History
Since 1967
Automated Wheel, (Areway, as it was formerly known), started 1967 by Sidor and Agrio Hadgis, began as a small, family-operated polishing and buffing shop in Cleveland’s industrial flats. Sidor, a native of Greece, founded Areway because he wanted to create a shop that people would want to go to work in, and one that would take care of its customers. Sidor’s philosophy was that in order to be successful, you have to work hard and provide top quality at a fair price. In 1974, just 7 years later, having outgrown their 1,000 square foot shop on Scranton Road, the family built a new 12,000 square foot facility on a one-acre tract on Ridge Road in Brooklyn, Ohio. One year later they entered the aluminum wheel finishing business.
Family
Starting at the average age of eleven, each of Sidor and Agrio’s three sons entered the family business. From that early age they were taught their parent’s philosophy. Gregg and John Hadgis, today’s owners, are both extremely proud to be able to maintain the family business to this day.
Moving Forward
In 1976, a 6,000 square foot addition was added to the building to accommodate the booming business. The next year a complex of buildings, which now house the wheel polishing, painting and coating facility, was purchased. In 1995, Automated Wheel opened its world-class powder coating facility - the 26,000 square foot facility is fully automated, complete with a five-zone cure oven and state-of-the-art lab. Wanting to add services and expand even more into the wheel market, a 30,000 square foot building was added in 2004 so that machining could be done in-house.
Today, we have nearly 250,000 square feet of production space, over 200 employees, high-tech equipment and processes, and we have never forgotten our parents’ philosophy: “To be successful you have to work hard and provide top quality at a fair price.” In an industry that's constantly changing and consolidating, Automated Wheel remains a constant model of stability, innovation, dependability, exceptional quality and added value in metal finishing – and, we continue to look for opportunities, for smart growth and change. With this entrepreneurial spirit, Automated Wheel will continue to be a preferred partner to the worlds most demanding and innovative wheel manufacturers and OEMs.
