Manor Tool & Manufacturing Company has been around since 1959, and we can attribute our success to fostering generations worth of talent. The next generation has arrived at Manor Tool & Manufacturing with our newest tool and die maker, Angelo Simeone.
Three Generations of Tool and Die Makers
Manor Tool has always been a multi-generational operation. Angelo is the grandson of our founder, Lee Simeone, and the son of current Manor Tool president Tom Simeone. Angelo is a familiar face at Manor Tool and has worked around the plant in some capacity since 2016. Now, we’re thrilled to bring him onboard as a tool and die maker for our company and a third-generation tool and die maker for the Simeone family.
As a recent graduate of the apprenticeship program at the Technology & Manufacturer’s Association of Illinois, Angelo brings a variety of skills to the table beyond tool and die making that will benefit our operation, including proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) software solutions such as MasterCam.
About Manor Tool
Manor Tool & Manufacturing Company offers a broad portfolio of manufacturing capabilities, including metal stamping and deep-drawn stamping. Our team believes that producing high-quality parts and components requires skill and commitment at every step of production, from design, engineering, and tooling, through full-scale production. Beyond stamping, we also provide a full range of custom tooling, design and engineering, and secondary machining services, allowing Manor Tool to act as your one-stop shop on a variety of metal stamping and metal fabrication projects.
To see how Manor Tool & Manufacturing can assist you with your next metal fabrication project, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
The Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) represents nearly 1,000 Midwest manufacturers and more than 30,000 manufacturing employees, offering the resources they need to thrive. The organization assists with everything from retirement planning and employee training to marketing, business development, and events to help manufacturers improve operations and grow profitable businesses. TMA also advocates for these small manufacturers in front of legislators, the media, and more.
Tom Simeone, president of Manor Tool and Manufacturing Company, was recently featured in TMA News’ Masters of Manufacturing. Below are featured highlights.
To learn more about Tom Simeone and his passion for manufacturing at Manor Tool, read the entire TMA article.
Tom Simeone: “Masters of Manufacturing”
Tom Simeone has a long history in manufacturing, and his years of experience and dedication to the industry serve Manor Tool along with the next generation of manufacturers. With a commitment to community and the future of manufacturing, he has successfully diversified the company’s capabilities and built a strong team of talented employees as he encourages young people with the drive and desire to consider a career in this ever-evolving industry.
The TMA article by Fran Eaton highlights Tom’s education, long career, passion for manufacturing, community involvement, and dedication to the people who make the business successful:
Tom’s father, Lee, founded Manor Tool in 1959 as a small tool and die shop. Tom grew up cleaning machines and assisting with the family business. He was the only one of seven children to follow his father’s footsteps in manufacturing!
He earned a bachelor’s degree in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the University of Illinois in Champaign.
As he got more involved with Manor Tool, he prioritized the diversification of the company’s customer base to protect against the loss of clients to overseas manufacturers.
He believes the Manor Tool team is the company’s biggest asset. The average employee tenure is 20 years, and Tom works hard to ensure the company continues to recruit and keep top talent.
To that end, Tom has developed a strong apprenticeship program and works with area high schools to drive interest in manufacturing as a career. Managers make regular visits to the schools to offer guidance on how teachers can encourage interest in these jobs, and it’s paying off: compared to a decade ago, students at two local high schools are showing more interest in manufacturing and technology careers.
Tom currently serves as treasurer on TMA’s board of directors, and is in line to be chairman in the next couple of years. This is actually his second time on the board. Years ago, he was the youngest member of the board, where he was fortunate enough to learn from his fellow board members—some of manufacturing’s top leaders, who accepted him as an equal despite his status as a recent graduate.
He is also active on TMA’s Manufacturing Education Committee, TMA’s Government Relations Committee, and Chicago Federal Reserve’s Manufacturers Round Table.
Manor Tool provides high-quality precision metal stamping and fabrication in an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility. From prototypes to high-volume runs, we have the equipment and the experience to deliver your components promptly. Contact us to learn more about our capabilities or request a quote for your next project.
