PURCHASING, MANUFACTURING SUPPORT Alro Steel's St. Louis Facility Holds Open House

Change ServiCe requeStedMaCi Publishing, inc., 2432 SW Pepperwood rd, topeka, KS 66614-5293

December, 2013

Photos, Top, L-R: Alro Steel’s Pat Wenstrup, founder Al Glick & Kevin Berkbigler. Shackelford Machine’s management team (see page 15) with a new Okuma. Gerding Enterprises’ Matt Gerding & Chuck Gerding with a new Haas VF-7. Bottom L-R: MAM’s new CEO Kim Inman. The Maruka USA crew with a Hwacheon M2 5-axis machine. Sheet metal being formed at Metaltech Products Inc.

PURCHASING, MANUFACTURING SUPPORTAlro Steel’s St. Louis Facility Holds Open HouseShackelford Machine, Clearwater, KS, Installs 2nd Okuma MB-400H HMCMaruka USA Forms Alliance With HwacheonGerding Enterprises, Dittmer, MO, Installs

New Haas VF-7 VMCMetaltech Products, Lebanon, MO; 15 YearsInman Named New CEO For Missouri Association of Manufacturers (MAM)ISM 2014 Forecast Sees Mfg. Growth

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4 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

Mid-America Commerce & Industry is published 11 times a year (June & July are combined) by:

MACI Publishing, Inc. 2432 SW Pepperwood Rd.

Topeka, KS 66614-5293

David Lippe, managing editor; Ray Lippe, editor. Published since 1973. Mid-America Commerce & Industry is a registered trademark of MACI Publishing, Inc.

A one year subscription is $20.00.

Phone: 785-272-5280 Fax: 785-272-3729

Email: [email protected] site:

www.maci-mag.com

Mid-America is sent to industrial purchasing managers, plant man-agers, industrial engineers, and company presidents in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas and Iowa.

DECEMBER, 2013Volume 41 - No. 04

K-D Machine: New Citizen....... 5Maruka Allies With Hwacheon .. 6Metaltech Products: 15 Years .. 8Alro Steel Open House ........... 10Upcoming Issues ....................... 13ISM-KC: Economic Panel .......... 14Shackelford Machine: Okuma ... 15ISM Forecasts 2014 Manufacturing Growth ........18Editorial ..........................................20KC NTMA Christmas Party ...........24Gerding Enterprises: New Haas ..26Mo-Kan AFS Learns About Global

Safety Standards .....................28Hartwig Establishes Toll-Free Number For Parts ....................29MAM Annouces New CEO ..........30Upcoming Trade Shows ...............31

VAN-AM Tool & Engineering, LLC5025 Easton Road, St. Joseph, MO 64507 • 816-233-6622 • Fax 816-233-9422E-mail: [email protected] • Web Page: www.vanam-tool.com

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DECEMBER, 2013 5

Above (l-r): K-D Machine & Tool’s Chris Hahne, sales manager/estimating; Jerry Carlin, special project manager; Eric Wildebrandt, general manager and Kevin J. Doerr, president.

K-D Machine & Tool Installs New Citizen A32 Swiss Turning Center

K-D Machine & Tool, Inc., Union, Missouri, has recently installed a new Citizen A32 Swiss turning lathe.

The 23-year-old job shop of-fers precision machining, fabrica-tion and painting. It is a one-stop shop, able to start a project with prototyping and take it through, production, assembly and finish-ing.

The new Citizen, purchased through McClain Tool & Technol-ogy, was needed to meet customer demand and keep up with growth. It features dual spindles, a sliding headstock, 8K spindles and 23 tools.

“McClain’s service has been perfect,” noted K-D’s owner, Kevin Doerr, a 38-year industry veteran.

The Citizen joins ten other pieces of CNC equipment in K-D’s 21,000-sq.-ft. facility. The ITAR registered firm has 24 employees that work with the company’s full range of CNC and manual machining, fabrication, welding (MIG & TIG), inspection and painting equipment.

The firm serves a wide range of industries across the globe. It works with all steels (including tool steel), aluminums, titanium and plastics. It can handle ma-chined parts up to 20” x 40” and turned parts up to 80” long and up to 3” in diameter.

