Sputtering Components Owatonna Celebrates 25 Years with New Expansion | Aaron Guzman
Some assignments become much more than another date on the calendar.
When a client keeps inviting you back to document their biggest milestones, it becomes something much more meaningful—a relationship built on trust.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of photographing several defining moments for Sputtering Components in Owatonna, and each assignment has told another chapter in the company’s incredible story.
My first assignment was creating nighttime drone imagery of their facility, showcasing the company from an entirely new perspective. Later, I returned to document the groundbreaking ceremony for their 7,000-square-foot office expansion and 5,460-square-foot manufacturing addition. Most recently, I was honored to photograph the grand opening celebration as employees, stakeholders, community leaders, and international partners gathered to celebrate 25 years of innovation.
As a photographer, there is no greater compliment than being invited back to continue telling a client’s story.
From a Small Garage to Global Manufacturing
Founded in 2001 by Dan Crowley, Sputtering Components began in a garage just outside Owatonna with one clear objective—to improve rotary sputtering cathodes used in architectural glass manufacturing.
Today, the company has become an international leader with more than 8,000 rotary sputtering cathodes installed worldwide, serving customers across numerous industries.
Their technology helps manufacture products many of us use every day, including:
- Mobile phone glass
- Architectural glass
- Automotive glass
- Solar panels
- Display screens
- Magnetic materials
- Precision coatings for specialized manufacturing equipment
- Customized sputtering targets for unique industrial applications
Their commitment to engineering excellence has resulted in more than 20 patents while serving customers worldwide.
In 2018, Sputtering Components joined the Bühler Group, a Swiss-based global technology company headquartered in Uzwil, Switzerland, with North American headquarters located in Plymouth, Minnesota. The partnership expanded the company’s worldwide reach while allowing its engineering and manufacturing operations to continue growing in Owatonna.
Learn more about Sputtering Components: https://www.sputteringcomponents.com/get-to-know-us/about-sputtering-components
Investing in Owatonna’s Future
The newest expansion represents another investment in the future—not only for Sputtering Components but for the entire Owatonna community.
According to the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce, the project includes:
- 7,000 square feet of new office space
- 5,460 square feet of expanded manufacturing space
- Capacity for five additional engineers
- Room for ten new production employees
General Manager Kory Klecker and the leadership team continue to demonstrate a commitment to innovation while creating new employment opportunities for the region.
The expansion was constructed by Mohs Contracting, an Owatonna-based commercial contractor recognized for delivering quality construction projects throughout southern Minnesota. Their craftsmanship and attention to detail helped create a modern facility designed to support the company’s continued growth for years to come.
Learn more about Mohs Contracting: https://www.mohscontracting.com/
Celebrating with Community and Global Partners
The grand opening wasn’t simply about unveiling a new building.
It celebrated twenty-five years of innovation, partnerships, and investment in the local community.
Representatives from the Bühler Group traveled to Owatonna to celebrate alongside employees, customers, vendors, and community partners.
Also attending the celebration were:
- Members of the Owatonna City Council
- Mayor of Owatonna
- Owatonna City Administrator
- Representatives from the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce
- Local business leaders and stakeholders
The event highlighted what makes Owatonna’s business community unique—local companies building products that impact customers around the world while continuing to invest in the community they call home.
Learn more about Bühler Group: https://www.buhlergroup.com/
Learn more about the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce: https://owatonna.org/
Three Assignments, One Incredible Story
Looking back over the last few years, it’s rewarding to realize I’ve had the opportunity to document multiple chapters of Sputtering Components’ growth.
The journey included:
- Capturing dramatic nighttime drone photographs of the facility.
- Photographing the groundbreaking ceremony announcing the expansion.
- Documenting the grand opening celebration and 25-year milestone.
Very few photographers have the opportunity to tell a client’s story from beginning to end.
Each assignment represents another level of trust, and I’m incredibly grateful that Sputtering Components continues to choose Aaron Guzman Photography to preserve these important moments.
Thank You for the Continued Trust
Corporate photography isn’t simply about taking pictures.
It’s about preserving milestones that become part of a company’s history.
Watching Sputtering Components grow over the years—and being invited back to document that growth—has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.
Congratulations to everyone who helped make this project possible, including the dedicated employees of Sputtering Components, the leadership of the Bühler Group, the team at Mohs Contracting, the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce, and the many local leaders and stakeholders who continue supporting economic growth in our community.
Thank you for trusting Aaron Guzman Photography with another milestone. I look forward to documenting many more chapters in your story.
About Aaron Guzman Photography
Aaron Guzman Photography specializes in corporate event photography, commercial photography, industrial photography, drone photography, sports photography, and visual storytelling throughout Owatonna, Southern Minnesota, and the Midwest.
Whether documenting a groundbreaking ceremony, ribbon cutting, corporate expansion, or community celebration, every assignment focuses on capturing authentic moments that tell your organization’s story.