Precision Plus Tours McHenry County College’s Advanced Manufacturing Department

September 16, 2014

Precision Plus Tours McHenry County College’s Advanced Manufacturing Department

Advanced Manufacturing Programs, careers in manufacturing, Fast Track Advanced Manufacturing Certificate, Illinois, Inc., McHenry County Collage, Precision Plus, Visit

Michael Reader

On September 15, 2014, Barry Butters, Director of Training and Education at Precision Plus and John McConville and Ryan Nuhn toured McHenry County College’s Advanced Manufacturing Department to learn about their manufacturing program. The facility was impeccably clean and featured manual machines as well as a CNC lathe and a CNC mill.

McHenry County is one of the fastest-growing manufacturing sectors in the region, accounting for more than 25 percent of the county’s earnings. McHenry County College offers a Fast Track Advanced Manufacturing Certificate, through a program that incorporates CAD (computer aided design, manufacturing processes, blueprint reading for manufacturing and CNC (computer numerical control) machining.

For more information on McHenry (Illinois) County College’s Fast Track Advanced Manufacturing Program, click here.

Community Involvement Educational Development

September 4, 2014

Precision Plus Welcomes Students to Its 2014-2015 Apprenticeship Program

2014-2015 school year, Amanda Mudlaff, Caitlin Sanders, Elkhorn, Interns, Internship Program, Jake Brown, Jaynew Newman, Jessica Flock, Kyle Gorst, Precision Plus, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

Five apprentices have joined Precision Plus 2014-2015 Apprenticeship Program. We are so excited to have you on board!

Jake Brown – Jake is a junior at Elkhorn High School. He participates in the E-Tech Robotics Club and enjoys working on computers. Jake plans to work in the engineering field.

Jayce Newman – Jayce is a senior at Elkhorn High School. He has participated in baseball at school. Jayce has taken a Project Lead the Way course every year. He enjoys putting together car audio systems.

Caitlin Sanders – Caitlin is a senior at Big Foot High School. She participated in softball and volleyball until she tore her ACL. She is also involved in FFA. She enjoys working on engines and welding.

Kyle Gorst – Kyle is a senior at Elkhorn High School. Kyle likes to fish and hunt. He participates in the swim and golf teams at school. He is an accomplished swimmer, making it to the State Swim Meet last year. He also enjoys country music.

Amanda Mudlaff – Amanda is a senior at East Troy High School. Amanda is the Captain of her Cheer and Pom Teams and participates in the Track and Field Team. She is a FFA member, Wrestling Manager, Multi-Cultural Club Member, and a Youth Cheerleading Coach. Amanda is also a National Honor Society member.

LAST MINUTE NEWS! Jessica Flock (Sr., Elkhorn HS) has joined Precision Plus as an intern for school year 2014-2015. Welcome! More details to come!

Community Involvement Educational Development

September 3, 2014

Precision Plus 2014 Summer Interns Headed Back to School

Elkhorn, field trips, Gateway Technical College, Haas Factory Outlet, Illinois, iMET Center, internship, Kurt Busch's Haas NASCAR #41, MacLean Fogg, Precision Plus, Scot Forge, students back to school, Summer Interns, tours, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

The second year of Precision Plus’ Summer Internship Programs comes to an end, as the 18 interns head back to their respective high schools (East Troy, Badger, Elkhorn Area, Richmond and Wilmot) and colleges (U.W. Madison, U.W. Platteville, Milwaukee School of Engineering).

Although the internship program includes classroom time, the students spent most of their time on the floor, observing and learning from seasoned professionals and putting their new knowledge to work—hands-on.

Featured below are a few of Precision Plus summer interns in action.

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The end of the summer internship program was highlighted by field trips to several area manufacturing facilities as well as to the new iMET Center.

On August 8, 2014, the students and Precision Plus’ Director of Education and Training Barry Butters toured the iMET (SC Johnson Integrated Manufacturing and Engineering Technology) Center– within Gateway Technical College– located in Sturtevant, WI . The iMET Center is a state of the art training facility. It also houses a FAB lab. “Fab labs are a global network of local labs, enabling invention by providing access for individuals to tools for digital fabrication, to make almost anything.” The students found the 3D scanner and 3D printers of particular interest.