“When asked about how the company has managed to grow and thrive through its 23 years, Doerr commented, “We are good at what we do.” He noted that staying focused on the business, keeping a positive outlook and not wasting time worrying about world events have helped him manage the company and succeed

over the years.A recent unique project

completed at the firm was the production of the world’s largest hot dog cart (recently recognized by Guinness World Records). It is 9’-3” tall by 23’-2” long and 12’-

Union, Missouri

2.75” wide K-D Machine & Tool can be

contacted at: (636) 583-5513; Fax (636) 583-9444; 806 N Jefferson Ave., Union, Missouri 63084; kdmachine.webs.com.

Above: A new Citizen A32 Swiss Turniing Center at K-D Machine & Tool.


MARUKA USA Inc. has announced an alliance with Hwacheon Machinery America. Maruka will handle all sales, service and support of Hwacheon CNC equipment throughout Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

“Hwacheon CNC machines are something to really get excited about,” stated Maruka’s Landon Thompson, team leader for Kansas and Missouri. “They are a 62-year-old company with approximately 6,000 installations here in the US. They are the top seller of CNC machine tools in the Korean automotive market and major supplier of castings to Fanuc and Kawasaki.”

Hwacheon is a vertically integrated builder, from castings through machining and assembly of all its spindles, machine bases, columns, components and geared transmissions. The company also offers as standard on every

CNC mill, an adaptive tool-load monitoring system which main-tains a constant chip load per tool. “It is this ‘in-house” craftsman-ship Maruka is proud to repre-sent,” noted Thompson. Michael Huggett, President of Hwacheon Machinery stated, “Hwacheon is

looking forward to our new part-nership and long-term relationship with Maruka USA. Maruka is a company that shares our com-mitment to quality and customer satisfaction.”

Maruka USA, founded in 1968, has offices in Lee’s Summit, MO, Wichita, KS, and Broken Arrow, OK. It serves the manu-facturing industry providing metal working, plastics processing and fabrication equipment. It provides local service and support on all types of equipment. It plans to announce additional alliances with CNC machine tool builders in the near future. “We would like to thank all of our customers,” commented Thomp-son. “We sincerely appreciate your time, business, friendships, and look forward to making our goal your success.”

To contact Maruka USA call (816) 524-1811, (316) 683-7487 or email [email protected].

MARUKA USA Forms Alliance With Hwacheon Machinery

Above: The Maruka USA crew at WITS with a Hwacheon M2 5-axis machine.

A-1 PAINTING, POWDER COATING AND SAND BLASTING7601 East 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64126

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Metaltech Products, Inc. (MPI), Lebanon, Missouri, is cel-ebrating its 15th anniversary..

The custom job-shop offers complete metal fabrication (sheet, light plate and structural). It also offers engineering, design assis-tance and drafting services.

“We are always looking to expand into new industries and improve our operations,” stated Darrel Bishop, owner and long-time industry veteran.

Bishop also noted that the company manages inventory plan-ning for its customers and offers J-I-T delivery.

Metaltech started in June of 1998 with four employees in a 4,000-sq.ft. facility. Today, it operates in 68,000-sq.-ft. of space with over 50 employees.

The company producesweldment (structures) and

sheet metal fabrications with ma-

Metaltech Products, Inc. (MPI) Celebrates 15th Anniversary

terials ranging in thickness from 22ga to ¾” and 5’ x 10’. Besides laser cutting, Metaltech offers punch press work, CNC mill-ing and turning, welding, robotic welding and forming. Powder coating services are also provided by an affiliated division. (Powder Paint, Inc.)

Lebanon, Missouri

Equipment at the firm in-cludes two Trumpf TruLasers, a 20-ton punch press, two press brakes (95 and 150 ton), two CNC mills, a CNC lathe with bar feeder, a robotic welder, two spot welders, manual welding stations (MIG & TIG) and assorted other equipment.

Above: Metaltech Products’ crew outside the company’s facility near Lebanon, Missouri.

Above: MPI’s Kevin Keagy & Matt Stief at the Wichita Industrial Trade Show.

DECEMBER, 2013 9

• 96” x 36” x 10’ Capacity Automated Powder Line• Up to1600-lb Capacity• 5-stage Pretreatment System• 2nd Conveyor Line (24” x 36”) for Fast Color Changes• 7’ x 8.0’ x 25’ Powder Booth & Custom Oven• Liquid Paint Booths 30‘ x 12’ & 43‘ x 14’• Fast Turnaround• CARC Approved Coatings• 8’ x 8’ x 8’ Burnoff Oven • Sand & Soda Blasting• Pickup & Delivery

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Metaltech Products can be contacted at: (417) 426-5577; Fax (417) 426-5599; 16055 Hwy E. Lebanon, Missouri 65536; [email protected].;www.metaltechproductsinc.com

Above Top: A metal structure created at MPI. Bottom: Sheet metal being formed at MPI.


