MRG Celebrates 30 Years of Ornaments
Annually, MRG rings in the holiday season with handmade ornaments. The year 2023 marks the 30th year of holiday ornaments. These ornaments are custom-made, in-house, and are designed by one of our very own. The ornaments can be seen hanging in the front office, or at the locations of our valued customers.
Wishing all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year from all of us here at MRG Tool and Die!
Wishing all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year from all of us here at MRG Tool and Die!
MRG Receives Economic Development Grant
In November 2023, we received some exciting news. We are receiving an economic development grant from Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development. This grant allows us the opportunity to partner with Anoka - Ramsey Community College, located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. We will have the ability to provide specialized training to a group of 75 workers, training them on operating new equipment.
MRG Tool and Die was also featured in the Faribault Daily for this exciting news. Read more at:
Congrats to Faribault's MRG Tool & Die on economic development grant
MRG Tool and Die was also featured in the Faribault Daily for this exciting news. Read more at:
Congrats to Faribault's MRG Tool & Die on economic development grant
New Machine, New Capabilities for MRG
In April of 2023, MRG welcomed an exciting new addition to the shop. The new machine, the Okuma MCR-A5II, was delivered in a whopping seven semi-truck loads. The installation took place over multiple weeks.
The new Okuma MCR-A5II is a double-column machining center, which affords MRG several new capabilities. New capabilities include adding larger capacity to our large envelope equipment and Renishaw probing. Renishaw probing is associated with a multitude of benefits; including improved quality control, increased efficiency, improved process control, and increased flexibility.
MRG also acquired a right-angle head for the new Okuma MCR-A5II, further advancing our capabilities. The right angle head allows us to accurately perform side work machining on projects. Dually, the right angle head also allows us increased efficiency in the reduced set-up process.
We are very excited about the new addition and the advanced capabilities.
The new Okuma MCR-A5II is a double-column machining center, which affords MRG several new capabilities. New capabilities include adding larger capacity to our large envelope equipment and Renishaw probing. Renishaw probing is associated with a multitude of benefits; including improved quality control, increased efficiency, improved process control, and increased flexibility.
MRG also acquired a right-angle head for the new Okuma MCR-A5II, further advancing our capabilities. The right angle head allows us to accurately perform side work machining on projects. Dually, the right angle head also allows us increased efficiency in the reduced set-up process.
We are very excited about the new addition and the advanced capabilities.
Rod Gramse - 1/1/2019
President of MRG Tool and Die
MRG Tool and Die is proud to announce that Rodney Gramse has been named president.
Rod has “officially” been with MRG since 1997 after he graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stout with a manufacturing engineering degree. Rod has worked in the shop, the press area, engineering, and quality assurance.
Over the last seven years Rod has been operations manager and general manager. His father, Mike Gramse, founded the company in 1979, and has served as MRG’s president for 40 years.
Rod envisions building upon what Mike has created over the last 40 years, noting that 2018 was MRG’s best year ever. “We are excited for the years to come, with the current relationships that will grow, and the new ones to come,” Rod said.
MRG started out as a tool and die shop, over the years has grown to offer a wide variety of solutions for its customers. From dies to special machines, fixturing and jigs, production machining, production stamping, waterjet cutting, 5-axis machining and many others. In addition to renewing its AS9100 certification, the company most recently added a new Tsugami Swiss Lathe and a new Zeiss CMM to its list of equipment and capabilities.
Rod has “officially” been with MRG since 1997 after he graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stout with a manufacturing engineering degree. Rod has worked in the shop, the press area, engineering, and quality assurance.
Over the last seven years Rod has been operations manager and general manager. His father, Mike Gramse, founded the company in 1979, and has served as MRG’s president for 40 years.
Rod envisions building upon what Mike has created over the last 40 years, noting that 2018 was MRG’s best year ever. “We are excited for the years to come, with the current relationships that will grow, and the new ones to come,” Rod said.
MRG started out as a tool and die shop, over the years has grown to offer a wide variety of solutions for its customers. From dies to special machines, fixturing and jigs, production machining, production stamping, waterjet cutting, 5-axis machining and many others. In addition to renewing its AS9100 certification, the company most recently added a new Tsugami Swiss Lathe and a new Zeiss CMM to its list of equipment and capabilities.