The year was 1979. Manor Tool and Manufacturing was Celebrating its 20th Anniversary.
From a run on gasoline in the US in January 1979, to President Jimmy Carter and the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan in December, it was a “gray time” as the United States faced a yearly inflation rate of 11.2%, and the year-end close on the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 838, while the Fed Reserve interest rates at the yearend was 15.25%. It was a troubling time for employment across the nation.
It was a time when the lines at the gas pumps in Chicagoland stretched for blocks, and as President Jimmy Carter was scheduled to address the nation, the U.S. economy was in question.
“The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence.
It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will.
We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of
a unity of purpose for our nation”. ~ Jimmy Carter, President 1979
The speech was later dubbed the “malaise speech,” despite Carter never using that word.
In 2019, Manor Tool and Manufacturing Celebrated Their 60th Anniversary.
Today, in 2019 the annual inflation rate for the United States is 1.7%; the Dow Jones is trading around the high of 27,000, while the Fed Reserve interest rates are at 5.50%. The U.S. has also become energy independent and once again U.S. manufacturing sector is on the rise.
Ken Galeno V.P. & Carrie Mazzone Controller
Celebrate 40 Years of Service 2019
It was during the malaise climate in 1979, that a young Ken Galeno, who was born and raised in Brooklyn NY, would eventually move away from Brooklyn to attend college in Indiana at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana. Ken earned his B.A. Degree in Business and Mathematics. After graduation, Ken then relocated to Chicago to take a ground floor position at Manor Tool and Manufacturing in Schiller Park.
At Manor Tool Ken brought his attention to detail and his business and mathematics skills to the company where he’d begin his career. Ken found himself under the sole direction of the company founder and president, Lee Simeone. Ken initially held a position in the Manor Tool punch press department, which was shortly followed by a “full 5-year apprenticeship program” at the Tooling and Manufacturing Association (TMA) for the Manor Tool In-House Tool Room. The experience as a ground floor trainee then lead Ken into the Manor Tool and Manufacturing Engineering Department for 1 year, followed by the Manor Sales Department. In the year 1991, through his dedication and hard work, Ken was promoted to Vice President of Manor Tool and Manufacturing. Ken has proudly worked to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in every department at Manor Tool and Manufacturing. We thank him for his 40 years of dedication and commitment, and for his sense of customer satisfaction.
When Ken is not active at Manor Tool, he enjoys spending time with his wife Linda, his two sons and two grandchildren. Since the 1980’s Ken has found solace in his summer home in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, where he is an avid fisherman, hiker, and enjoys the outdoors. Ken has also adopted our hometown sports teams, and is an avid fan of the Bears, ‘Hawks and Cubs, attending games regularly.
Since its inception 60 years ago, Manor Tool continues to be a family-owned company, so it is fitting that the company tagline is “A Family of Precision Component Companies”, which not only include the Manor Tool and Manufacturing headquarters, but also CLL Engineering and Vogel Tool, located in Addison, Illinois. All three facilities were founded on Engineering Excellence.
“Family” has played a big part in the success of Manor Tool over the years, and no other employee’s family has had such a family impact and connection, then our Carrie A. Mazzone, who is also celebrating her 40th anniversary as the Manor Tool and Manufacturing Controller.
Like Ken, Carrie started at Manor Tool in 1979. Upon her graduation from East Leyden High School, Carrie followed the career path of her mother, Ms. Marilyn Hoppe, by joining the Manor Tool Team.
Carrie worked with her mother Marilyn until 2010, when Marilyn retired after 40+ years at Manor Tool. Carrie’s career began in the General Staff Accounting Department at the age of 18 years old. She attended Triton College in the mid 1980’s, and was at Manor Tool for the installation of the “First Green Screen Computer” while also working on the new internal accounting program called “Data Master”. Throughout the years, Carrie immersed herself into the accounting field, and proceeded to attend Harper College to further her education and qualifications. Carrie is proficient in every facet of Microsoft, and all internal company software.
