SUCCESS STORY
BTMC Corporation
INTRODUCTION
Home to the headquarters of 15 Fortune 1000 companies, one of the largest
universities in the United States and more than 600 international firms, the
Columbus Region is an ideal place to start, run and grow a business. The 11county area of the Columbus Region is within one day’s drive of nearly 50
percent of the U.S. population. Columbus 2020, the Region’s economic
development organization, is focused on leveraging these strengths to ignite
growth and to build a healthier, more sustainable future for the area. The
Region’s strong entrepreneurial spirit and support system are the catalysts
behind countless business success stories.
BACKGROUND
Started as a home business in 1980, Columbusbased BTMC Corporation (BTMC) began as an
automotive service parts dealer and slowly evolved as
a company through the ’80s. By the mid-’90s, BTMC
was supporting applications of the U.S. Department
of Defense with automotive service parts. BTMC
became involved in supplying mine-resistant ambush
protection vehicle parts, and the company now is a
strategic supply chain partner of the Defense Logistics
Agency (DLA). BTMC offers logistics support for the
U.S. military as both a direct supplier and a third party
logistics provider for manufacturers. A veteran-owned
business, BTMC helps suppliers of the DLA fulfill
social-economic sub-contracting requirements.
ABOUT BTMC
CORPORATION
A veteran-owned small
business located in Columbus,
Ohio, since 1980, BTMC
Corporation (BTMC) offers a
variety of logistics services to
government and commercial
clients including distribution,
vendor-managed inventory,
sub-assembly, material
services, transportation
management and packaging
services. BTMC, which
employs 15 full-time staff
members, is a strategic supply
chain partner of the Defense
Logistics Agency, specializing
in military packaging
services to support the U.S.
Department of Defense.
Albert Wittkopp, BTMC COO
Specializing in packaging conversion, BTMC ensures military packaging specifications and government requirements are met.
Several end users for BTMC services are U.S. troops in different environments around the world. Packaging may require waterresistant materials or photosensitive containers to ensure products will not be damaged by the climate of the destination. Most
companies that ship large quantities use easy-access containers, but shipping military equipment is more complex and highly
variable. Major manufacturers choose not to deal with such complicated orders, but BTMC found a niche with this specialization.
DLA Land and Maritime, the largest acquisition center in the DLA, is headquartered in Columbus and its defense supply center
is located 20 miles from BTMC, making the partnership a logical fit. Its Columbus roots and location are important to the
company’s continued growth.
WHY THE COLUMBUS REGION?
A veteran-owned small business, BTMC employs about 15 full-time staff members and up to 20 temporary employees daily
due to the variability of DLA demand. Regardless of drops in demand from the U.S. Government during tough economic
times in early 2009 through 2011, due to its scalability, BTMC maintained cost and service balance. In the quarter ending on
September 30, 2011, sales were 38 percent higher than the average sales of the previous seven quarters. BTMC attributes
much of its success to its location in Central Ohio.
“The profound amount of warehouse space available in Columbus has allowed
BTMC to increase its size but keep costs down. Central Ohio is conducive to
material handling in general. The supporting infrastructure and accessibility to
warehouses allows you to successfully handle significant projects in a short time
period, which is not the case in several other cities.”
— Albert Wittkopp, BTMC COO
“People see BTMC as a successful company because we have weathered the storm,” said Albert Wittkopp, BTMC Chief
Operating Officer. “Despite the economy, we have maintained our business structure. In fact, BTMC moved to a larger facility
during the downturn to prepare for continued growth.”
Recently contracting a larger free-standing warehouse space in West Columbus has given BTMC a secure facility near a rail
yard, providing the security necessary to constantly protect the U.S. military products being shipped.
“The profound amount of warehouse space available in Columbus has allowed BTMC to increase its size but keep costs
down,” Wittkopp said. “Central Ohio is conducive to material handling in general. The supporting infrastructure and
accessibility to warehouses allows you to successfully handle significant projects in a short time period, which is not the
case in several other cities.”
Because of its central location in Columbus, BTMC is able to support several different U.S. military bases nationwide, making
it an ideal strategic distribution point. Also, there is a large contingency of suppliers supporting the automotive industry in
Central Ohio allowing BTMC to benefit from the leaner logistics costs associated with shorter distance to receive products.
“Because of its location, BTMC is quickly accessible to and from the Columbus Defense Supply Center. We appreciate
BTMC’s weekly visits to DSCC to ensure that critical delivery requirements are achieved. We are impressed with BTMC’s
commitment to improving its capabilities and it is reassuring to know that supply chain partners like BTMC can provide as
much advantage as our major OEMs. BTMC continues to play a large role in our supply chain.”
– Excerpt from June 2009 customer letter of appreciation
It was this reaction from DLA that led BTMC to secure improved facilities in the Columbus Region. The logistics environment
in Columbus is unique and offers the opportunity for local logistics professionals from different industries to collaborate. A
member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), Wittkopp interacts with professionals in the Region
from a variety of industries, including Cardinal Health, The Limited and McGraw Hill, which all have office locations in Columbus.
“Most of the large logistics players are involved in CSCMP,” Wittkopp said. “Many of its members are quick to collaborate,
sharing insight into what works well, and what does not, in several aspects of their businesses.”
LOOKING FORWARD
In 2008, BTMC changed ownership and expanded its focus. In addition to supporting the U.S. Department of Defense as a
distributor, the company now is serving the packaging needs of other manufacturers that support the U.S. Government. In the
future, BTMC plans to more aggressively seek out this new customer base and sees its services continuing to grow.
Since BTMC specializes in military packaging conversion, it offers the experience and expertise that many companies supplying
products to the government do not. BTMC hopes to continue to capitalize on its niche specialization and use its central
Columbus location to serve a larger customer base, offering its services to more government agencies.
The abundant logistics environment and strategic distribution point of the Columbus Region have helped BTMC to maintain
its business structure and develop a strategy for growth. The Columbus Region continues to give BTMC a competitive
advantage for success.
“We are very pleased with how BTMC is continuing to evolve in the logistics realm and we expect to continue to be successful
here in Central Ohio,” Wittkopp said.