The News-Gazette.com: 5 area companies among Inc.'s 5,000 fastest-growing

5 area companies among Inc.'s 5,000 fastest-growing

By Don Dodson

Monday, June 29, 2009 8:03 AM CDT

CHAMPAIGN – Five area companies appear on Inc. magazine's most recent list of the 5,000 fastest-growing firms in the United States.

Making the 2008 list were: Dawson Logistics of Danville; Midwest Underground Technology, Scitec and Isotech Laboratories, all of Champaign, and Hutchcraft Van Service of Urbana.

It was the first time on the list for Scitec and Isotech Laboratories, and the second consecutive year for Dawson Logistics, Midwest Underground Technology and Hutchcraft Van Service.

Falling off the list in 2008 were Custom Color Graphics of Champaign (now part of the Premier Print Group), EnvirOx of Danville and Taylor Studios of Rantoul.

Inc. compiled the rankings based on revenue growth from 2004 to 2007.

Dawson Logistics's revenues grew from $1.8 million to $6.8 million over that time. Formed in 2000, the company customizes supply-chain applications for business clients. When it applied for the list, it employed 32 people and had 11 locations nationally with more planned. In March, the company announced a new logistics center in Dallas.

Midwest Underground Technology was founded in 2000 in Gibson City and later built a major facility along U.S. 150 on Champaign's northwest side. The company erects, maintains and repairs communication towers and antenna installations. Its revenues surged from $7.4 million in 2004 to $20.4 million in 2007. At the time it applied for the list, it employed 97.

Scitec, founded in Urbana in 1993, saw its revenues grow from $8 million in 2004 to $21.3 million in 2007. The firm manufactures telephone sets and supplies them to hotel chains and hotel management companies. Scitec's growth was boosted by its 2006 merger with Telematrix. The company is now located in Champaign's Apollo industrial park.

Isotech Laboratories, founded in 1985, determines the isotope values of natural gas samples through chemical analysis. Its rapid growth in revenue – from $3.2 million in 2004 to $6.1 million in 2007 – came largely as a result of its introduction of the IsoTube gas sampling system. In recent years, Isotech has opened satellite labs in Cairo, Egypt, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When the company applied for the list, it employed 32.

Hutchcraft Van Service has been around since 1946. It stores and moves household goods, office equipment and trade show displays. But as the result of a 2005 acquisition, it expanded its services to include commercial and corporate office transfers. Hutchcraft's revenues grew from $1.6 million in 2004 to $2.7 million in 2007. The company employed 34 at the time of application.

Other area companies could join the Inc. 5000 list soon. A new list for 2009 is due out later this summer.

Where they rank

Area company rankings on 2008 Inc. 5000 list:

— Dawson Logistics (No. 1,404, down from No. 409 in 2007)

— Midwest Underground Technology (No. 2,086, down from No. 1,036 in 2007)

— Scitec (No. 2,240, new to list)

— Isotech Laboratories (No. 3,531, new to list)

— Hutchcraft Van Service (No. 4,221, down from No. 2,925 in 2007)