Just a few of the people we caught up with at the Precision Machined Products Association Management Update over the weekend in sunny Scottsdale Arizona.
Albert Thuro of Thuro Metal Products instructed Noah Graff that he needs to find a wife soon or he’ll be relegated to “leftovers.” Romas Juodvalkis of Allways Precision talked about being electrocuted and surviving as a 20-year-old repairman at R.J. Frisby in Chicago. Dan Hankla of Alger Manufacturing, Ontario, California, has an ongoing tug of war with the state’s OSHA equivalent over degreasing processes. Dave Knuepfer of Dupage Machine Parts, who never seems to gain any weight, is finding success hiring local high school kids as interns to get new blood in the shop. Brian Adams of R.F. Mau Co. dropped 35 pounds and showed off his waist looking “maaaavelous.” Jack Steuby of John J. Steuby Co. Screw Machine Products looked himself, and is still trying to make up his mind about making can openers. Say it ain’t so, Jack.
Ron Bracalente of Bracalente Manufacturing Group in Trumbauersville, Penn., is exporting product to China which then goes to Poland. Mark Fordyce of Component Bar Products, O’Fallon, Missouri, talked of competing with Hydromat on spares while being a local supplier. Jeff Ohlemacher of EMC Precision in Elyria, Ohio, told members about having to exert social pressure on Barack Obama to wear safety glasses when the president visited his shop several months ago. Aaron Bagshaw of 140-year-old W.H. Bagshaw Company of Nashua, New Hampshire, was enjoying Phoenix with his wife and two kids. He and his wife are pleased lately about picking up five Nomura Swisses for 23 grand.
Lots of metal guys came but the only machine tool reps were Jim Trunk of Schutte, Jeff Reinert of INDEX, Olaf Tessarzyk of ZPS, and Luca Lanzetta of Pietro Cucchi America.
It was a better turnout than last year in Tampa with 98 companies represented to last year’s 92. It was a serious group. The U.S. vs. Canada gold medal hockey game drained only a few from the presentation of sales guru Jack Daly on Sunday.
