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Creative streak keeps Minden machine company a player on the world stage
Although a machinist by trade, Al Lux is a creative kind of guy. His creative bent led him to design and develop a whole series of predator calls – designed to attract coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions, among others. He’s deeply enough into his hobby that he’s well known and respected for it, and recently authored a book on predator call collecting.
When the North American Free Trade Agreement was ratified, though, Lux heard a different kind of predator calling.
“Many of our customers are related to the automotive business,” Lux says, “and when the NAFTA went into effect, we lost 60% of the business from one customer overnight.”
But Lux, the president and owner of Grayson Tool Company in Minden, is not one to give up easily. Grayson Tool diversified products, purchased state-of-the-art machining equipment and instituted industrial processes to set-up and run new products in record time.
“Today we are a much more nimble company,” says Lux. “Our policy is to stay diversified, so I go out and pick up three or four new accounts every year. We make it a point to get to know our customers and grow with them. We are blessed. Business seems to show up when we need it.”
A 21st Century way of working
Although the company Lux’s father started did just basic metal fabrication, today Grayson can manufacture almost any conceivable design in steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass or plastic. State-of-the-art computer-controlled machining equipment, highly trained and dedicated employees, and quality work process systems insure that Grayson Tool Company products compete favorably with any in the world market.
After NAFTA, the company scrapped large older machines and now does special orders on smaller, more flexible equipment. It’s a way of doing business that works. Lux says, “I can hardly quote the work fast enough. Currently, we are close to adding a second shift.”
Lux attributes much of Grayson Tool Company’s steady growth, success and productivity to the employees.
“A lot of people in both big and small shops in cities have labor problems,” he says. “Grayson Tool Company retains people.” In addition to health insurance and a 401K, the firm is loyal to good employees and fosters a team spirit and ethic.
Rural location has upside and downside
Lux says there are both positives and negatives to locating a business in rural Nebraska. One the downside, he says, “We have trouble hiring enough trained machinists. Even though we offered a full scholarship at the technical school for a machinist, only one in ten years took us up on it.” Currently, he says, Grayson Tool Company hires people with mechanical aptitude and trains them on the job.
On the positive side of a rural location, though is the work ethic. “People from central Nebraska and Kansas like to show up for work,” he says. He also says the Minden location in the center of the country simplifies shipping to both East and West Coasts and shipping costs less because they are near shipping routes. He also cites the support of the Minden community. “We get business from local manufacturers in Minden and good support from our local bank,” he says.
Advice for entrepreneurs
Much of Lux’s advice to entrepreneurs centers on his relationship with employees.
“I try to have my finger in everything. We do everything we can to cross train and share knowledge – I want as many of my people to be able to run as many machines as possible. I do my best to surround myself with capable people.”
To motivate employees, he says, “Give them responsibility. Support them, encourage them, but keep responsibility the focus for every employee.”
For the future, Lux hopes Grayson Tool Company can develop a line of their own products and improve their marketing on the Internet. But the shop and machines are humming, the customers and employees are happy, and for now, that’s not a bad place to be.
Who To Contact...
Grayson Tool Co.
Al Lux, President
900 W. 5th St.
Minden, NE 68959
308-832-2613
alux@graysontool.com
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