Alro Steel’s St. Louis facility held an open house on October 30th. Plant tours and a barbeque lunch were featured.

The 65-year-old firm supplies metals, plastics and industrial supplies through its 60 locations across 12 states.

Two metals facilities (St. Louis and Tulsa, OK) are in this region.

“We wanted to intro-duce our customers to the wide range of products and services we offer at this fa-cility,” noted Pat Wenstrup, general manager. “We have continued to expand and im-prove our operation over the years to provide better and faster service to our custom-ers. We provide one-stop shopping with the industry’s widest product line of metal products and plastics. Our extensive shuttle system allows access to company-wide inventory and services with a goal to deliver next day.”

The 70,000-sq.-ft. St. Louis facility has a broad inventory of shapes, sheet, bar and plate in stainless, carbon, alloy and tool steels. It also features a wide vari-ety of non-ferrous materials including aluminum, brass, bronze, copper and cast iron. Precision sawing is offered at the St. Louis fa-cility with a myriad of other services available through Alro’s other locations.

Alro’s founder, Al Glick, was also on hand for

the event.The St. Louis facility can be contact-

ed at: (800) 325-0978; (314) 726-3080; Fax (314) 726-5017; 8000 Hall Street (Bldg 4) St. Louis MO 63147.

The Tulsa location can be contacted

Alro Steel’s St. Louis Facility Holds Open House

at: (800) 722-4973; (918) 227-1456; Fax (918) 227-1455; 8600 S. 89th W Ave., Tulsa Oklahoma 74131. Both locations can also be contacted at www.alro.com.

Above (l-r): Alro Steel’s Pat Wenstrup, founder Al Glick & Kevin Berkbigler.

Above: Alro Steel’s Scott MacDonald (left) leads a tour of the St. Louis facility.

DECEMBER, 2013 11

The Ernest-Spencer Companies 3323 East 82nd Street Meriden, KS 66512

Phone: 785/484-3165 Fax: 785/484-2032 Email: [email protected]

For our full information, visit us at: www.ernestspencer.com

We make it . . . we coat it . . . and you look like a hero!

Ernest-Spencer is your one-stop resource for fabrication, finishing and delivery!

Above: A tour group is dwarfed by Alro’s inventory racks. Above: Racks for smaller lots of metal at Alro’s facility.


The Wichita Chapter of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) held a membership meeting on November 14 at Ambassador Hotel in Wichita.

The featured speaker was David Lippe, managing editor of Mid-America Commerce & Industry Maga-zine. The 41-year-old magazine covers manufacturing in the six mid-America states and focuses on metals and plastics manufacturers and related groups.

Lippe’s topic was “Trends in Manufacturing and How They Impact Supply Chains.” He covered a wide range of topics including: consolidation of suppliers, cost increases in China, lower inventories, transporta-tion issues, reshoring, J-I-T challenges, shorter product life spans, 3D printing (also known as “additive manu-facturing”), advanced technology improving produc-tivity/efficiency, skilled labor shortages, aging owners/employees and government regulations.

“Change is here to stay,” noted Lippe. “We will see rapid changes in the future which will create less certainty. This will impact your supply chains in a major way.”

In other chapter business, ISM-Wichita past presidents were recognized for their past service to the chapter.

ISM-Wichita can be contacted at www.ismwichita.org.

ISM-Wichita Learns About Manufacturing Trends: Honors Past Presidents

Above: ISM-Wichita past presidents recognized at the November ISM meeting at the Ambassador Hotel.

UPCOMING ISSUESJANUARY 2014Metal Finishing, Plating & Coating

FEBRUARY 2014Foundry, Castings, Molding

MARCH 2014 Powder Coating, Industrial Services

APRIL 2014Metals

Advertising deadline is the 1st business day of each month. The issue is published and distributed the last week of the month.

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WHY? Because it works!


ISM-Kansas City, an affiliate of the Institute for Supply Management, held a dinner meeting on No-vember 21st at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Overland Park, Kansas.

The pre-dinner meeting featured Michelle Turner, managing partner with Intuitive Talent & HR Solutions in Kansas City. She spoke about job search strategies and Linked In/Resume advice. She used numerous ex-amples of situations she has encountered in her career to emphasize the proper ways to conduct job searches and to use social media to the best advantage.