On August 13, 2014, a trip was coordinated to visit the Haas Factory Outlet Open House, located in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

The students saw the latest generation of Haas machines. Of particular interest were the vertical mills, as Precision Plus does not use this type of machine. The students were amazed at how fast the mill could change tools. Haas has worldwide reputation as a technology leader in CNC machining.

The students also enjoyed seeing Kurt Busch’s Haas NASCAR #41 up close prior to performing in the Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway on September 14 following IMTS 2014.

On August 22, 2014, the interns were given a tour of MacLean-Fogg in Whitewater, WI by Randy Race, Director of Engineering. The company was founded in 2012 by merging two successful and complementary plastic injection molding businesses: Engineered Plastics Corp. in Menomonee Falls, WI and MacLean-Fogg’s Polymer Technologies in Whitewater. Their experience in practical plastics design, tooling, processing, and engineered materials is extensive and it is well known throughout the world.

The students learned all about plastic injection molding machines and about how automation has been a key player in the running of these machines.

But the field trip that left most interns awe-struck was the Spring Grove, IL tour of the Scot Forge facility. The tour was arranged through Zach Ford who is Scot Forge’s Technical Education Liaison. While at Precision Plus, we sometimes have to use tweezers to hold our parts to measure them, Scot Forge manufactures things that have to be crawled inside of to measure. The sheer size difference was amazing to the students, and it gave them a much wider understanding of the variables in manufacturing.

We wish all of our interns success in their studies, and look forward to keeping up with their achievements. In college, or college bound are:

Michael Reader MSOE (Jr.) and 4-year summer intern
Carson Filko MSOE (Fr) and 3-year summer intern
Britt Campbell MSOE (Fr.) 1-year Youth Apprentice/summer intern
Hunter Parks MSOE (Fr.), 1-year Youth Apprentice/summer intern
Riley Bruce MSOE (Fr.) 1-year summer intern
Kyle Poplar MSOE (Sr.) 1-year summer intern
Jon Stopple, UW-Platteville (So.) 2^nd year intern
Bob Dall, UW-Madison (So.) 2^nd year intern
Brad Killen, UW-Madison (So.) 2^nd year intern
Jake Ruemmele UW Platteville (Jr.) 1^st year intern

Community Involvement

August 29, 2014

Precision Plus Major Sponsor of Delavan’s New Avant Cycling Team/Club Team

Avant Bicycle Supply, Avant Cycling Team, community, competitive, cycling, Delavan, Precision Plus, racing teams, recreational, sponsor, Tony Valenti, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

One of the most important beliefs of the team at Precision Plus is that we must support the community in which we thrive.

Recently, we heard of Tony Valenti, an avid cyclist and member of several racing teams in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Taking his passion to the next level, Tony opened Avant Bicycle Supply in historic downtown Delavan, Wisconsin in April of 2014, while simultaneously launching an online and eBay business. Next in his set of dreams, he founded the Avant Cycling/Club Team to support local athletes in multiple disciplines, race and club. Valenti wishes for community involvement, and invites cyclists of all ages to join and “be willing to help grow a more positive and friendly Wisconsin cycling scene,” with options to cycle recreationally, or race competitively.

Based on this community spirit, Precision Plus has become a proud sponsor of the Avant Team and commends Tony’s efforts in this initiative.

Click here for more information about the Avant Bicycle Supply.

Community Involvement

August 29, 2014

Precision Plus is a Proud Member of the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance, Inc.

2014-2015, Elkhorn, members, membership, Precision Plus, progressive organization, Walworth County, Walworth County Economic Development Association, WCEDA, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

Precision Plus of Elkhorn, Wisconsin is a proud member of the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance, Inc. (WCEDA), a dynamic, progressive organization that “is dedicated to improving the quality of life for Walworth County residents by working with public and private sector partners to advance efforts that create jobs and build private sector investment in our communities.”

