About Reell

50+ Years in Exceptional Motion Control Solutions

Outstanding Service and a Balanced Work-Life Culture

Founded in 1970, Reell has spent more than five decades designing premium torque hinges, clutches, springs, and motion control components for global OEMs. From the beginning, our mission extended beyond engineering innovation. We set out to build a value-based company that delivers exceptional products and service while fostering a healthy, balanced work environment for employees.

The name Reell (ray-EL’), taken from the German word for honest, trustworthy, and good, reflects the values that have guided every generation of our company.

Today, we continue to uphold these principles in our products, engineering partnerships, customer relationships, and community involvement.

EMPLOYEE OWNED

5 LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE

50+ YEARS OF ENGINEERING EXPERTISE

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Reell’s History

Entrepreneurial Roots, Engineering Innovation, & Ethical Leadership

Reell Precision Manufacturing began as a high-quality wrap spring clutch manufacturer established by founders Dale Merrick, Bob Wahlstedt, and Lee Johnson. Their vision blended engineering excellence with ethical business practices, emphasizing strong financial performance without compromising employee well-being.

From day one, they prioritized:

Meaningful, creative engineering work
A supportive environment for physical, emotional, and spiritual health
Responsible service to customers, coworkers, suppliers, and the community

This values-driven foundation continues to influence Reell’s engineering, manufacturing processes, and long-term global growth.

Community Involvement

Building Hope & Changing Lives

Reell is committed to serving the common good, building hope in the world, and changing lives for the better. To make a positive impact in the community, Reell:

Offers financial aid to future students
Donates 10% of pre-tax profits to local and global communities
Helps with Habitat for Humanity
Volunteers in the Dominican Republic to help build a school
Supports essential human needs and disaster relief in times of crisis

Our Mission

Reell strives to bring our coworkers together to serve our local and global communities, looking outside ourselves and recognizing the high value there is in serving the common good. We also believe that serving together fosters a deeper understanding, appreciation, and love for one another, enhancing our lives as well as providing service to others.

See Reell’s community involvement and outreach.

Visit our Reell Community Involvement page on Facebook for additional information.

Reell’s Leadership Team

Reell has now moved into its fourth generation of senior leadership, positioned well to meet our founders' goal of providing innovative solutions by leveraging the combined efforts of coworkers, customers, and suppliers. Reell remains committed to our founder’s vision of high ethical standards and a strong workplace culture.

Shari Erdman

Chief Executive Officer

Shari Erdman

Chief Financial Officer

Skip Driessen

Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing

Brian Johnson

Chief Operating Officer

Reell’s Philosophy

Declaration of Belief

We believe the dignity of every individual to be sacred...

We believe life's highest purpose for each individual is to become all that she or he is created to be, and...

We believe the highest purpose for the Corporation is to make worthy contributions to the common good, therefore...

All activities, objectives, and policies are to be ordered toward individual development and the common good.

Because economic success is essential for an environment that fosters human development and provides for the common good, we must maintain an orderly, efficient, and profitable organization and respect the dignity of every individual.

Fundamentals to Our Success

We currently design and manufacture innovative products for a global market. Our goal is to continually improve our ability to meet customer needs. How we accomplish our mission is important to us.

The following groups are fundamental to our success:

Coworkers

People are the heart of Reell. We are committed to providing a secure opportunity to earn a livelihood and pursue personal growth.

Customers

Customers are the lifeblood of Reell. Our products and services must be the best in meeting and exceeding customer expectations.

Suppliers

We will treat our suppliers as valuable partners in all our activities.

Shareholders

We recognize that profitability is necessary to continue in business, reach our full potential, and fulfill our responsibilities to shareholders. We expect profits, but our commitments to coworkers and customers come before short-term profits.

Community

We will use a share of our energy and resources to meet the needs of our local and global community.

We find that in following these principles, we can experience enjoyment, happiness, and peace of mind in our work and in our individual lives.

Direction Statement

Reell is a team united in the operation of a business based on the practical application of spiritual values to promote the growth of individuals and advance the common good for the benefit of co-workers and their families, customers, shareholders, suppliers, and community. Rooted in Judeo-Christian values, we welcome and draw on the richness of our spiritually diverse community. We are committed to providing an environment where there is harmony between work and our moral/ethical values and family responsibilities, and where everyone is treated justly.

The tradition of excellence at Reell was founded on a commitment to excellence rooted in the character of our Creator. Instead of driving each other toward excellence, we strive to free each other to grow and express the excellence that is within all of us.

By adhering to the following four common spiritual principles, we are challenged to work and make decisions consistent with God's purpose for creation according to our individual understanding.

1. Do What Is Right

We are committed to doing what is right, even when it does not seem to be profitable, expedient, or conventional.

2. Do Our Best

In our understanding of excellence, we embrace a commitment to continuous improvement in everything we do. It is our commitment to encourage, teach, equip, and free each other to do and become all that we were intended to be.

3. Treat Others as We Would Like to be Treated

4. Seek Inspirational Wisdom

By looking outside ourselves, especially with respect to decisions having far-reaching and unpredictable consequences, we will act only when the action is confirmed unanimously by others concerned.