After dinner two economists spoke about the U.S. economy and their thoughts about various trends and policies.

Dr. Michael Stellern, associate professor of eco-nomics at Rockhurst University (Kansas City) and Dr. Ernie Goss, professor of economics at Creighton Uni-versity (Omaha) presented their opinions and outlooks on a wide range of economic topics including: the Federal Reserve’s policies, unemployment, education, poverty, government regulations, budgetary actions in Washington D.C. and many more.

A lively debate followed the presentations. ISM-KC can be contacted at: www.ism-kansascity.

org.

ISM-KC Learns About HR Trends; Hears From Economic Panel of Professors

Above: Michelle Turner speaking at the ISM meeting.

Above: Prof. Michael Stellern speaking to the ISM.

Above: Prof. Ernie Goss speaking to the ISM.

DECEMBER, 2013 15

Shackelford Machine, Inc. Installs 2nd Okuma MB-400H 4-axis HMC

Clearwater, Kansas

Shackelford Machine, Inc., Clearwater, Kansas, has recently installed its second Okuma MB-400H 4-axis HMC.

The 46-year-old aerospace manufacturing company offers precision milling, turning and assembly to all sectors of the aerospace industry. It is ISO and AS9100 certified and ITAR registered.

The new Okuma, purchased from Hartwig, has helped reduce set-up times, improve efficiency and shorten production times. The MB-400H features 1,000psi coolant pressure and pulls 1-G force in rapid movements. It is equipped with shower coolant and tool break sensors for lights out operation. The shuttle tables allow one to run 1st and 2nd operations simultaneously while machining a complete part.

“We had been very happy with our Okumas and Hartwig’s service in the past so this was an easy decision to make,” stated Jay Shackelford, CEO/president and son of the founder, Carl Shack-elford. Gary Foster, production manager, noted, “The Okumas re-quire the least maintenance of all our equipment, it is a good brand to go with.”

Other machining equipment at the company includes 13 other CNC machining centers, 11 CNC turning centers and 16 conven-tional mills.

Shackelford Machine’s crew of 36 work in 35,000-sq.-ft. of space and include the 3rd genera-tion of the Shackelford family. The average tenure of the crew is 12 years.

The company works with all standard metals and plastics/

nylons and can work on parts up to 84” x 32” x 30” and turn 32” diameter precision parts.

“Quality and delivery are key,” stated Ryan Shackelford,

(Continued on next page)

Above (l-r): Shackelford Machine’s Rachelle Shackelford, Jay Shackelford, Tracy Shackelford, Ryan Shackelford and Gary Foster with a new Okuma.

Above: a crew member in Shackelford Machine’s QA lab. The firm is ISO and AS9100 certified and ITAR registered.


Scan to see more pictures of IMEC fabricated assemblies

general manager. “It’s all about maintaining a good relationship with our customers and working

to keep our employees happy.”Shackelford Machine can be

contacted at: (620) 584-6418;

Fax (620) 584-2432; 116 S Tracy, Clearwater, Kansas 67206; www.shackmac.com.

Above: Two Okuma MB-400H 4-axis HMCs at Shackelford Machine in Clearwater, Kansas.

Ready For the Precision of an Okuma Machine?

Unplanned downtime due to poor machine quality is a concern. The inherent features of Okuma machines provide reliable precision and Hartwig’s staff is here to help ensure that your machines keep cutting chips and producing exact parts.

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Okuma Provides: • Two-Year Warranty on GENOS Lathes and Mills and LB-EX Products • Okuma History and Solid Construction – Over 108 Years of Hand-Scraped Machines Built for Power and Strength

One can be yours for $67,860*!That’s right, Okuma’s superior machines are within your budget.Whether it’s a GENOS lathe starting at $67,860, the larger, thermally stable LB3000 EX-II beginning at $102,060, or the double-column design of the GENOS VMC at $120,860, there is an Okuma product for you!

Purchasing a quality machine from the Okuma line gives you outstanding speed, power and accuracy for your manufacturing – all at a great price. Purchasing from Hartwig provides you with exceptional before and after-the-sale service and support.

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Come Kick the TIres!Your personalized machine tour and cutting demonstrations are ready to go! Come visit one of our demo locations and see Okuma’s quality in action and learn more about Hartwig’s outstanding service!

