Our Company
Cogmatic helps Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that make heavy equipment implement high torque power transmission solutions with incredible toughness, through superior design support and high quality, cost effective manufacturing processes.
Since 1947, Cogmatic has worked with the leading companies in their industries to design customized gears and sprockets for use in their most demanding applications. Our components are engineered for durability, reliability, and longevity, ensuring your machinery operates at peak efficiency even under the harshest conditions.
We partner with OEMs serving a range of industries that require the toughest products available to generate massive amounts of torque in rugged environments. You’ll find our products in a multitude of power transmission applications, such as crushing rock in the quarry and laying asphalt for roads.
Our History
Founded in 1947 by William H.B. Wright III and Glenway Maxon, Jr., Cogmatic Machines has a proud history of manufacturing on Milwaukee’s north side. For its first 40 years, Cogmatic provided its 6 Series and 7 Series gear and sprocket tooth cutting machines to America’s largest makers of construction, mining, and agricultural equipment. The unique Flame Machining technology allowed these equipment builders to support their high mix, low volume requirements with quick, automated setups, easy changeover, and single-pass tooth cutting.
Starting in the 1970s, Cogmatic’s OEM customers began to transition away from a vertically integrated manufacturing model to an outsourced procurement model. Rather than make the machines that cut the toughest products in the market, Cogmatic began to make the sprockets and gears at their Milwaukee plant, using those same 6 and 7 Series machines they once sold. Cogmatic shipped its last 7F Machine in the late ’80s.
In 1987, after over a decade in the business, Bill Wright IV took the reigns from his father as Cogmatic’s leader. In the years that followed, Bill continued to add capabilities and equipment that customers found valuable, such as induction heat treating, welding, and cutting of sprocket segments. The goal was to give customers a single source for gears and sprockets that were ready to install. As Cogmatic’s market shifted from national to global, Bill added capabilities in packaging and logistics to assure the quality of its products as they were shipped to all corners of the world. As markets and demand for their products continued to change, Cogmatic continued to thrive by helping customers solve their toughest technical and commercial challenges.
In 2023, Bill Wright determined he was ready for retirement and sought to sell the business to someone that would carry it into the future while respecting its legacy and its people. He found the right team in Darin Wenger and Bill Scallon. Wenger and Scallon had a history of success in leading small and mid-sized manufacturing companies in the Milwaukee area, and they were looking for their next venture. With an eye on growth and an appreciation for the history of Cogmatic and its value to the market, the new owners have immersed themselves in the operation, and are enhancing capabilities, tools and talent as the foundation of the future!
Our Core Values
Cogmatic’s Core Values help guide the business through change, and contribute to our culture & decision making.
Our People
At the heart of every small business, the talent and effort of its people are what drive it! Cogmatic is fortunate to have a team of smart, hard-working experts that bring a passion to their craft. We work diligently to build a culture where everyone has a say and knows how valued they are.
Our production team members are the heartbeat of Cogmatic, bringing experience and instincts to every sprocket and gear they build. Their pride in workmanship and quality comes from a clear understanding of the critical function our products have in our customers’ equipment. Our supply chain team works closely with our key service and material partners to ensure the quality and timely delivery of our parts. And our sales team is ready to work with our customers to come up with the best solution for their application, with Toughness Guaranteed!
Why Cogmatic?
Our current customers have a long list of reasons why they choose to work with us, some for nearly 75 years. We solve problems. We’re responsive and thorough. We’re accountable. We’re competitively priced. We can support an order for a single part, and for thousands. Our quality is outstanding, and nobody makes a tougher part in the world of power transmission. Why should you consider Cogmatic? Give us a call with your hardest-to-solve application and you’ll find out what others have known for 75 years!
In the Community
Milwaukee and Wisconsin are renowned worldwide for manufacturing, and Cogmatic is immensely proud to be part of the vibrant Milwaukee manufacturing community. We’re surrounded by a rich tradition of innovation, resilience, and excellence. By collaborating with local partners and contributing to the economic growth of the area, we always seek to uphold the high standards that Milwaukee is known for.
Our commitment to quality, sustainability, and forward-thinking aligns perfectly with the values of this industrious region. Being a part of Milwaukee’s manufacturing legacy not only inspires us but also drives us to push the boundaries of what’s possible, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of industry advancements.
As we continue to grow, we look to take on a bigger role in our surrounding area, contributing to the greater good of Milwaukee and Wisconsin. Look for updates on activities and events that we’re involved in!
