Member Profile: EMC Precision Machining

EMC Precision Machining, manufacturers of precision machined products and assemblies, has a long history with PMPA, but has an even longer history of being a family-run business dedicated to its employees, customers and community. Brad Ohlemacher, the current president of EMC Precision Machining, is the fourth generation of Ohlemachers to work for the company.

In 1925, EMC Precision Machining was started by Mr. Ohlemacher’s great grandfather and a small group of men who aspired to make a product.

EMC holds a long history in the community as well. It is in the same location in Elyria, Ohio, where it started 84 years ago, but the size has substantially changed. EMC began in a 5,000-square-foot building, but now occupies most of the street with 50,000 square feet of space. The company started with Brown and Sharpe belt-operated lathes with central overhead drive shafts. EMC now uses CNC Swiss machines, horizontal machining centers and a variety of CNC lathes that complement the traditional Acme Gridley screw machines.

"Our tag line is ‘helping people with machining needs,’" says Mr. Ohlemacher. "We have the skill and expertise to produce a wide variety of precision machined products. If someone has a need, chances are we have a solution."

EMC serves the industrial equip-ment, hydraulic and heavy vehicle markets, specializing in urgent-need products.

"We discovered that we were getting more and more calls for products needed urgently," explains Mr. Ohlemacher. "We would get a call on Friday afternoon from a customer who would need a product fast, and with our execution team we could order the tools, make the tools, engineer and ship the products in the matter of hours or days. When you take care of a customer in a crisis, they are more likely to come to you for their regular work, too, so we always make it a priority to complete these orders."

EMC has been a member of PMPA since 1964. "My dad’s awareness of PMPA caused him to join and
be active in the organization," says Mr. Ohlemacher. "My father’s leadership got my brother and me involved. My father was a former PMPA president as well as a recipient of the Gold Micrometer and Frank McGinnis awards."

PMPA has offered Mr. Ohlemacher opportunities to network in the same business arena. "I have met people in the same situation, facing the same problems," states Mr. Ohlemacher. "I have developed friendships with some of the nicest, giving people I know through PMPA. When we have a crisis, we can call upon our friends in PMPA for reference, guidance and help."

Mr. Ohlemacher has found that both the PMPA Listserves and conference meetings have allowed him to connect with people and gain insight from members. "Conferences give an opportunity to listen to progressive speakers and get ideas about how to channel through these difficult economic times," says Mr. Ohlemacher. "I also use the Corporate Listserve often because it addresses a lot of the issues I face in my position at EMC."

EMC employees have also taken advantage of the PMPA training programs in the past. Currently, EMC is in the beginning stages of starting a National Institute of Machining Standards certified training program with the assistance of the PMPA Education Foundation through which the company has applied for a grant.

Mr. Ohlemacher is currently chair of the PMPA Marketing Committee and a member of the Government Affairs Committee. His brother, Jeff Ohlemacher, EMC Precision Machining’s CEO, is currently
in rotation to become president of PMPA.

"I believe we are a better company because of our involvement through the PMPA," says Mr. Ohlemacher.

EMC Precision Machining is located at 145 Northrup Street, Elyria, Ohio 44035.
Phone: (877) 365-4171
Fax: (440) 365-4000
Web site: www.EMCprecision.com