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HARTWIG ST. LOUIS10617 Trenton AvenueSt. Louis, MO 63132Tel (314) 426-5300 Fax (314) 426-5311

HARTWIG KANSAS CITY6110 Deramus AvenueKansas City, MO 64120Tel (816) 231-1850 Fax (816) 231-2822

HARTWIG WICHITA4959 South Lulu CourtWichita, KS 67216Tel (316) 522-5500Fax (316) 522-5558

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MACI_Hartwig_Kick The Tires - January 2014.indd 1 11/26/2013 4:04:19 PM


Economic growth in the Unit-ed States will continue in 2014, say the nation’s purchasing and supply management executives in their December 2013 Semiannual Economic Forecast. Expectations are for a continuation of the eco-nomic recovery that began in mid-2009, as indicated in the monthly ISM Report On Business®.

The manufacturing sector is optimistic about growth in 2014, with revenues expected to increase in 16 manufacturing industries. Capital expenditures, a major driver in the U.S. economy, are expected to increase by 8 percent in the manufacturing sec-tor. Manufacturing expects that its employment base will grow by 2.4 percent.

These projections are part of the forecast issued by the Business Survey Committee of the Insti-tute for Supply Management™ (ISM). The forecast was released by Bradley J. Holcomb, CPSM, CPSD, chair of the ISM Manufac-turing Business Survey Commit-tee.

Expectations for 2014 are positive as 69 percent of survey respondents expect revenues to be greater in 2014 than in 2013. The panel of purchasing and supply executives expects a 4.4 percent net increase in overall revenues for 2014, compared to a 4.6 percent increase reported for 2013 over 2012 revenues. The 16 manufacturing industries expect-ing revenue improvement over 2014 are: Textile Mills; Plastics & Rubber Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Furniture &

Related Products; Wood Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Primary Metals; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Chemical Products; Transporta-tion Equipment; Paper Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Printing & Related Support Ac-tivities; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products and Fabricated Metal Products.

“Manufacturing purchasing and supply executives expect to see continued growth in 2014. They are optimistic about their overall business prospects for the first half of 2014, and are even

ing pressures in 2014 to be low, similar to levels experienced in 2013, and expect their margins will improve.”

In the manufacturing sector, respondents report operating at 80.3 percent of their normal ca-pacity, up very slightly from 80.2 percent reported in April 2013. Purchasing and supply executives predict that capital expenditures will increase by 8 percent in 2014 over 2013, compared to a 12.3 percent increase reported for 2013 over 2012. Survey respondents also forecast that they will in-crease inventories by 0.9 percent to support their planned level of sales in 2014. Manufacturers have an expectation that employment in the sector will increase by 2.4 per-cent in 2014, while labor and ben-efit costs are expected to increase an average of 2.3 percent. Manu-facturing purchasers are predicting growth in exports and imports in 2014. Respondents also expect the U.S. dollar to strengthen on average against the currencies of major trading partners.

The panel also predicts the prices they pay for raw materials will increase 1.2 percent during the first four months of 2014, and will increase an additional 0.4 percent during the balance of the year, with an overall increase of 1.6 percent for 2014. This com-pares to a reported 0.9 percent increase in raw materials prices for 2013 compared with 2012.

Survey respondents report that the most challenging prob-lems facing their businesses as they plan for 2013 are: domestic sales growth (32 percent); inter-

ISM Forecast Shows Manufacturing Growth Expected in 2014

Revenue to Increase 4.4% • Capital Expenditures to Increase 8.0% • Capacity Utilization Currently at 80.3%

more optimistic about the second half of 2014,” said Holcomb. “Manufacturing experienced six consecutive months of growth from June through November 2013, while experiencing only one month of contraction during the entire first 11 months of 2013, which occurred in May 2013 when the PMI™ registered 49 percent (as measured by and re-ported in the monthly Manufactur-ing ISM Report On Business®).

Our forecast calls for a continuation of growth in 2014, building on the momentum from the second half of 2013. Respon-dents expect raw materials pric-

DECEMBER, 2013 19

national sales growth (18 percent); healthcare reform uncertainty (14.6 percent); ongoing government shutdown and debt ceiling concerns (13.5 percent); government regula-tions (9.6 percent); healthcare costs (8.4 percent); inflation (3.4 per-cent); and taxes (0.6 percent).

