Well-oiled machine. Helena-based Montana Hydraulics captures the market on a variety of machining contracts

A blue-collar shop in a white-collar town, Montana Hydraulics quietly goes about its business, its employeees doing their part to keep the wheels of industry turning smoothly.

Formed in 1998 when four local entrepreneurs — Bill Anders, Jerry Nichols, Bill Stinchfield and Jim Burrington — bought the assets of Mine & Mill Hydraulics, today the company employs between 20 and 25 people, depending on the season, in its shop on Florence Street on the city’s east side. The firm is engaged in a variety of industrial machining activities, for both local and national clients.

Soft-spoken manager Mark Ehlke, who co-owns the company with his wife, Della, and one of the original partners, said finding and keeping quality employees is the key to the firm’s success. In addition to running the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, many of the workers write their own programs for the equipment.

By JOHN HARRINGTON – IR Business Editor

Full Story: http://helenair.com/articles/2006/03/26/business/e01032606_01.txt