ERMAK

ABOUT US

Ermak’s roots trace back to 1944 when a night foreman at Honeywell, Norton Erickson, decided to launch his own machining business. Norty founded Machine Products that same year and his business grew steadily as customers flocked to his high-quality products. But Norty’s dream, was not just to make machined parts. He envisioned an organization to which customers could bring their ideas and walk away with cast and finished parts: a full-service, one-stop-shop.

Norty bought his first aluminum foundry from an acquaintance named Lloyd King. To this day, no one really knows if the foundry was actually purchased or if Lloyd just happened to owe Norty money. Lloyd’s business dealings occasionally bordered on shady (that’s the nicest way we know how to say it). So how, exactly, Norty ended up with his first foundry remains unclear but we’re pretty sure the transaction likely had a colorful story behind it.

In 1957 Norty joined forces with business partner Peter Mack. Together they built Ermak, which produced aluminum castings. In its first year of operation the corporate secretary, who also happened to be Mrs. Mack, took a sizeable and unauthorized chunk of the company’s earnings and bought herself a shiny new Lincoln Continental. Understandably, this created tension between the partners, as the money was needed for operating expenses. Recognizing their irreconcilable differences in financial priorities, Norty bought-out Mack within the first year of operation, incorporated the company, and never looked back. Mrs. Mack got to keep her car.

Norty continued his efforts to integrate the foundry and machining aspects of his business. In 1975, Norty’s son Jeff assumed management of Machine Products and in 1985 he assumed management of Ermak. Jeff started working in the businesses at the tender age of 10, knocking out cores from castings. He continued his involvement in the business through the years, obtained his engineering degree, and assumed increasing responsibilities. In 2004 Jeff was finally able to complete Norty’s dream of fully integrating the companies - the result was Ermak Foundry and Machining Inc.

Today Ermak is a vibrant and fully integrated aluminum foundry and machine shop offering a wide range of services and products to its customers. At Ermak we bring together the best people, the best practices, the best processes, and we tie it all together with the principles of care and commitment imparted by Norty over 65 years ago. Simply put, we love doing what we do and it shows in our service and our products. When you work with Ermak, you don’t just gain a supplier... you gain a partner.