The panel also indicated that supply chain management practices will be improved in 2014 using the following strategies, listed in order: strategic sourcing/supply base ratio-nalization; process and information systems improvements; supplier relationship management; inven-tory management and control; and improved cross-functional planning and scheduling.

Manufacturing Summary:• Themanufacturingsector

iscurrentlyexpanding,andtheforecastindicatesthatitwillcontinuetoexpandinthefirsthalfof2014,andatafasterrateinthesecondhalfof2014.

• Operatingrateiscurrentlyat80.3percent.

• Productioncapacityincreasedby5.2percentin2013.

• Productioncapacityisexpectedtoincreaseby6.3percentin2014.

• Capitalexpendituresincreased12.3percentin2013.

• Capitalexpendituresareexpectedtoincrease8percentin2014.

• Pricespaidincreased0.9percentin2013.

• Overall2014pricespaidareexpectedtoincrease1.6percent.

• Laborandbenefitcostsareexpectedtoincrease2.3percentin2014.

• Manufacturingemploymentisexpectedtoincrease2.4

percentin2014.• ExpectgrowthinU.S.

exportsin2014.• ExpectgrowthinU.S.

importsin2014.• Manufacturingrevenues

(nominal)areup3.4percentin2013.

• Manufacturingrevenues(nominal)areexpectedtoincrease4.4percentin2014.

• TheU.S.dollarisexpectedtostrengthenonaverageversusmajortradingpartnercurrenciesin2014.

• Overallattitudeofmanufacturingsupplymanagers:optimisticoutlook,with87percentofrespondentspredicting2014willbethesameasorbetterthan2013.

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Modern Plating Co.• Anodize MIL-A-8625 Types II & III (hard-

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What is it about the word “budget” that causes many peo-ple’s eyes to glaze over and their minds to wander to their vacation plans or next week’s ball game?

Perhaps it’s because a budget brings up the possibility of hav-ing to draw up a plan and maybe even setting some spending limits. At least that’s how responsible families and businesses might look at a budget. Congress and the President, we’re not so sure. Perhaps they feel budget boundar-ies are a hindrance to progress, if not un-American

Anyway, the government is again approaching its debt limit ceiling and will again be asking Congress to raise the roof as it has for decades.

We mention this, not to bore anyone, but because the public’s concern for our rising national debt seems to have taken a back seat to sports news, Obamacare, taxes, immigration, the stock market, etc.

DECEMBER, 2013 21

Paxton & Vierling SteelOmaha, NE

[email protected]

816 E. Callan Road • Monett, MO 65708Phone: 417-235-7182 • Fax: 417-235-8262

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And, since the economy does pick up from time to time and we hear rumors that Congress might have some plans for a minor debt reduction, it’s easier to think that a $17 trillion debt is no big deal.

This brings us to the subject of Detroit City. Detroit residents are learning that debt can indeed be a big deal. After years of toler-ating political corruption, gener-ous city pensions, growing crime rates and a mass exodus from the city, it was time for a touch of reality. In other words, the time came to “pay the piper” as they used to say. The bankruptcy judge, Steven Rhodes, obviously thought the payment was long overdue. He said the city should have declared bankruptcy years ago.

As in all human-made disas-ters, this didn’t have to happen. Detroit was a train wreck in very, very slow motion and it wasn’t caused by a “conductor” dozing off for a bit. The same could be said for several of our states and cities; our national debt crisis and the looming shortfall in Social Security and Medicare reserves.

People have been sounding the alarm for decades concern-ing the federal government’s trust fund lock box full of IOUs that re-placed the various tax monies that were received for social services. And, like the federal government, Detroit continued to shrug off economists’ warnings assuming it could always raise taxes whenever there was a shortfall.

The question now is, “Will the Detroit bankruptcy be a wake-up call for other city and state governments, or even our own federal government? (A Pew Center Study earlier this year found that 61 large cities had a combined pension funding gap of $21billion.)

(Continued on next page)


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Already, budget people across the nation are taking another look at all kinds of pension obligations that had always been regarded as sacred and untouchable. Judge Rhodes has ruled that despite state constitutions, pension contracts are like any other business con-tracts and are not protected under federal bankruptcy laws. His ruling is being challenged, but in the case of a Chapter 9 filing, the court can go on with its work despite the litigation.

The broader significance of Judge Rhodes’ decision is that municipalities from California to Maine might have more leverage now when negotiating various concessions in an attempt to avoid filing for bankruptcy because of pension shortfalls.

