ryan shared that customers referenced content they had seen online and requested visits to learn from Imago’s manufacturing practices, creating new conversations that extended beyond quoting parts.
Social media growth also accelerated dramatically, with videos reaching tens of thousands of viewers and introducing Imago to entirely new audiences.
A Trusted Manufacturing Partner
Throughout every stage of Imago’s growth, IMEC has remained a consistent resource.
Whether helping secure funding, identifying improvement opportunities, facilitating strategic partnerships, or connecting Imago with industry expertise, IMEC has enabled the company to move forward with confidence.
Ryan summed up the value of the relationship simply:
“We’ve been able to accomplish a lot of stuff… It’s been a good benefit of being part of that organization.”
Reflecting specifically on the recent digital marketing initiative, he added:
“We’ve actually had a lot of success with the IMEC SEO Boost grant… I can’t thank McHenry County enough, Pete Hall, and all the people over there for working with us to get those projects off the ground because we’ve seen some incredible results because of it.”
Looking Ahead
Today, Imago Manufacturing continues to invest in automation, employee development, operational excellence, and strategic marketing.
With IMEC serving as a trusted partner, the company has built a repeatable process for identifying opportunities, accessing resources, and implementing improvements that strengthen its competitiveness.
For Imago Manufacturing, the relationship with IMEC has never been about a single project. It has been about creating a long-term partnership that helps the company continue evolving, innovating, and growing in an increasingly competitive manufacturing landscape.