Carrie is the Manor Tool and Manufacturing Controller for all three Manor facilities. She is a treasured employee and has adapted with the times. From carbon paper to paperless, calculators to computer programs, typewriters to emails, Carrie has worked with it all. The tools of her trade may have changed over the years, but the end result is still the same. Additionally, Carrie manages the entire employee healthcare and benefits program. Outside of Manor Tool, Carrie enjoys traveling with her husband Jerry of 34 years, spending time with her two sons and 3 grandchildren, and is an avid gardener.
As Manor Tool reflects upon the dedication of these two key employees, Ken and Carrie are the models of principles that have made Manor Tool successful. Ken and Carrie have completed the same training as every successful Manor employee, dating back to 1979. Manor Tool’s apprenticeship program has continued for six decades. Currently, there are five apprentices enrolled in the program at the Manor Tool facility. Though the technology has changed, the program is the same that Ken Galeno went through 30+ years ago to become a Tool and Die maker.
Manor Tool’s dedication to working with the community, local high schools and colleges, are the same today as they were when Carrie was an 18-year old East Leyden Graduate. In 2019, Manor Tool is staffed by local, career-oriented high school and college graduates that have embarked on successful careers from the opportunities that Manor Tool provides, and have remained with the company where the average tenure is 19 years.
Manor Tool continues to work with the former Tooling and Manufacturing Association, known today as the Technology and Manufacturing Association (TMA) .
Deep Drawn Stamping Services from Manor Tool
At Manor Tool & Manufacturing, we offer custom deep drawn stamping services for industries ranging from aerospace and automotive to refrigeration and restaurant service. Our stamping capabilities allow us to produce countless parts and components. To ensure the quality of our products, all deep drawn stamped products, assemblies, and sub-assemblies are subjected to rigorous ISO-certified quality control measures throughout the production process.
If you need a deep drawn stamped product, our expert team can take your project from design to end product. For more information on our stamping capabilities or to partner with us, contact us or request a quote today.
TMA President Steve Rauschenberger, in conjunction with the Women in Technology & Manufacturing Association (WTMA), have awarded Manor Tool’s very own Anne Lesko with a grant. Anne will be honored for her achievements at the upcoming WTMA Fall Luncheon on October 25th, 2019.
According to the TMA website, the WTMA grant seeks to “assist women in addressing the barriers they face in advancing their manufacturing technology education and their pursuit of careers in the industry”.
About Anne Lesko
Anne’s road to this accomplishment was paved with hard work, ambition, and focus, and Manor Tool couldn’t be prouder. Upon struggling with a series of dead-end jobs that stunted her finances, Anne decided to enroll at the workNet DuPage Career Center in July of 2018. While there, she discovered her love of creativity and a proclivity for craftsmanship translated to a pursuit in the Welding Certificate program at College of DuPage.
An apprenticeship led to her hiring at Manor Tool, where she has taken over welding procedures, but she is also working towards tool & die certification. In addition, she has set her sights on fabrication and machining.
No challenge seems too big for Anne! As a woman in the field, she is being acknowledged by the WTMA to continue her education and expand upon her experience. Anne ignores the notions that careers in welding and related operations are typically a male-dominated industry. She has battled through obstacles both personal and professional to land where she is today and Manor Tool, along with many, many others celebrate her achievements as a woman in industry!
The manufacturing industry is facing an oncoming crisis. If current trends continue, there will soon be a lack of engineers with the skills needed to meet the demands of a growing economy. Manor Tool is committed to working towards finding solutions that help close this engineering skills gap. As part of our ongoing efforts, we recently joined forces with the University of Illinois (UI) at Urbana-Champaign.
We partnered with UI students in the Senior Engineering Project program, which is a graduation requirement for engineering majors. The program presents scenarios that students are likely to run into during their careers. By collaborating with industry leaders like Manor Tool and Manufacturing, students gain essential knowledge that prepares them for what lies ahead in their professional work.
