From product engineering to project completion, ATMI Precast delivers results ‘As Promised’
Widely recognized as a precast powerhouse across the Midwest, ATMI Precast (ATMI) has specialized in the production and erection of precast projects for over 30 years. Its company motto may appear simple from the outset, but it defines every single facet of ATMI’s mission: ‘As Promised’. From its innovative range of product types, colors, textures, and finishes right through to its project management and delivery, ATMI’s customers can be certain that their projects will be executed as promised with the highest standards of skill, quality and integrity. At the intersection of construction, manufacturing and artistry, the company’s rich legacy has made it a true pillar in the precast industry, known not only for its technical excellence and innovation, but also for raising the standards of project delivery across the Midwest.
“Our family has been in concrete products for four generations, starting in 1903,” begins Jim Armbruster, Owner and Founder of ATMI. “ATMI started out building architectural precast modular buildings to house ATM machines back in 1983, but we soon expanded into offering design-build services for branch banks. In 1987, ATMI secured a contract to build six to eight branch banks per year with anticipated continuation for ten to 12 years, and in late 1989, we formed ATMI Precast to supply the architectural precast for that project.
“In 1991, however, there was a savings and loan crisis, and our bank client was forced to cease all capital investments. Neither ATMI Design Build nor ATMI Precast had any work. At that point, ATMI Precast was forced to investigate the industrial market to find work. By 1994, the company had fully shifted out of the banking world. We started producing insulated panels for the industrial building market, then evolved to make heavier, clear panels.
“To this day, we remain a family owned and privately held company, allowing the management team to focus on long term outcomes. It allows us to retain and build a balance sheet for sustainability in a cyclical business environment.”
It’s been quite the journey thus far, but today, ATMI is bigger and better than ever before. A one-stop partner for industry-leading precast solutions, the company now has three divisions providing a fully integrated precast scope of services: ATMI Precast, ATMI Indy and Waubonsee Development. Championing a customer-centric approach, the company has innovated and evolved with the market from day one, all in the pursuit of providing the very best products and services for its clients. Throughout its tenure, ATMI has successfully delivered innovative precast projects across all sectors, from offices to hotels, residential to retail, institutional and mission critical, transforming regular building structures into architectural icons.
Integrated workflows
In line with its commitment to quality, ATMI takes great pride in its research and development processes. The company boasts two state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Illinois and Indiana with a combined production capacity of 250,000 square feet per week across 21 beds, both equipped with the latest cutting-edge technologies. Sudhir Singamsethi, Vice President of Engineering and Operations, shares insight into ATMI’s engineering and development processes.
“When analyzing and designing precast/prestressed structures that involve new materials or concepts, ATMI’s in-house engineering team takes a collaborative approach. We work closely with our production and erection teams, alongside renowned industry experts and academic institutions, to ensure thorough proof of concept and laboratory testing before implementing it on an actual project,” Sudhir explains.
“Over the past decade, we have systematically transformed from primarily a 2D design and detailing drafting operation that outsourced all its engineering work to a 3D BIM-based design, detailing, and engineering organization. This transition has given us the internal capacity and expertise to handle precast projects of all sizes and complexities in-house. ATMI’s engineering department operates as a Trimble shop, utilizing Tekla Structures as our primary 3D BIM platform. For structural calculations, we employ Tekla Tedds and use Bentley’s STAAD Pro and RAM Structural System for comprehensive structural analysis and design. This integrated software approach ensures seamless coordination between our engineering analysis, 3D modeling, and production workflows. By sharing synchronized model information across departments, we ensure that design changes are immediately reflected in production schedules, fabrication details, and field installation procedures, creating a truly integrated workflow from engineering through project completion.” 
“Our engineering and plant operations teams are leading the way with innovation,” Joe Pozzi, Vice President of Project Management and Construction, comments. “Digital integration, BIM powered design/fabrication/field installation solutions, advanced manufacturing technologies, and concrete mix optimization are good examples. Innovation is both the fuel and the path to ATMI’s competitive advantage, making this an exciting and transformative time for the company.”
Honesty and integrity
This deeply collaborative culture has been just one of the key factors driving ATMI’s continued success. Aligning with its passion to deliver ‘As Promised’, the company has outlined a set of three core values that empower its team to consistently deliver top-quality services and solutions to its customers.
“Our values are safety, quality and cost, in that order,” says Jake Armbruster, Senior Management and Business Development. “We’re a bit ‘mom-and-pop’ in that we’re family owned, but we have corporate structures and processes in place.”
“We focus on proactive risk management whilst empowering the team through open communication, accountability, and continuous improvement,” Joe continues. “Clear expectations and shared responsibility with commitment from all levels of leadership are promoted through pre-task planning, regular site inspections, and ongoing training to ensure consistency and excellence in everything we do.”
Mike Walsh, Vice President of Business Development, adds: “We insist on honesty and integrity in each aspect of our company. Our success is based on our ability to maintain and foster repeat customers each year. These values reinforce this success.”
Fueled by its perpetual strive for excellence, ATMI is well-positioned for a bright future ahead. Despite the ongoing macroeconomic challenges in the industry, the company continues to demonstrate the adaptability, experience, and expertise that underpin its market-leading reputation, proving that with passion, skill, and perseverance, the sky really is the limit.
“I’m optimistic about 2026,” Jake concludes. “Because of the improvements we’ve made over the past years, we’ve been able to quickly pivot into other markets, which has kept us busy. We’ve got some good work lined up for next year and we’re hopeful of the industrial market’s turnaround.”