Cousins Julie Gottschalk and Chris Griswold are co-owners of G & V Machine Company in the Town of Ixonia in Jefferson County. They are the third generation of their family to operate the business, which began in 1946.

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"It's not just standing there all day, turning a few screws and bolts," he said. "There isn't a machine out there (on the shop floor) worth less than half a million dollars. A new employee should have some mechanical aptitude, be able to read blueprints and maybe a little experience."

"As a town, we're behind them 100 percent," said Brian Derge, one of four town supervisors. "They've done a really good job there, as have all of the businesses in the industrial park. We appreciate all of them."

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"If they hit their numbers right, and they often do, it's like getting paid for working Saturday without having to work Saturday," Griswold said.

G & V Machine serves as a test site for some select tool manufacturers, which means they get to use new equipment before it goes to market. Employees also make their own tools and fixtures to increase efficiency. Regular maintenance on equipment helps prevent breakdowns. A monthly bonus program for employees leads to faster and more efficient work, and less absenteeism.

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"Our biggest growth lately has been in the agriculture industry, making parts for combines and tractors," Griswold said.

Sons Dennis and Willard Jr. took over the company in 1978 and a few years later moved into a 20,000-square-foot building in Hartland. Another 10,000 square feet was added.

In most cases, G & V Machine manufactures the parts that are shipped elsewhere for assembly. Only minor assembly work is done on the shop floor.

Chris Griswold, son of Dennis, and Julie Gottschalk, daughter of Willard Jr., took over in 2000. A few years earlier, the company had moved into a new 70,000-square-foot building in the Town of Ixonia. About 50,000 square feet were added in 2008. The latest addition, expected to be done by December, will add another 100,000 square feet.

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That certainly is not the case with G & V Machine Co. and its third-generation owners, cousins Chris Griswold and Julie Gottschalk. Since taking over the company about 15 years ago after their fathers built a 70,000-square-foot building in the Ixonia Industrial Park, sales have skyrocketed, employment has nearly tripled, and the latest building addition will bring the plant's square footage to 228,000 square feet.

Actually, with companies like G & V Machine - and their leadership, investment in employees and technology, aggressive sales and high-quality work - the future looks promising indeed.

Engineers devise and develop the tools and fixtures for a job, map out the best production plan to maximize efficiency and profits, and check products before and after to ensure they meet the high-quality standards demanded by the customer.

"We ship nearly 2 million pounds of metal each month," Griswold said. "We've invested in equipment, having purchased $20 million worth of it in the past five years. We have close to 140 employees now and will add another 10 or so in the next few months."

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Eric Crary clears imperfections away from a piece of casting for a customer of G & V Machine Co. Machining services are provided to construction, agriculture, off-highway trucking, military and other industries.

Griswold said sales in 2009 were about $9 million. Since then, that number has only gone up, to $20 million in 2010, to $30 million in 2011, to $40 million and 2012 and is expected to be $45 million in 2013.

"You have to be aggressive (in sales), particularly with today's manufacturing industry. There is a lot of domestic and foreign pressure, and we have to stay ahead of the curve."

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TOWN OF IXONIA - Family businesses often struggle past the first and second generations of owners; the business is oftentimes sold to someone outside the family or it simply dies from the economic realities of staying competitive in its industry.

The company started in 1946 in the basement of Willard Griswold's home. Partnered with a man named Volkman, the pair built up the business that was headquartered in Pewaukee. A disagreement over whether to invest profits into a coal-burning stove, as opposed to wood, led to Griswold buying out his partner.

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Griswold said there is still a lot of misunderstanding among the public and the school system, which have not completely recognized the changing landscape of the machine shop business.

And there is room for growth within the company. Employees can progress to operating more complex machinery and even take part in designing the production process for select parts. A company tuition reimbursement program can help cover the costs for additional schooling.

Early voting in the WOW counties (Washington, Ozaukee, Waukesha) of Wisconsin has outpaced the rest of the state. Based on the most recently available voter registration numbers, between 45-50% of registered voters in the three counties have either voted absentee by mail or in-person ahead of Tuesday's election. Meanwhile, the statewide average is about 34%. Did you vote early?

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Patrick Burke is one of nearly 140 employees at G & V Machine Co. Another 10 or so people are expected to be hired in the next few months, as the company adds another 100,000 square feet of space to its location in the Ixonia Industrial Park. Once complete, the building will be about 228,000 square feet.

"Case New Holland is a good example," he said. "Seven years ago, we did about 200,000 pieces for them. Now, we do 15 million or more.

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Meta castings, forging and bar stock components are produced for several industries, including agriculture, construction, petroleum, heavy trucks and the military. Work at G & V Machine includes milling, drilling, turning, boring, fabricating, welding, grinding, honing, balancing, sawing and almost anything else you can do with metal.