Deshler Group’s continuing success, as profiled by Crain’s Detroit Business, was made possible by a series of innovative ideas and restructuring decisions. These changes, to not only reduce excess capacity, but also to approach the business in a new way, enabled the company to survive the recession and automotive crisis.

To hold steady while most suppliers’ sales were cut in half, Deshler Group first rapidly combined operations, and then added global freight and warehousing services. In 2010, Deshler co-founded GS3 Global, and then acquired GTM USA in 2011. These two new affiliates provided proven assembly, supply chain, manufacturing and freight forwarding capabilities to Deshler customers, and they frequently partnered to craft individualized customer solutions.

As this unique collaborative approach continued to accelerate Deshler’s growth, Robert Gruschow, Deshler’s president, “refocus(ed) all seven sister companies to operate as one organization.” This made them “a one-stop shop for customers that needed services that would encompass the entire supply chain.”

As the recession fades into memory, Deshler has continued to grow, through new and expanded business and acquisitions, all “fueled by re-branding and reorganizing its seven sister companies.”

Read the full Crain’s feature for more on the Deshler story.