Learning in a Real World Classroom
The Senior Engineering Project brings together students and industry leaders with real-world experience. A group of students, working with a faculty advisor, are connected with people who work at a local business. These teams then join to collaborate on actual manufacturing challenges found on the shop floor. By presenting real-world challenges that manufacturing businesses face, students can learn how to tackle problems they won’t find in a textbook.
Once a week, the student team members have a conference call with their contacts at their partnered business. They discuss the issues they’ve been working on and any developments that have come up. It’s an excellent opportunity for the students to apply the concepts they’ve been studying in actual applications. This prepares them to start their careers, while also teaching them concepts that will benefit the companies they work for.
Manor Tool Gets Involved
In 2016 Harry Wildblood, the coordinator of the Senior Engineering Project, gave a presentation about the program during a visit to Chicago. In the audience was Tom Simeone, President of Manor Tool. He was intrigued by the potential of the project and eager to support it. Manor Tool connected with Wildblood to become involved in the Senior Engineering Project and share experiences, resources, and industry knowledge with the students in the program.
In 2019, we were paired with a team from UI that included students Anthony Alvizu, Nicola Dama, and Zechen Sun. The goal of the project we tackled was to improve space utilization, so we could balance production with customer requirements. We were looking for ways to make production more efficient, which would help us respond to the demands of a large project. The team analyzed the facility and how space was used, then presented ideas to expedite production.
The Manor Tool team was glad to have the experience of working with the students from UI. We value the opportunity to support and guide the next generation of engineers, as well as share the expertise and industry knowledge we’ve gained through the years.
An Enriching Experience for Engineering Students and Manor Tool
The manufacturing industry is facing a serious shortfall of engineers with necessary skills. Manor Tool is glad to have the opportunity to work with students from the University of Illinois to bridge that skills gap. Our experience of collaborating with a team in the Senior Engineering Project was fruitful and encouraging, and we are pleased to glimpse the future of engineering in these students!
Manor Tool has grown throughout the years to become a superior quality metal stamping company. Our skilled and experienced staff will work with you from design through completion, regardless of the size of your project. We use state-of-the-art technology and processes to achieve the efficiency and precision you need.
For more information about what we do or to learn about past projects, check out our resource library.
At Manor Tool, we abide by a value proposition—a commitment to the high-quality service, execution, and delivery expected and deserved by our customers. A high standard of excellence and commitment to the value proposition sets our company apart and attracts long-term customers and partnerships.
This dedication to service has earned Manor Tool a nomination for the Gallis Award. This award is given every month to suppliers and individuals who go above and beyond expectations by a subsidiary of Menasha Corporation, a $2 billion corrugated and plastic packaging manufacturer. In February 2019, the incredible team at Manor Tool was nominated as Supplier of the Month.
Manor Tool’s Nomination
Gallis Award Nomination presented to Ms. Lucy Lopez Q.A. Manager and John Creighton Sales Manager
When Menasha’s subsidiary launched a new seedbox, Manor Tool did everything we could to support a successful release. Our team made beneficial changes to the production schedule and worked overtime to meet stringent project requirements. Throughout the process, we held weekly meetings and kept in close communication with the Seedbox team to make sure production stayed on schedule and deliveries were completed correctly and on time.
Nominating us for the Supplier of the Month Gallis Award recognizes the superior level of service we provided. We strive to create an exceptional experience for the customer, and we are proud to receive this acknowledgement of our ongoing commitment to excellence.
Manor Tool’s Capabilities
Manor Tool boasts a long history of excellence in service. Founded in 1959, the company has evolved and expanded its offerings to serve a variety of industries and applications. We provide a wide range of services, including:
Design and engineering
Tool and die fabrication
Metal stamping
Deep-draw stamping
Custom tooling
Finishing services
With our end-to-end services, we never need to outsource any part of a project. We understand that keeping the work in-house improves delivery times, ensures the highest quality, and saves money for the end customer. We are ISO 9001:2015 certified and just last year installed a new 330-ton Komatsu Press.
