PTMW Inc. | Growing In Emerging Industries
By INDIA YARBOROUGH, SAMANTHA MARSHALL and LAUREN JURGENSEN | Photos by BRIAN PETERS
With business booming, it’s no wonder PTMW Inc. is ready and eager to add 182 new jobs.
Topeka-based PTMW was founded more than 40 years ago to support the rail industry. The company announced plans to expand their manufacturing footprint and job roster during the Topeka/Shawnee County Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) meeting in September of this year.
According to Ken Rankin, senior vice president of engineering and project management, the local manufacturing company’s growth is directly tied to developing and emerging industries. PTMW’s various product lines service rail and transit sectors, power companies, big-name technology businesses and beyond.
The company, which supports not only the rail and transit sectors but also power companies and big-name tech businesses, is best known for manufacturing high-quality enclosures. These dynamic, specialized structures are designed to protect everything from energy storage and data centers to mining and petrochemical equipment.
That might explain why the current data center boom became one of the biggest drivers behind their recent growth.
“Data center growth in 2023 was about $196 billion,” Ken said. “They’re expecting that to go up to $800 billion by 2030.”
“Rail is still core to what we do, but the growth is really in those other areas we serve,” added Morgan Padgett, senior vice president of finance and IT.
In theory, PTMW could operate its business from anywhere in the country, especially given the number of data centers popping up along the coasts. But it’s not by accident that they’ve chosen to remain in Topeka.
“The Bettis family are our current owners, and they’re from Topeka,” Morgan said. “They have a passion for supporting the local market and keeping businesses here.”
The city’s central location within the continental United States doesn’t hurt, either.
“We’re right in the middle of the states, and that really helps,” Ken said, adding that he also touts “Midwest work ethic” and their employees as reasons to stay.
The business, which already employs around 375 people, has plans to reach nearly 550 employees over the next five years. JEDO and GO Topeka have funded a $47.2 million capital investment that PTMW will use to drive business and expand the size of its campus.
According to Ashley Bettis, the president of PTMW, the company’s mindset is rooted in being run by a team of good people with good core values.
“There are good people that live around here,” Ashley said. “If we can provide a livelihood and help support each other’s families, that means a lot to me. It goes a long way.”
Ashley also said that she sees PTMW’s local investment as one that will bring new construction, new opportunities and new faces to Shawnee County.
“I was born and raised in Topeka,” she said. “It’s been a wonderful place for me to grow up. My family’s here. I’m raising two young boys here in Topeka. It’s home.”
Ken encourages people to not underestimate the company’s leadership.
“I think the biggest thing is the Bettis family’s commitment. They’re all in for this,” he said. “They don’t flinch when they know it’s the right thing to do and a good business decision that helps grow the company and the community.”
