For 30 years, ACS has evolved to meet changing needs of the industry, embracing technology and weathering challenges head on to continue delivering exceptional equipment, controls and facility solutions. The company services a diverse range of clients spanning the automotive and commercial vehicle, aerospace and defense, energy, industrial, manufacturing, and laboratory facilities markets. Known mostly as a systems integrator, ACS’ primary goal is to help companies maximize their facilities’ efficiency with systems designed and engineered to work together. To accomplish this, ACS’ team is comprised of designers and engineers who combine their knowledge of building design and construction with expertise in equipment, data, and processes to deliver services for industry leaders who require high-performance systems.
According to Scott Hoselton, ACS President, the company’s success can be traced back to its values, which center around fostering a culture of mutual support and drive. “Our entire team is empowered to make decisions on behalf of the firm,” he says, adding that, “We live the successes and the failures together.” A strong sense of drive to succeed, deliver quality and support one another has created a corporate culture that celebrates one another’s successes and works through mistakes together. With over 120 team members, and growing, it’s a corporate culture that has been grown steadily stronger each year since its inception in 1994.
Based just outside of Madison, Wisconsin in a town called Verona, ACS conducts business across North America, with another office in Troy, Michigan – a suburb of Detroit – and clients that span the continent from the United States to Canada and Mexico. That said, the company is always setting its sights on something more and would go international if the right project presented itself. At present, the system integration side is really the core driver behind ACS’ success and the company looks for project partners with mutual alignment. For the uninitiated, systems integration is a methodology that enables operational readiness of a new or upgraded R&D facility. ACS embraces this methodology from every project’s inception, ultimately achieving better ROI and keeping pace with a rapidly evolving marketplace. This approach makes expanding into the aerospace industry all the more appealing, as ACS is posed to excel in this industry where systems integration is a key driver of success.
Guided by drive and technical expertise, ACS credits its three decades of business success to its customers and people.
“It’s pretty simple and I know it can sound cliché,” Scott acknowledges, “But it’s true. We have a technically capable, flexible team who are committed to performance and then our customers are industry leaders that embrace new technologies. Our dynamic is more of a partnership and its taught us how to be better businesspeople.”
“We have a technically capable, flexible team who are committed to performance and then our customers are industry leaders that embrace new technologies.”
Most recently, the ACS team took on a technically demanding project with a leading diesel OEM that required a custom solution not available on the market. This challenge was compounded by the need to meet stringent commercial requirements driven by market competitiveness. ACS was tasked with designing and delivering an altitude test system that evolved alongside the customer’s developing product.
Despite the complexity, ACS successfully delivered a system that met all functional requirements while staying within budget. The collaboration was intense, with teams on both sides working tirelessly to overcome obstacles, which included infrastructure integration with existing operations and logistical challenges of handling engines during the project’s three-year timeline. The success of this project not only satisfied the client but also became a benchmark in the industry, showcasing ACS’ ability to innovate and deliver under pressure. This accomplishment was further recognized when the client used the system to demonstrate its unique capabilities to trade organizations, marking it as a proud achievement for ACS.
Another project that exemplifies the sheer scale ACS can handle was an ambitious project with a diesel OEM that involved designing and building R&D production test systems for an enormous new engine. The sheer scale of the systems was unprecedented, requiring ACS to construct a new production facility specifically for this project. Despite the tight timeline and the challenges of working on such a large scale, ACS successfully met all functional performance requirements.
The success of this project earned ACS the prestigious title of Supplier of the Year in 2014 by the client a testament to its dedication and expertise. This collaboration has since blossomed into a long-term partnership, with ACS continuing to work on even larger and more complex projects for the client.
Looking toward the next 30 years, ACS is laser-focused on staying ahead of the curve, driven by a deep commitment to innovation and the unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction and collaboration that got it to this point in the first place.
With a strategic R&D roadmap in place, ACS is expanding its capabilities in key areas like automation, software development, and specialized project management. As it grows, the team remains the backbone of the company’s growth, enabling ACS to deliver turnkey solutions for increasingly complex customer requirements. The addition of a burgeoning software group and a robust controls team underscores ACS’ commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements as the world becomes more and more digitally driven.
ACS’ growth is intrinsically tied to the success of its customers. As its projects evolve and grow in scale, ACS is ready to evolve alongside them, ensuring that the company remains an indispensable partner in their success. This customer-centric approach is what drives the diversity of ACS’ business offerings today and into the future, while allowing it to weather the challenges that has come its way in the last three decades. Things like penetrating markets with highly sophisticated supply chains, adapting to nonstop technological changes and diversifying markets to fuel growth. To navigate these challenges, ACS’ approach has always been to demonstrate technical expertise, flexibility, and a commitment to performance rather than underbidding for short-term gains. This strategy has been instrumental in building long-term relationships with industry giants like Yamaha, Subaru, Daimler, and GM. However, it demands careful balance as a smaller firm, making it crucial to target opportunities where ACS can win and grow sustainably.
While growing its portfolio of work is always a goal, ACS aims to do this intentionally. “Our core bread and butter are delivering R&D and production test systems for our customers who require a high degree of partnership with their supply chain. That’s our DNA,” says Scott. “We’re going to stay committed to doing those things, while growing alongside our customers as their requirements evolve.” In other words, ACS will not hire for the sake of hiring, or take on projects that don’t align with its mission, vision and values as an organization. It has to make sense.
Whether it’s venturing into new markets like hydrogen distribution systems or battery charging stations, or deepening its expertise in existing areas, ACS is committed to staying ahead of technological trends and delivering innovative solutions so when the work presents itself, the team is ready. This agility and foresight has already led to successful partnerships, such as with a leading OEM in the battery world, where ACS is now a key manufacturer of advanced power supply systems.
At its core, ACS remains true to its DNA—delivering R&D and production test systems that require a high degree of technical partnership. This focus on quality and customer alignment is what will propel ACS into the future, as it continues to grow and adapt to the ever-changing technological landscape. The journey ahead is full of promise, and ACS is ready to lead the way.
Looking for an integrated systems approach for your next complex project? Reach out to ACS for a quote.
