MECO CO. LLC DBA AEROGEN-TEK
See us at Paris Air Show 2025 · Booth: A94
Aerogen-TEK specializes in the manufacture of complex fabrications & combustion components using high-temperature super alloy components for the aerospace and industrial gas turbine markets.
Paris, Illinois (IL), United States
Aerospace
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Paris Air Show 2025
About
AeroGen-TEK (“AGT”) has a long proud history providing complex metal fabrications and precision machined components to the Aerospace and Industrial Gas Turbine market for almost 70 years. Incorporated in 1956 under the name MECO, Inc. (Manufacturing Engineering Company), AGT was the vision of Charley Willis and Russ Magers, two Engineers from Paris, IL who gained experience as early employees of Danville Metal Stamping located in Danville, IL. Wanting to relocate closer to home and recognizing the rising demand for aero-derivative and industrial gas turbines, Charley and Russ began operating MECO on Marshall Street in downtown Paris, IL in 1956.
For 40 years, Charley and Russ built MECO into a nationally recognized expert in fabricating complex hot section assemblies and components including combustion liners, transition ducts, casings and heat shields for global Aerospace and Industrial Gas Turbine customers. As the Company continued to expand, MECO relocated from Marshall Street to its current 60,000 square foot building located just outside of the Paris City limits in 2000.
In 2004, Mr. Magers (then the controlling shareholder) sold MECO to FastenTech, Inc. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, FastenTech was a portfolio company of Citigroup Venture Capital. FastenTech manufactured various components and assemblies including transition ducts, combustion chamber liners and connection rods for gas turbine engines, gearboxes and planetary gear systems for all terrain vehicles (ATVs), military track pins and custom products for military vehicles and engineered components for aerospace applications, as well as specialty fasteners and fastener systems.
FastenTech made a series of acquisitions following MECO including Deakins Metal Spinning, Acraline Products, Inc. and Triumph Group’s Land Based Industrial Gas Turbine Engine Components business. Portions of all three businesses were subsequently added to the scope of work at MECO’s facility in Paris, IL, extending AGT’s customer base and manufacturing capabilities.
In 2007 Citigroup Venture Capital sold FastenTech to The Doncasters Group for $492 million. Doncasters named the MECO business, Doncasters Combustion Systems – Paris IL.
In 2018 / 2019, Doncasters strategy shifted to focus exclusively on superalloy manufacturing and precision casting. As a result, Doncasters started divesting all its fabrications businesses in North America and the United Kingdom which included Doncasters Combustion Systems – Paris IL.
In January 2019, Cornerstone Capital Holdings, in partnership with industry veterans that formed the executive management of MECO; Tim Hough (President), Eric Lawson (Senior Program Manager) and Kenny Payne (Business Development and Engineering Manager), purchased the assets of MECO and rebranded the business AeroGen-TEK. Since 2019, Cornerstone and management have built on the legacy started by Mr. Willis and Magers and strategically positioned the business to support its customers’ future needs as global energy demands increase and investment in military aircraft expand.
For 40 years, Charley and Russ built MECO into a nationally recognized expert in fabricating complex hot section assemblies and components including combustion liners, transition ducts, casings and heat shields for global Aerospace and Industrial Gas Turbine customers. As the Company continued to expand, MECO relocated from Marshall Street to its current 60,000 square foot building located just outside of the Paris City limits in 2000.
In 2004, Mr. Magers (then the controlling shareholder) sold MECO to FastenTech, Inc. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, FastenTech was a portfolio company of Citigroup Venture Capital. FastenTech manufactured various components and assemblies including transition ducts, combustion chamber liners and connection rods for gas turbine engines, gearboxes and planetary gear systems for all terrain vehicles (ATVs), military track pins and custom products for military vehicles and engineered components for aerospace applications, as well as specialty fasteners and fastener systems.
FastenTech made a series of acquisitions following MECO including Deakins Metal Spinning, Acraline Products, Inc. and Triumph Group’s Land Based Industrial Gas Turbine Engine Components business. Portions of all three businesses were subsequently added to the scope of work at MECO’s facility in Paris, IL, extending AGT’s customer base and manufacturing capabilities.
In 2007 Citigroup Venture Capital sold FastenTech to The Doncasters Group for $492 million. Doncasters named the MECO business, Doncasters Combustion Systems – Paris IL.
In 2018 / 2019, Doncasters strategy shifted to focus exclusively on superalloy manufacturing and precision casting. As a result, Doncasters started divesting all its fabrications businesses in North America and the United Kingdom which included Doncasters Combustion Systems – Paris IL.
In January 2019, Cornerstone Capital Holdings, in partnership with industry veterans that formed the executive management of MECO; Tim Hough (President), Eric Lawson (Senior Program Manager) and Kenny Payne (Business Development and Engineering Manager), purchased the assets of MECO and rebranded the business AeroGen-TEK. Since 2019, Cornerstone and management have built on the legacy started by Mr. Willis and Magers and strategically positioned the business to support its customers’ future needs as global energy demands increase and investment in military aircraft expand.