We continuously look for new ways to improve our ability to serve our customers. For example, the Manor Tool team has been working on logistics to further improve shipment and delivery times. We work diligently not only to improve the services we provide, but also on improving our partnerships. Relationships are important to us, and when we work to serve a relationship rather than simply to create a finished product, the high-quality work reflects that commitment.
This subsidiary of Menasha has relationships with more than 3,000 vendors, and only four of them were nominated in February. Manor Tool is proud to be named among them, an honor that recognizes Manor Tool as a valued vendor.
We look forward to meeting and exceeding the expectations of old customers and new customers alike. If you’re looking for a manufacturing partner, we invite you to download our eBook: Choosing the Right Partner for a Successful Metal Stamping Project. This resource outlines what you should consider when choosing a vendor, including company history, capabilities, and strengths and weaknesses.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how we can serve your project needs, please contact us.
Back Row: Kevin Segebarth (General Manager) and Dmitry Balabanov (Corporate Maintenance Manager) Front Row: Tom Simeone (President), Fred Torres (student- Senior), Mario Perez (student – Junior), Lucy Lopez (Quality Assurance Manager), Dan Kiraly (Tool Room Manager)
For high school students on spring break, it’s a time for rest, relaxation and new experiences. For the 3rd year in a row, Manor Tool & Manufacturing welcomed a group of local Chicago high school students to our facilities to provide hands-on, real-world experience in the manufacturing sector.
By supporting these motivated high school students and helping them to enhance their knowledge outside of the classroom, we’re doing our part to decrease the manufacturing skills. We’ve even been able to offer students with career opportunities upon graduation.
Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce
Manor Tool offers an annual internship program over spring break to honor our commitment to growth in the Chicago manufacturing industry. We work with local high schools and trade associations in an effort to increase interest and knowledge about our industry and the many career opportunities it offers.
Our internship program has two main goals. First, we aim to give interested students the chance to learn more about manufacturing by allowing them to be a part of our team for a week. Second, we intend to create an interest in manufacturing to help build and grow tomorrow’s workforce.
We received numerous impressive resumes of students interested in joining our internship program. This year, two students from Leyden High School stood out among the highly qualified candidates: Fred Torres, a senior, and Mario Perez, a junior. These students were chosen based on their history of mechanical and engineering based classes and extracurricular activities. From looking at their resumes, we could tell they would be a great fit with the Manor Tool team.
Their week consisted of learning every facet of what Manor Tool does, starting with a tour of our facilities to learn how a punch press operates. Over the next few days, Fred and Mario learned about all the departments and how each one impacts Manor Tool, including: Engineering and Design, Sales, Customer Service, Accounts Payable, and Ownership. We gave them a glimpse into the many departments and team members it takes to offer high-quality stamping, machining, designing, and engineering services.
Looking Forward
As the need for qualified engineering and machining employees greatly increases, our team at Manor Tool hopes to help decrease the manufacturing skills gap by expanding our role to include more education and opportunities to prospective engineering students.
We enjoyed our week getting to know Fred and Mario, and we look forward to welcoming more interested students to our internship program in the future.
As Manor Tool & Manufacturing enters our milestone 60th year of business, we’d like to congratulate three employees who are celebrating 40 years with Manor:
Audencio Quinones, Production Operator
Giovanni (John) Terracciano, Punch Press and Set-Up Supervisor
Carlos Ruvalcaba, Production Manager
Audencio, John and Carlos have seen many changes to the manufacturing industry over 40 years and have been dedicated to learning and achieving any task for our customer’s satisfaction. We’re also proud to have an average employee tenure of 19 years across our team.
Pictured left to right: Tom Simeone, Audencio Quinones, John Terracciano and Carlos Ruvalcaba.
As we enter our 60th year in business (1959-2019), Manor Tool & Manufacturing would like to reflect on some of the exciting achievements that have helped us to continue to provide innovative metal stamping, tooling, and tool & die services and resources to our customers. From the publishing of our eBook, “Everything You Need to Know About Transferring Tooling” to receiving the 2018 Governor’s Export Award, we achieved a number of professional benchmarks, including becoming ISO 9001:2015 certified in a number of key areas.
