Leading the industrial sewing industry from the start
LJ Design & Manufacturing is a division of Laacke and Joys Company LLC, which is the oldest manufacturing company in Milwaukee, WI. We have also been members of the ATA (Advanced Textiles Association) since 1912, and are the longest standing continuous member of the association.
Richard T. Laacke, who founded the R. Laacke Co in 1887, was also one of the founding members of ATA. Richard Laacke’s son-in-law Harold C. Woehr, who later became President of Laacke and Joys, served as President of ATA and is an honored life member.
Our current owner, Marsha Mather, bought the company in 1996 and continues the commitment to growth and to the ATA. As fabrics have evolved – from cotton to highly technical custom fabrics – we have updated our equipment and technology along the way. We have evolved from a company making awnings, tents, cow blankets, sails and boat covers into a company specializing in custom sewn products for OEMs and the medical industry.
Our 2012 acquisition of the 24/7, intensive-use chair company, Concept Seating, gave us a proprietary product line to manufacture and sell, which expanded our product capabilities.
In 2014, we moved to a 56,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Brookfield, WI.
Advancements in technology and a commitment to the customer, have contributed to our growth and the expectation of future growth. We continually add skilled sewers and will add additional engineers to the team in 2022.
Visit our careers page to learn about current opportunities to join our team or contact us to discuss your custom sewn product.
