Behind the Stoves: A Look at Who We Do Business With (Part 1)

We won't do business with a supplier just because they can do the job at the best price.  We look for businesses that are close to home, involved in making a positive difference, known for thinking outside the box...

We get the stainless steel blanks for your Littlbug Stove from Wyoming Machine, a small business in rural Minnesota. 

Wyoming Machine is a woman-owned family business that takes great pride in superior quality, efficiency and capability - backed by unmatched customer service. Put simply, we take care of you and get it right.

Their clients represent the diversity of metal fabrication requirements - from medical equipment to to retail store fixtures, to heavy machinery manufacturers.

Wyoming Machine operates with 56 employees in a 55,000-square-foot facility. Sisters Lori Tapani and Traci Tapani are Co-Presidents who oversee day-to-day operations.

What's in a Name.

Wyoming Machine began in 1974 when Thomas Tapani and two partners launched the company as a machine shop in Wyoming, Minnesota, about 30 miles north of the Twin Cities. Then much of it changed.

The company moved to an industrial park in nearby Stacy, Minnesota, and by the mid-1980s had replaced much of its machining work with metal fabrication.

In 1994, Tom's daughters, Traci and Lori (both with successful careers in finance), joined the company for, as they put it, "the chance to engage with people who make real products and to enjoy a balanced, family-centered life."

By 2000, the succession was complete and the remarkably close sisters were co-presidents of Wyoming Machine. Under their leadership the business has thrived, growing about 6% annually in a brutally competitive industry. "This company's capabilities, innovation, workforce expertise and pride keep us competitive," said Traci. "And the respectful, honest way we treat customers and each other keeps us successful," added Lori.