(Some of you might remem-ber that New York City used this tactic some 40 years ago when it, too, found that pension con-tracts were viewed as a standard business contract under federal bankruptcy law. The unions made some concessions fairly quickly and New York City escaped bank-ruptcy.)

Going back to our subject of budgets and national debt, how did the U.S. get in the situation where there is no longer a bal-anced budget each year?

John Marini, a professor of political science at the University of Nevada-Reno, offered some opinions on this topic. As a visit-ing distinguished fellow, he spoke Sept. 26 at Hillsdale Colleges’s Allan P. Kirby, Jr., Center for Constitutional Studies in Wash-ington, D.C.

Marini said Congress started losing its control of the budget process after the Great Society programs of the 1960s when the

Editorial...From previous page

DECEMBER, 2013 23

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government began expanding and there was a centralization of political and administrative power that had previously belonged to state and local governments.

Progressives, starting with Woodrow Wilson, had always pushed for an executive budget system. In the 1970s, public sup-port for a balanced budget and a limited government weakened. Congress gave up some of its power, let major policy decisions go by default to the unchecked will of the executive branch and really became an integral part of the administrative state.

“As a result, it has became increasingly difficult to recognize the difference between governing –making political choices based on available resources–and bud-geting, or simply providing fund-ing for programs,” Marini said.

“Over the last decade, Con-gress has not even been able to pass the 13 or so appropriations bills that constitute a budget. ...The ongoing use of Continuing Resolutions allows the bureau-cracy to determine its own needs, free from detailed control by the legislative branch.”

In the end, Congress, which is supposed to work for the public interests, has “surrendered its constitutional purpose and ceased to defend limited government,” Marini concludes.

So, we shouldn’t be surprised when we have more government shutdowns and showdowns over the debt limit. Hopefully, the threat of hundreds of bankruptcies might get the public to actually pay attention to what’s happening to the U.S. and their own city and state. It’s going to be interesting.

Past issues of the magazine may be found online at :

www.maci-mag.com/archive


The Kansas City Chapter of the National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA) held its an-nual Christmas Party at the Plaza III restaurant on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri on December 6th.

The event was to celebrate the holidays and recognize the term of 2013 Chapter President John Jaixen, A&E Custom Mfg. and to welcome Roger Gubbels, K-Ter Imagineering, as the 2014 presi-dent.

Past President Rick Schwind, Continental Tool, presented a plaque to Jaixen. In other chap-ter business, Mike Hudson was elected as the new Director at Large.

The KC NTMA chapter can be contacted at (816) 739-4422 or www.kcntma.org.

KC NTMA Holds Annual Christmas Dinner

Above (l-r): Incoming KC Chapter President Roger Gubbels, K-Ter Imagineering, is congratulated by outgoing President John Jaixen, A&E Custom Manufacturing at the chapter Christmas Party at the Plaza III.

DECEMBER, 2013 25

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Gerding Enterprises, Inc. (GEI), Dittmer, Missouri, has re-cently installed a new Haas VF-7 VMC.

The 53-year-old firm was, founded in 1960 by Charles and MaryAnn Gerding and offers machining, metal spinning and welding.

The new Haas (GEI’s 8th) has enabled the company to handle larger parts (84” x 32” x 30”) and reduce setup times. It features 4-axis, 24 tools, a 10K and a wire-less probe for tooling and mate-rial. “We have been happy with the Haas equipment and service,” stated Matt Gerding, shop fore-man and third generation of the Gerding family to work at the company. “Skip (Fluegel) does a good job and is very straight for-ward. Their service is there when you need them.”

GEI, which is AS9100 certi-

Gerding Enterprises Installs New Haas VF-7 VMC

fied, offers AWS certified MIG & TIG welding of stainless steel, aluminum, titanium and steel.

The company has nine pieces of CNC machining equipment with capacities including 42” for

Above: A new Haas VF-7 VMC at Gerding Enterprises in Dittmer, MO.

Above: Gerdings’ Matt Gerding and Chuck Gerding with the new Haas VF-7.

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DECEMBER, 2013 27

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GEI’s metal spinning is so precise that their parts can be found on military and commer-cial jets, as well as lighting and furniture. Parts up to 60” can be spun at GEI.

GEI, located southwest of St. Louis, operates in a 20,000-sq.-ft. climate-controlled facility with a crew of 30. The firm serves customers across the country and a few overseas.

