Custom Machine Building

D.W. Ram designs and builds machines for manufacturers whose production problems can’t be solved with off-the-shelf equipment. Our custom machine building team in Tinley Park, Illinois takes a blueprint, a worn-out machine, or a plain description of what your line needs to do, then designs, machines, welds, and assembles a machine built for that one job.

We have been building custom-built machinery for Chicago-area plants since 1981. From our 28,000-square-foot facility in Tinley Park, we help design solutions, machine parts, build prototypes, and assemble finished machines.

Most of our projects start with one of three situations:

• The machine you need doesn’t exist. Your process is specific enough that no catalog machine fits it.
• Your current machine can’t keep up. Output has outgrown the equipment, or constant breakdowns are costing you production time.
• A part keeps failing. A component wears out, rusts, or breaks faster than it should, and replacing it with the same design only resets the clock.

In each case, the goal is the same: a machine or component that fits your process, holds up in your environment, and keeps the line running.

1. Define the problem. We review your drawings, specs, or the existing machine and talk through what it needs to do, how fast, and under what conditions.
2. Design the solution. We work from your blueprints or design from scratch. If a failing part is the issue, we look at material and geometry before we copy it.
3. Prototype when it makes sense. For new designs, a prototype lets you test fit and function before committing to a full build.
4. Machine, weld, and assemble. Parts are produced in-house with CNC machining and welding and fabrication, then assembled and checked for efficiency.
5. Install with minimal downtime. On past projects, we have installed new equipment overnight, including during a client’s scheduled maintenance period, so production could keep running.

Our machines and parts run in plants across airline and aviation, commercial food, medical, production, railroad, telecommunications, and defense. Each has its own demands, such as stainless steel that stands up to washdown in food processing, or precise parts for aviation and medical equipment.

• New, old, or one-of-a-kind parts. We produce parts to your specifications, including components for older machines that are no longer supported. When no drawing exists, our reverse engineering team can create one.
• Quick turnaround. We offer quick turnaround times on new, old, and custom parts.
• High quality and precision. Parts are produced to your specifications with a focus on quality and precision.
• Affordability. Custom work is priced to stay affordable. Request a quote to see what your project will cost.

Manufacturers looking for custom machine builders near Chicago will find D.W. Ram in Tinley Park, in Chicago’s south suburbs, where we have worked since 1981. Chicago-area plants get one local team for design, machining, welding, and assembly.

Send us your drawings, specs, or a description of the problem, and we’ll recommend the right approach and provide a quote. Request a quote or call 708.633.7900 to talk with our team.

Custom machine building is the design and fabrication of a machine made for one specific application, instead of buying standard equipment and adapting your process to it. D.W. Ram designs, machines, welds, and assembles custom machinery for manufacturers whose needs aren’t met by off-the-shelf options.

Both. We can build directly from your blueprints and specifications, or design the machine from scratch based on what it needs to do. For new designs, we can build a prototype first so you can test it before a full build.

Yes. We repair, rebuild, and redesign existing machinery and components. That can mean upgrading a part to a more durable material, like replacing rusting steel shafts with stainless steel, or adding a guard that prevents line stoppages.

We build custom machinery and parts for airline and aviation, commercial food, medical, production, railroad, telecommunications, and defense companies.

Lead time depends on the machine’s complexity, the materials involved, and whether design work is needed. Share your specs when you request a quote so we can discuss the timeline for your project. On past projects, we have completed installations overnight so production could keep running.

Yes. D.W. Ram is a custom machine builder in Tinley Park, Illinois, in the south Chicago suburbs. We have designed and built custom machinery for Chicago-area manufacturers since 1981. Call 708.633.7900 or request a quote to start a project.