The communities included in Walworth County are Delavan, East Troy, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva and Whitewater. With a population of 102,000, Walworth County is regarded as a strategic business location nestled in between Milwaukee to the north, Chicago to the south, and Madison to the west.

According to the WCEDA, “Walworth County has 14 tax incremental finance (TIF) districts targeted for business development, as well as nine business parks, including several located along Interstate 43. World class facilities completed in 2011 include the Mercy Walworth Medical Center, and the LEED Gold certified Whitewater Innovation Center at the award-winning 125-acre Whitewater University Technology Park.”

The WCEDA is also actively involved in initiatives to find and develop the next generation of manufacturing employees. On October 30^th, the Walworth County Job Center is offering a Manufacturing Job Fair at Lake Lawn Resort at which Precision Plus plans to participate.

Community Involvement

August 23, 2014

Precision Plus’ Barry Butters Asked to Be a Judge at the Wisconsin Project Lead The Way 2014 EDD Competition

2014, Active Radiation Shielding for Manned Interplanetary Space Flight, Barry Butters, Competition, courses, EDD, Engineering Design and Development, judge, Onocomowoc High School, PLTW, Precision Plus, Project Lead The Way, Wisconsin

Michael Reader

Barry Butters, Director of Training and Education at Precision Plus was asked to participate as a judge in the Wisconsin Project Lead The Way 2014 Engineering Design and Development (EDD) Competition. There were a total of 24 judges assessing the projects of 19 teams.

Being that Butters is a certified EDD instructor, he knew the process well. Each judge was assigned five teams to listen to and observe, and score based on predetermined scoring rubric, after which an average score was compiled. The caliber of the teams was outstanding. “I was truly impressed with the quality of the students’ work,” said Butters, “It seemed as though some of the groups were already degreed engineers.”

The winning entry was from Oconomowoc, and Butters had the privilege to judge that team. The results of your work are as follows: The entry, “Active Radiation Shielding for Manned Interplanetary Space Flight” received the average high score. This team will receive a $5,000 cash award.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) supports young men and women by making available Engineering and Biomedical Sciences classes that lead to exciting new careers. For more information about Wisconsin Project Lead The Way EDD Competition, click here.

Butters looks forward to being a judge at the 2015 EDD Competition.

Industry News

August 19, 2014

2014 Manufacturing Matters! Conference Videos Featuring Governor Scott Walker as Keynote Speaker

Buckley Brinkman, Governor Scott Walker, Jim Perras, Manufacturing Matters! Conference, manufacturing., Milwaukee, Precision Plus, Rich Meeusen, Wisconsin, WMEP

Michael Reader

Last February 27, over 400 Wisconsin manufacturers came together to participate in Manufacturing Matters!, a conference dedicated to manufacturing leadership.

Precision Plus is happy to share two videos from the conference, courtesy of the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP).

The first video, features opening remarks by Buckley Brinkman, Executive Director and CEO of WMEP, followed by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s keynote speech.

The second video, showcases WMEP 2014 Manufacturing Matters! speakers Jim Perras and Rich Meeusen.

The next Manufacturing Matters! Conference is scheduled for February 26, 2015.

Industry News

August 15, 2014

Students Not Equipped with the Necessary Skills To Succeed in the Workplace – A Report from the Next New World Conference

21st century, columnist, disconnect, education, Katrina Schwartz, New York Times, Next New World Conference, Pulitzer price, Richard Miller, San Francisco, Tom Friedman, Tony Wagner

Michael Reader

In a recent article, journalist Katrina Schwartz reported on a panel discussion at a Next New World Conference, as well as on a challenge called by employers to educators to make school relevant to students’ lives.

In June of 2014, New York Times columnist and multi-time Pulitzer Price recipient Tom Friedman hosted a Next New World Conference session in San Francisco, where panelists were asked whether they thought “the American education system can better prepare students to meet the evolving challenges of the 21^st century economy.” All panelists agreed that the current U.S. system could not, needing a major overhaul.