“Our unique services and our quality have really set us apart,” noted Chuck Gerding, son of the founder. “We have manufactured everything from parts on the Gem-ini, Mercury, Apollo, space shuttle and satellite programs to an 8,000 pound lottery machine for Puerto Rico.

The firm recently updated its website.

Gerding Enterprises can be contacted at: (636) 274-9802; Fax (636) 285-2786; 8404 Amy Lane, Dittmer, Missouri 63023; www.gerdingent.com; [email protected].

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The Mo-Kan Chapter of the American Foundry Society (AFS) met on November 19th at the Argosy Casino in Kansas City.

The featured speaker was Rick Cavallaro, Safety and Facility Manager for Blount International in Kan-sas City.

His topic was: “Global Harmonization – What’s the deal?”

Cavallaro noted that OSHA has mandated that all employees be trained on the new Global Harmoniza-tion initiative, which includes the new Global hazmat labeling and move to standardized safety data sheets.

Cavallaro has been in the field of safety for 33 years, holding a variety of positions including Assis-tant Safety Director at Stahl Specialty Company.

He currently works with the Metropolitan Com-munity College-OSHA Outreach Center in Kansas City teaching various safety classes as needed.

Mo-Kan AFS can be contacted at: (913) 621-1320.

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Above (l-r): Rick Cavallaro with AFS’ Paige Vallet

Above: Part of the audience at the Mo-Kan AFS meeting.

DECEMBER, 2013 29

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Hartwig Inc. is pleased to announce the establishment of a toll-free number and e-mail ad-dress that will make it easier for customers to directly contact the company for replacement machine parts.

The new toll-free number and e-mail address are 866-646-3660 and [email protected].

“The creation of this toll-free number exclusively for parts is an-other step toward making it easier for customers to reach Hartwig’s expertise,” said Seth Machlus, Vice President of Operations. “We’ve always had local numbers to contact us, but with our ongo-ing initiative to provide customers with the best total support experi-ence felt that an 866 number that went directly to the department versus the main line would be time saving and beneficial. “Our 11 parts representatives will be

Hartwig Establishes Toll-Free Number For Machine Partsavailable to assist customers with orders as well as answer any parts- related questions with the speed and expertise they deserve,” stated Machlus.

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Missouri Association of Man-ufacturers (MAM) has announced the selection of Kimberly Inman to fill the role as Chief Executive Officer. “We are delighted to have Kim Inman join our organization. Her extensive leadership experi-ence in business development, sales and marketing will enable MAM to continue its mission to promote, preserve and advance manufacturing throughout the state,” said Rita Needham, cur-rent MAM CEO. Needham will retire at the end of the year after 14 years of service to Missouri manufacturers.

Inman has over 17 years of professional experience in busi-ness development, sales and

Missouri Association of Manufacturers (MAM) Announces New CEO

Needham to retire at end of yearmany years serving as Founder and Chairman of the Cattle Barons Ball, Executive Baron for American Cancer Society CBB, Chairman of the March of Dimes Charity Event, Advisory Board for Female Leaders in Philanthropy and numerous other organizations.

Inman stated, “MAM will continue to listen to its members and to represent the economic, political, educational and social interests of manufacturers in Missouri, and as a unified group, to promote the betterment of the economy, the environment, and the manufacturing industry in Missouri.”

Loretta Wallis, Chairman of MAM’s Board of Directors and Corporate Relations Manager at Brewer Science in Rolla added, “I believe Kim Inman will bring the experience, vision and enthusiasm to our organization that will en-able MAM to expand its influ-ence and connect manufacturers throughout the state.”

The Missouri Association of Manufacturers is a non-profit or-ganization comprised of Missouri manufacturers and dedicated to promoting, preserving and ad-vancing manufacturing. Founded in 1993, the organization has ex-perienced steady growth through its singular focus on meeting the needs of manufacturers. The Missouri Association of Manufac-turers provides opportunities for interconnection among members, focused legislative advocacy and purchasing advantages for Mis-souri’s manufacturers.

For more information about MAM, visit:www.MissouriManufacturers.org.

marketing, most recently as vice president of sales/marketing for Springfield Cardinals LLC. Inman has been active in the state for

Above: MAM’s new CEO Kim Inman.

DECEMBER, 2013 31

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October 20-22, 2015Wichita Industrial Trade Show (WITS), Century II Expo Hall, Wichita, KS, 316-942-2401, www.witshow.org

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