Mike Gramse - Life Time of Achievement in Manufacturing - 2015
Photo and video provided by Minnesota Business Magazine
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Minnesota Business Magazine wrote the following article published in their October 2015 issue:
Lifetime Achievement Awarded to an individual who has made major accomplishments in Minnesota’s manufacturing industry and contributed to the advancement of the industry for at least 20 years. WINNER: Mike Gramse, Owner/President, MRG Tool and Die How did you get into manufacturing? I started the company in Faribault with another fellow back in 1979 and we were partners for about 15 months before we separated. Now we’ve got 65-70 employees and most of them came to us right out of tech college and built their careers and raised their families. It’s pretty rewarding to see everybody grow in their careers and to know that we’re a part of that. We all grew together. What is your greatest accomplishment? That is probably being able to raise my children to be good people and to be interested in the business. Another thing that is very satisfying is when a customer of ours retires — and usually it’s an engineer we have been working for for a long time — and then tells us we have been their best supplier. Several times over the years we have had the honor of being told we are the best shop they work with and that makes me feel that we have been successful. What do you find is most rewarding? The type of work we do is real challenging and it’s interesting. We’re not doing the same thing every day. It’s always a matter of finding a solution for our customers, who are other manufacturers. They come to us when they have something they want to build, and we figure out a way to do that. That’s the most gratifying thing to me. What’s more challenging, machines or people? People. People are by far more challenging. Whether they’re the customers or the employees; that’s where the challenge comes in. You’ve served on manufacturing boards also? I’ve been a member of the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association for many years, and have served as president. I’ve also been involved at the tech colleges and MnSCU throughout the years. We work closely with the Faribault campus of South Central College to develop the students and to develop the programs to meet our needs. We hire most of our employees right out of college. We’ve been involved with the tech college since 1980. I enrolled there when it was first started in 1966 and graduated in 1968. We’ve been involved with it more or less ever since. It’s almost like a farmer growing talent. Yeah it’s what we do. We say we grew our workforce. The business grew as we all got older and gained more experience and as we go forward we’re going to continue to have to grow our employees. They’re hard to find. We have to find people that are local generally, that live within 30 miles of where we are located and when you’re in out-state Minnesota, that’s a little bit more of a challenge. But we’ve always had to grow our people. What’s the greatest lesson that you’ve learned? I guess it is to understand that people’s strengths are different and there’s most likely a place where everybody will fit into the organization. It’s a matter of finding the right spot. Name your strongest characteristic that helps you be a good leader. I think being honest, being straight forward, not trying to white-wash things. Any final words? It’s a humbling experience to be honored in this way. It makes you look back and wonder, “Well is this really deserved or isn’t it?” I don’t really have an answer to that, but it’s nice to know that somebody appreciates it. Please click on the link below to find a great video on Mike and his achievements! There are also some great videos and articles on all the other well deserved recipients for this years Manufacturing Awards The 2015 Manufacturing Awards | Minnesota Business Magazine |
Small Manufacturer of the Year - 2012
Minnesota Business Magazine announced on October 30th 2012 "The Top Minnesota Manufacturers of 2012." MRG Tool and Die of Faribault, MN was awarded "Small Manufacturer of the Year"
MRG received the award because of the diversity in services and the expertise and quality we are known for. The mission of MRG Tool And Die is to provide a challenging, innovative and rewarding work environment for our team to create diverse manufacturing solutions for our customers in multiple industries.
MRG approaches projects and personal interactions with the core values of Integrity, Collaboration, and Innovation. Thru this approach we provide our customers with the products and solutions that will meet or exceed their expectations; with a goal of building a relationship along the way, one that will hopefully develop into a long term partnership.
MRG is active in the Faribault and Minnesota manufacturing community, thru involvement with South Central College, the Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association (MPMA). MRG is also a founding supporter of the Basic Blessings Backpack Program which supplies child friendly food to elementary school age children in need over the weekend.
MRG received the award because of the diversity in services and the expertise and quality we are known for. The mission of MRG Tool And Die is to provide a challenging, innovative and rewarding work environment for our team to create diverse manufacturing solutions for our customers in multiple industries.
MRG approaches projects and personal interactions with the core values of Integrity, Collaboration, and Innovation. Thru this approach we provide our customers with the products and solutions that will meet or exceed their expectations; with a goal of building a relationship along the way, one that will hopefully develop into a long term partnership.
MRG is active in the Faribault and Minnesota manufacturing community, thru involvement with South Central College, the Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association (MPMA). MRG is also a founding supporter of the Basic Blessings Backpack Program which supplies child friendly food to elementary school age children in need over the weekend.