Project GRILL - Cooking up Careers

Project GRILL cooks up careers

Project GRILL a sizzling success for WI high schools

Some competitors win medals, while others boast trophies. If you're a participant in Project GRILL, you eat brats.

That's because Project GRILL (Growing Readiness in Learning and Leading) challenges high school students to design, manufacture, and assemble a custom charcoal grill. The only condition is that the grills cook a dozen brats in one hour.

Teams are not alone, though, each is paired with an area manufacturing partner. As an Engineering Sponsor, KLH Industries, Inc. provided Waterjet Cutting services for the 2008-09 Kewaskum High School Project GRILL team, who unveiled their grill this past spring.

Manufacturing sponsors introduce high school students to the same software and technologies that they use everyday. Of course, these budding relationships are no coincidence.

Project Grill program stems from the initiative of manufacturing companies in 2007-08. These Sheboygan County manufacturers - including Johnsonville Sausage and Sargento Cheese - sought to familiarize students with potential careers by making manufacturing challenging, creative, and cool.

It worked.

Only a year later, the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce seized the opportunity to bring a regional chapter to their area.

With the support of Sheboygan County, Moraine Park Technical College, and a new batch of partnering manufacturers, the Association of Commerce launched an inaugural Project GRILL competition for the 2008-09 school year.

According to their website, Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce President Joe Reitemeier believes programs like Project GRILL are vital to manufacturing sustainability in the area:

[Project] GRILL is one example of what this community needs to do to start solving the critical labor shortage of the future. Our recent survey showed that retirements and other factors are going to hit our county labor pool hard. We have to work together find creative ways to retain the talent in our schools and direct that talent to our business community.

As a further incentive for students in the Fond du Lac program, Project GRILL is also worth three credits at Moraine Park Technical College.

Project GRILL puts students into tactile, real-world situations full of both success and failure. Students not only assemble a grill, but also a toolbox of important manufacturing skills: teamwork, self-confidence, leadership, problem-solving, professionalism, and communication (to name a few).

Perhaps the most satisfying lesson, though, is that hard-work is rewarding. It seems only fitting then, that if you're a participant in Project GRILL, you eat brats.

For more information on the Fond du Lac area program, visit their Project GRILL homepage, or for Sheboygan County, visit ProjectGRILL.org.

KLH: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has KLH Industries been in business?

KLH Industries, Inc. has been on the cutting edge of manufacturing since 1987 - over 21 years. While originally only a Wire EDM shop, continuous and stable growth has allowed KLH to double its square footage four times in the company's history. Over the past two decades, KLH has executed a commitment to excellence and improvement that turned a one-room shop into a one-stop shop.

What is your primary specialty?

Everything, honestly. KLH takes pride in being a full-service shop, capable of engineering and manufacturing a one-time prototype into a high volume finished product. Encompassing decades of experience, our staff of engineers, machinists, sales & marketing and customer service professionals provide on-time precision parts through four business units. Click on the respective links below to learn more about In-house manufacturing processes that we specialize in: EDM (Wire, Sinker and Micro Hole), Multi-Axis Machining (CNC), Waterjet Cutting and Certified Inspection Services. We also contain precision grinding, sawing, drilling and machining capabilities all in addition to a certified and measured supply chain.

So, my job won't ever leave your building? Don't you ever use outside vendors?

Occasionally, as part of KLH's measured supply chain. KLH only uses accredited vendors who maintain consistent levels of excellence in quality, delivery, and price - the same things our customer's value.

What industry markets or sectors do you serve?

We supply a variety of critical industries, including Aerospace, Defense, Energy, Medical, Aviation, Automotive and Food Processing, offering value added solutions to even the most problematic applications.

Can you accommodate rush jobs?

When our customers demand it the answer is Yes. Depending upon the part and processes, it may be possible to have same-day or next-day service.

What kind of experience do your employees have?

KLH employees are industry professionals trained in up-to-date manufacturing methodology. KLH strongly encourages its employees to invest in continuous education, both on the job and in the classroom.

What is your facility like?

Visitors to the KLH facility often describe it as "one of the cleanest, most organized shops" they've ever seen. This is, in part, due to embracing Next-Generation Manufacturing (NGM) principles, such as Lean, 6-Sigma, and 5S. KLH has recently been toured by high profile customers, magazine editors and high schools.

Service Spotlight: EDM Department

Service Spotlight: EDM Department
Machining to your unique specifications

KLH Industries, Inc. has remained a pioneer of EDM technology for the past 21 years. Our machines in the wire EDM (WEDM) department are capable of working within +/- 0.00005” tolerances and handling parts up to 5 tons or over 2 ft tall.

In fact, according to Mitsubishi EDM, KLH houses “the tallest work piece capacity of any fully-submerged wire EDM on the market.” Submersing a part balances thermal levels within the tank, which allows for reliable accuracy and faster cutting times.

KLH’s large capacity WEDM machines are ideal for high-tolerance machining, such as: turbine disks found in the aerospace industry, MRI/X-Ray equipment in the medical industry, and gear box/brake parts for the wind energy industry. Whether prototypes, one part, or high-production runs, KLH has a WEDM machine to match your requirements, and exceed your expectations.

WIRE EDM:
• Maintains tolerances to +/-0.00005
• Taper angles to 45º with accuracy to three seconds
• Latest power supply technology (including Anti-Electrolysis)
• Auto threading and submersible
• 10 RMS or higher
• Fully production capable
• Wire diameter from 0.002” to 0.014”

MICRO HOLE EDM DRILLING:
• Performs difficult drilling tasks
• CNC programmable
• High repeat accuracy
• 0.004” to 0.125” diameter electrodes
• Drill depths 300 times the diameter
• Reduces risk of broken drills
• Reduces cost
• Eliminates costly machinery
• Full production capable

SINKER EDM:
• High repeat accuracy
• Surface finishes to 32RMS and higher
• Experience with an array of exotic materials including Carbide
• Full production capable
• C-axis capable for complex burns
• CNC programmable
• Eliminates costly machining of intricate details
• Equipped with tool-changer to maximize run time efficiency