Employee Spotlight: Gene Damgaard, Machinist

 

What do you do at Gilbert Industries?

I am a machinist.

 

What is a typical day for you like here at work?

I’m either machining manways on the big vertical lathe or setting them up and drilling the holes in them as well. That’s my main thing. I’ve been drilling a lot of holes in parts on the mill and I’m also making grinding fixtures on the big lathe as well. For the chopper blocks, the grinders, they have a stainless steel piece that bolts on the chopper block and I make those as well.

 

How long have you been at Gilbert Industries?

11 years

 

What brought you here?

They came to me. They knew that I was a machinist and came to me, Rick and Josh did.

 

What part of the job do you find most fulfilling?

I like doing new, challenging projects.

 

What do you like most about working at Gilbert?

It’s close to home, I like the hours we have now, working 4 tens. And I like what I do.

 

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?

Working on my ’76 Firebird at home. I’ve got a 580ck Backhoe that I’m also working on.

 

What is your professional and educational background before Gilbert?

I went to college for 2 years after graduating high school. I was studying for auto mechanics and I had some automotive machining classic and also had a metal lathe class. I moved to Wisconsin after I got out of college and instead of going into automotive, I ended up getting a job as an apprentice machinist; plastic injection molding is what we did. I was there for a few years, moved up here in ’89, and worked in another metal shop for 15 years. I drove trucks for around 7 years, and then came to Gilbert.

 

What is a specific project that you are proud of or that was particularly memorable? One that showcases your abilities as well as Gilbert Industries ability to make innovative solutions? Or a challenge that was overcome?

The large agitator shafts a while back were the ones that stick out to me. I love the challenge that was involved. They were enormous shafts. It was a really big job to turn those down; really close tolerances on them too.

 

What are you most looking forward to over the next year?

Professionally: More challenging jobs.

Personally: I’d like to start seeing my Firebird going back together, continuing to take care of my dad, and fixing up the cabin in Arkansas.

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Check out more of our projects that Gene has his hands on here.

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