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Perfect Circle Names Wichlacz 1998 Machinist of the Year

19 June 1998

Perfect Circle Names Wichlacz 1998 Machinist of the Year

    MANITOWOC, Wis., June 19 -- Dana Corporation has
named Scott Wichlacz as the automotive Machinist of the Year for 1998.
Wichlacz was selected from a group of national finalists by a panel of
automotive business magazine editors.
    The Perfect Circle Machinist of the Year award was established in 1991 to
honor the country's finest machinists serving the automotive repair industry.
    Wichlacz is founder and owner of Manitowoc Motor Machining & Parts, Inc.
in Manitowoc, Wis.  He has passed all three ASE Machinist Certification tests,
as well as other automotive and heavy-duty tests administered by the National
Institute for Automotive Excellence (ASE).  He is a board member of the
Automotive Engine Rebuilder's Association (AERA) and the Wisconsin Auto Parts
Association (WAPA), and is a member of the Automotive Parts Rebuilder's
Association (APRA).  He also completed the Perfect Circle/Victor Reinz Doctor
of Motors program, as well as hands-on training at Dana Corporation's
Technical Resource Park near Toledo, Ohio.
    He received the Machinist of the Year award at a recent AERA Technical
Conference in Nashville, Tenn.
    Wichlacz and his wife Vicki founded Manitowoc Motor Machining & Parts in
1985 from "scratch" with no outside financial help other than the bank.  The
company now has 12 full and part time employees, and performs a full range of
machine shop services in-house.  Because of its location in the Farm Belt,
half the work is  automotive, small engine, and custom machine work, while the
rest is agricultural, industrial, heavy duty equipment and light trucks.
    "We began with cigar box bookkeeping, but once I found a good accountant,
he changed the whole business.  I use the same accountant I started with more
than 10 years ago, and the same banker, too.  Our accountant helped us develop
a good business plan, the banker bought it, and we have been a team ever
since," Wichlacz said.
    "We do a lot of overhead cam welding, aluminum head straightening, and
align boring.  And we have a Rottler SFO Resurfacer and a profilometer that
produces the super fine finishes on the head and block required for most
multi-layer steel-gasket work -- which is increasing," Wichlacz said.
    Otherwise Wichlacz and his crew utilize the normal complement of boring
bar, crank grinders, crank welders, and other equipment.  "We stay very busy.
And we don't turn down much of anything.  This philosophy has led us into
considerable work on exotic machinery."
    "We recently did machining on two V-12 Ferraris, and when we get an Auburn
or Cord in, it pushes us to the limit.  But we do it and we love it.  We
specialize in doing the undoable.  Whatever needs rebuilding, repairing,
machining, welding or manufacturing, likely we can do it," Wichlacz noted.

    Encourage Skill in Machining
    "The Machinist of the Year program is designed to encourage a high level
of skills in automotive machining, a vital element in automotive engine
repair.  We are pleased to honor Scott Wichlacz for his skill and dedication
to the profession -- and business -- of keeping our automobiles on the road
and operating efficiently," said Hugo Ferreira, vice president of Dana's
Engine Products Group.
    Perfect Circle is part of Dana's Engine Components group, one of six Dana
global strategic business units.  Dana Engine Components provides advanced,
synergistic, total systems solutions to engine builders' parts design and
sourcing, worldwide.  Dana Engine Components combines the strength and
capabilities of Victor Reinz(R) gaskets and sealing products, Perfect
Circle(R) power cylinder and heavy duty camshafts, WIX(R) filtration
products, and Plumley powertrain components.
    Dana Corporation is a leader in engineering, manufacture, and
distribution of products and services for the automotive, engine, heavy truck,
off-highway, industrial, and leasing markets.  Founded in 1904 and based in
Toledo, Ohio, Dana operates facilities in over 30 countries and employs more
than 50,000 people.  The company reported record sales of 8.3 billion in 1997.
Dana's Internet address is http://www.dana.com