We were also thrilled by the successful installation of a 330-Ton Komatsu Servo Press Setup in our Schiller Park, IL, facility. This new press takes the shop’s already impressive advanced metal stamping capabilities to a new level.
In our continuing efforts to usher the Chicago manufacturing industry successfully into the 21st century, Manor Tool gave two promising high school students valuable experience over their spring break.
To keep our facility up-to-date and continue to serve our customers with excellent service, we installed a new press in 2018. This 330-Ton Komatsu Press is fully operational and available to meet customers’ stamping needs. It also has a COE SpaceMaster Compact Coil Line, which will increase our capacity by complimenting the capability of the servo press.
For years, Manor Tool has offered a spring break internship program to give back to the Chicago manufacturing industry. In 2018, standout high school students Salvatore “Sal” Labarbera and Noah Guadalupe were selected based on their shared histories of mechanical and engineering classes and extracurricular activities.
They spent the week learning what Manor Tool does, beginning with a facility tour and seeing how to operate a punch press. This was followed by an immersion in the various departments here, including engineering and design, sales, customer service, accounts payable, and ownership.
In our unending effort to provide the best quality metal stamping products and services, Manor Tool & Manufacturing is proud to be ISO 9001:2015 certified in manufacturing precision metal stampings, deep drawn stampings, and machined components and assemblies for various industries, as well as design and construction of tooling.
An ISO 9001:2015 certificate is the most well-known standard for quality management systems and is an important achievement in the industrial space, helping companies provide the best quality service and instilling peace of mind in their customers.
Manor Tool published an eBook to educate both industry leaders and consumers on successful tool transferring called, “Everything You Need to Know About Transferring Tooling.” This resource offers guidance on preventing numerous common obstacles that decrease production and can derail it altogether, including old tooling, supplier quality, timeliness, minimizing risk, and industry-specific expertise.
Vogel Tool & Die received the 2018 Governor’s Award for Continuing Excellence from Illinois earlier this year. Company president Tom Simeone accepted the award at an honoring ceremony that took place at Union League Club of Chicago on May 24th.
Onward and Upward
Manor Tool will be working to continue building on these achievements and progress as we enter 2019. To become part of our continuing journey, contact us today for all your stamping needs.
The Senior Engineering Project brings together students and industry leaders with real-world experience. A group of students, working with a faculty advisor, are connected with people who work at a local business. These teams then join to collaborate on actual manufacturing challenges found on the shop floor. By presenting real-world challenges that manufacturing businesses face, students can learn how to tackle problems they won’t find in a textbook.
In 2016 Harry Wildblood, the coordinator of the Senior Engineering Project, gave a presentation about the program during a visit to Chicago. In the audience was Tom Simeone, President of Manor Tool. He was intrigued by the potential of the project and eager to support it. Manor Tool connected with Wildblood to become involved in the Senior Engineering Project and share experiences, resources, and industry knowledge with the students in the program.
The manufacturing industry is facing a serious shortfall of engineers with necessary skills. Manor Tool is glad to have the opportunity to work with students from the University of Illinois to bridge that skills gap. Our experience of collaborating with a team in the Senior Engineering Project was fruitful and encouraging, and we are pleased to glimpse the future of engineering in these students!
We received numerous impressive resumes of students interested in joining our internship program. This year, two students from Leyden High School stood out among the highly qualified candidates: Fred Torres, a senior, and Mario Perez, a junior. These students were chosen based on their history of mechanical and engineering based classes and extracurricular activities. From looking at their resumes, we could tell they would be a great fit with the Manor Tool team.
For years, Manor Tool has offered a spring break internship program to give back to the Chicago manufacturing industry. In 2018, standout high school students Salvatore “Sal” Labarbera and Noah Guadalupe were selected based on their shared histories of mechanical and engineering classes and extracurricular activities.
