Valparaiso Magazine - Spring 2023

MADE IN VALPARAISO | FAIRWAY LASER SYSTEMS
Making
A MARK
Fairway Laser Systems,
Serving the Midwest for
Over 20 Years
By Katie Bieber
La•ser
['lāz r]
a device that produces a narrow
beam of light that is useful in many
technologies and instruments. The
letters in the word laser stand for Light
Amplification by Stimulated Emission
of Radiation.
Dan Molchan,
Fairway Laser Systems
A Stroke of Luck
Dan Molchan has lived in Valparaiso most
of his life. Long-time residents may
remember the sign shop he owned in the
eighties and nineties. During this time, he
was offered a sales position with Epilog
Laser. At the start he was primarily selling
to trophy shops, which used lasers to
engrave plaques, plates, trophies, and
other small awards. But as the popularity of
lasers started to grow, and expanded into
industrial, medical, and military applications,
"it became a full-time job. I no longer
did signs and didn't have paint under my
fingernails anymore," said Molchan.
Building on his success, Dan was tapped
to be a distributor for Epilog Laser and was
given four states as a territory: Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. Although
Epilog Laser manufactures their equipment
in Colorado, they need knowledgeable
representatives, like Dan, to show, train
and service their products. Over the past
27 years, their product line has grown
dramatically. When Dan first started, he had
two machines to offer. Now he has machines
to meet the needs of a wide range of people.
From a startup or hobbyist, all the way to a
higher end, sophisticated table with greater
power, "We sell machines to a man that
works in his basement on bird houses all the
way to General Motors," he said.
A Legacy of Success
In 2015, Dan took a risk. He decided to build
a new facility from the ground up to meet
more of his customers' needs and demands.
"I took the plunge to invest in a building and
it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
It has led to growth in my business that
has exceeded my expectations. The Valpo
Chamber and Valparaiso helped make it
possible with their support," he reflected.
Dan uses this facility to showcase models
of Epilog Laser Equipment to prospective
customers in a top-of-the-line demonstration
room. He also shares the building, and the
company, with his two sons, Daniel and Cory.
"The reason it's Fairway Laser is because my
sons and I, we love to golf. That's our hobby.
And we treat people in a fair way." He plans
on leaving the company to his sons upon his
retirement.
The Future of Lasers
Laser applications are all around us. Do you
have a personalized Yeti tumbler? Are you
working on a wooden puzzle? They were
most likely lasered. Although Fairway Laser
isn't a personalization shop, they are excited
to provide the technology to make it happen
- on any scale.
"We want to make other businesses
successful using our piece of equipment.
And we really enjoy seeing all the different
applications that are brought to us. Not a
month goes by that someone doesn't ask us,
will a laser do this? And we say, I don't know,
let's find out," concluded Molchan.
16 SPRING 2023 |