Thomas Friedman, Richard Miller and Tony Wagner discuss education at the Next New World Conference in San Francisco. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Panelist Tony Wagner, expert in residence at Harvard’s Innovation Lab, commented: “The problem is not to get incrementally better with our current education system. The problem is to reimagine it.” He called for an education system make-over to teach content to students that connects them with real world skills in an authentic way. He further suggested that content knowledge is gained through interesting and engaging hands-on experience.

In Schwartz’s words, “That’s why Wagner half-jokingly advocated for “Dream Directors” in schools, whose job it would be to help students identify their dreams and scaffold tasks to help students obtain the skills needed for that dream. Over time, attention to the needs of individuals would transform the content and delivery methods in schools.”

Another of the panelists was Richard Miller, president and professor at Olin College, an engineering university in Needham, MA. Olin has identified the skills gap and has put a new educational model in place. “Olin is essentially a ‘maker’ university,” as its student body is made up of “strong problem solvers and people who know how to make things.”

“Students are the power tools of change in education,” Miller said. “They are the most ignored and they have the most at stake. When students are given free range to design, make and innovate they can be very powerful examples of what a great education can produce.”

Read Katrina Schwartz entire article here.

Community Involvement Industry News

August 5, 2014

PMPA’s Wisconsin Chapter Tees Offs Their 2014-2015 Program Year With Their Annual Golf Outing at Lake Lawn Resort on September 24, 2014

$125 per person includes golf and dinner, 2014, 262-743-1700, event, golf outing, Lake Lawn Lodge, Lake Lawn Resort, PMPA, Precision Machined Products Association, precision manufacturers, Precision Plus, registration, September 24, suppliers, Wiscosin Chapter

Michael Reader

The Wisconsin Chapter of PMPA (Precision Machined Products Association) is hosting its annual golf outing on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at Lake Lawn Resort on Delavan Lake. This annual event brings together precision manufacturers and suppliers for a great day of golf, friendly competition, dinner, door prizes and networking.

Shotgun start and the scramble event begin at 12pm, with lunch courtesy of Corey Steel Company. Following the game, the event continues with 5pm cocktails and 6pm dinner. $125 per person includes 18 holes, cart, and dinner. A dinner only option is avaukabke $55 per person. Download a registration form here.

If you would like to become a sponsor, please email or call Bill Wells, Precision Plus, at 262-743-1700.

PMPA’s Wisconsin Chapter Annual Golf Outing is an event not to be missed.

Company Updates

July 22, 2014

70,000 sq. ft. Expansion Will More Than Double Precision Plus’ Current Facility

30 new jobs, 70000 sq. ft., Elkhorn, expansion, Magill Construction, more capacity, Precision Plus, Wisconsin, world-class manufacturer

Michael Reader

On July 14, 2014, Mike Reader, President of Precision Plus of Elkhorn, Wisconsin announced breaking ground on a project to begin construction of a 70,000 sq. ft. facility expansion. Magill Construction Company, also of Elkhorn, is working on this project.

The expansion will more than double Precision Plus’ current 45,000 sq. ft. facility, with the mission to increase plant production, while continuing to manufacture world-class components with global distribution. The company also plans to contribute to the local economy by hiring at least 30 new employees over the span of the next three years.

Currently, Precision Plus is seeking individuals to join our team in these positions:

Accounting/Bookkeeping Position
Solid bookkeeping experience necessary to successfully perform this job.
Send your resume to Precision Plus via email.

CNC Programmer
3-5 years programming CNC Swiss. Experience with PartMaker or Esprit CAM software and Inventor is preferred.
Click Here for More Infomation

Machine Operator
Swiss Tornos, Swiss CNC & Miyano CNC turret lathes
Click Here for More Infomation

Swiss CNC Setup
Click Here for More Infomation

CNC Setup
Miyano ABX 51SY/TH2
Click Here for More Infomation

Swiss Tornos Cam Setup
Click Here for More Infomation
Precision Plus is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants due to race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, or on the basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

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