Welser Profile is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of custom roll-formed steel profiles, with a history spanning more than 360 years.
With deep roots in Austria and operations across Europe and the United States, Welser Profile supports complex, high-precision applications for industries including automotive, construction, and industrial manufacturing.
As the company expanded its U.S. presence in Medina County, Ohio, the need for a more robust, scalable, and reliable connectivity solution became essential to support growing production demands and global collaboration.
Below is a conversation with Bill Johnson, President & CEO and Jim Mason, IT Manager at Welser Profile, about working with the Medina County Fiber Network and the impact it has had on their operations.
Were you experiencing any issues with your prior network?
“Our previous provider was Cox Business, and we were ready to make the decision to move off Cox and onto fiber. As our business was growing and our international relationships expanded, we knew we needed dedicated internet access. We knew it had to be high speed. We knew it had to be reliable.
We had outgrown the amount and type of traffic. Fiber was really the only solution for that. For European-based companies, interdependence and connectivity are critical. We knew we needed a pretty big pipe to support the connectivity between Europe and here, for data and speed.” says Johsnon.
Why did you decide to make the switch to the Medina County Fiber Network?
Mason says “We did look at our existing provider for fiber access, and we also invited Medina County Fiber Network to come in and present.
What separated Medina County Fiber from our previous provider was really their relationships with other local providers. It gave us the opportunity to look at multiple providers in the area, not just one singular option.
While another company was able to give us the ISP speeds and reliability we were looking for, Medina County Fiber helped connect our three different facilities through dark fiber.”
How long did the transition process take?
“It was not long, and it went on schedule. We took a lot of time planning intentionally because we wanted to do it right.” Said Johnson
“Medina County Fiber helped us set up easements and worked with a local install team that came out, site-surveyed, determined the best pathways outside and inside, and made it easy to come in without disrupting our lawn or production system.
We wanted to make sure the redundancy was in place, make sure the pathways were there, and make sure we sized the connection correctly. It came together as expected.” adds Mason.
How has the transition impacted employees?
“From an employee perspective, the expectation is that every time I turn on the computer, every time I pick up my handset, every time I click a video or join a meeting, it’s going to work and it’s not going to stutter.
The voice clarity is clear. The connection with the Welser Profile in Austria and Germany for applications, meetings, and data is always rock solid.” says Johnson.
Mason adds, “No news is good news. Usually, if nobody’s complaining, that means we’re doing our job. I don’t have any complaints, so that’s a good thing.”
How did you hear about the Medina County Fiber Network?
“When you become part of a region, you have to get involved, because there’s a lot of networking and support that comes with it. Medina County Economic Development was very critical in our getting here and becoming part of Medina County.
When they recommended Medina County Fiber, that carried a lot of weight. We’re smart businesspeople, so we’ll always look at alternatives, but that was a strong recommendation you can count on. When you trust a recommendation that strongly, you know you’re in good hands, and you know you’re going to get a response whenever something goes awry.” says Johnson.
Would you recommend the Medina County Fiber Network to other businesses?
“I’m not hesitating. Not even one bit. I wholeheartedly support, encourage, and endorse Medina County Fiber.” says Mason.
As Welser Profile continues to grow, the Medina County Fiber Network remains a trusted partner in supporting reliable connectivity and long-term success. Contact us today to learn how fiber can support your business.