Marten Machining Inc.

Contrary to some current employment trends, the manufacturing industry is alive and well. Just ask Alan and Debra Marten, owners and operators of Marten Machining Inc., a local job shop manufacturer for a variety of industries including medical, printing, food processing, controls and the packaging industry.

Marten Machining Inc. was founded in 1984 with business operations being conducted out of Alan and Debra’s garage. The company moved to its current location in 1990 and has seen steady, solid growth since that time. And, as business continues to grow, so does the size of the facility with the most recent addition being completed in Spring 2008. The company sits on two acres of land bordered by railroad tracks on the north side, Hwy J to the east and Hillcrest Drive on the south. As plans for the most recent addition evolved, every available piece of the property was used, down to the last remaining square inch for the parking lot. As additional equipment is delivered and the landscaping is underway, it’s business as usual inside the company.

The clean and bright interior provides a conducive work environment for Marten Machining’s 15 employees, a figure that includes Alan, Debra and their son Dave who recently returned from Colorado to join in the family business. The company’s employees are local residents with most having a 15-minute commute to and from work. Employees currently work 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday with Friday available for overtime, if necessary.

Along with the impressive cleanliness of the entire building, the facility is highly energy efficient. For example, while the building tripled in size during the most recent expansion, electricity costs only rose 30%. During this same time period, all light fixtures in the entire facility were replaced with high efficiency lighting. One small garbage bin is all the company needs to hold lunchroom employee remnants, as nearly everything used is recycled. Much to the credit of its 15 employees, every effort is made to be a “green,” energy efficient operation.

Like other similar businesses, the company is coping with the nationwide machinist shortage. Even though Alan and Debra don’t anticipate big changes in the next three to five years, they do expect production to increase creating the need for additional employees as well as additional automated equipment. Automated equipment including robotics are set up and scheduled to run throughout the night, increasing production during unattended hours. If the machine encounters an error, one of its many sensors will emit a signal alerting the company of the problem. Sensor errors are virtually non-existent with the equipment running smoothly, keeping production on target.

And, even though the company is located in a rural area, they feel equally connected here as they would anywhere else. Internet capabilities allow CAD (Computer-aided design) files to be received via email within seconds of it leaving the customer’s hands. They can then use their CAM (Computer-aided manufacturing) system to input the data into their machines for part production. The entire process is much more efficient and timely.

Alan and Debra know the importance of purchasing quality equipment. They also know that hiring quality employees is equally as valuable to their business. Marten Machining actively participates in the Youth Apprenticeship program at SPASH. This program provides students the opportunity to explore career options with various employers and at the same time connects employers with apprentices and recruits for full-time jobs after graduation. This allows Junior and Senior grade students the opportunity to work side-by-side with company employees, gaining valuable experience within the business, learning the importance of being part of a team and having the opportunity to share in the research and development of new products.

Recently, the Department of Workforce Development Secretary, Roberta Gassman, paid a visit to Marten Machining, highlighting Governor Doyle’s Grow Wisconsin – The Next Steps strategy to strengthen the State's economy during this time of economic challenges. The Governor looks to expand the Youth Apprenticeship program into three new high-demand occupations, providing apprenticeship opportunities to 300 more high school students and allow 250 new employers to enter the program.

The company also works closely with students involved with the Machine Tool program at Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids and Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. Students can work while attending the two-year Tech School program and apply for a position within the company if both parties feel it’s a good fit.

So what lies ahead for Marten Machining? As they approach 25 years in business this fall, the list is endless and the opportunities, vast. The company works closely with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Physics Department on select research and development projects. The company has also done work for businesses that supply parts worldwide for research projects ongoing in Antarctica and manufactured a part used in a project that was launched into space.

When the workday is done, Alan and Debra head home to feed their flock of chickens and relax in their “low-tech” home, free of computers and most electronic luxuries. Don’t bother calling as you may be out of luck with the answering machine. On the other hand, if you are looking to have a great conversation about a variety of topics – now that’s a whole different story.