85. Buying a Machine Shop for All the Right Reasons - Scott Bruneau from Delaware Metals
Release Date: 08/13/2025
102. He Borrowed $1M to Save His Team: Gary Poesnecker with Spectrum Machine & Design
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101. Extreme Specialization: The Strategy Behind a 123-Person Gear Company
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100. Collective Wisdom: Best Ideas from the First 99 Episodes of Machine Shop Mastery
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Reaching 100 episodes is more than a milestone. It’s a moment to step back and recognize what’s been built together. In this special compilation episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I reflect on the most powerful ideas, lessons, and human stories that emerged from the first 99 conversations with shop owners and manufacturing leaders across the industry. When this podcast started, I thought we were chasing a simple question: what makes great shops great? What became clear over time is that we weren’t really talking about machines or parts at all. We were talking about responsibility,...
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99. Love God, Love People, and Make Chips: The Visionary Leadership of Bill Cox
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Some manufacturing businesses grow because of timing, technology, or market opportunity. Others endure because of values. In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sit down with Bill Cox of Cox Manufacturing, a nearly 70-year-old family business whose legacy was forged through resilience, faith, and an unwavering commitment to people. Bill shares the remarkable origin story of Cox Manufacturing, which began with a single Swiss machine purchased at auction in the 1950s and grew into a high-volume precision operation shipping millions of parts each week. Along the way, the company played a...
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98. Behind the Scenes of a Top Shop with Jayme Rahz
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What does a truly dialed-in machine shop look like behind the scenes? In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sit down with Jayme Rahz of Midway Swiss Turn, one of the most intentional and well-run shops I’ve come across. I met Jayme at the Top Shops Conference, where Midway Swiss Turn was recognized for Shop Floor Best Practices, and after this conversation, it’s easy to see why. Jayme shares the full origin story of the business, which started in a garage with her father-in-law and grew into a highly automated Swiss-focused operation in Ohio. Over more than two decades, the shop...
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97. The Human Side of Hard Businesses: Culture, Trust, and Long-Term Leadership
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Staying in business for decades requires more than machines, processes, and good customers.In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sit down with Bonnie and Ken Kuhn of Kuhn Tool, a multi-generation, family-owned shop in northwest Pennsylvania that has quietly endured for more than six decades. What makes this conversation special isn’t just the longevity of the business, but the way Bonnie and Ken have built it together. From surviving offshoring waves and major customer losses to steadily growing from a handful of employees into a thriving operation, their story is rooted in...
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96. From Pole Barn to Precision Powerhouse: Shane Grant’s 10-Year Shop Journey
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In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I finally sit down with Shane Grant from Machining Momentum, a guest I’ve been hoping to have on the show for a long time. Shane has spent the last decade building his shop from the ground up, literally starting in a backyard pole barn and growing it into a precision-focused operation that’s now hitting its stride in a new industrial facility. What makes Shane’s story compelling isn’t just the growth, but how intentionally it happened. He shares how early exposure to machining through a family business, followed by experience in automotive,...
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95. Why Clean Floors, Strong Culture & High-End Machines Drive Valuation
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One of the questions I think about constantly is what actually makes a machine shop valuable. Not just today, but five, ten, or even twenty years down the road. It’s easy to point to machines, revenue, or backlog, but the real drivers of long-term value usually run much deeper. That’s exactly why I wanted to sit down with Jamie Goettler, Chief Revenue Officer of BTX Precision, for this episode of Machine Shop Mastery. BTX Precision is one of the fastest-growing advanced manufacturing platforms in the country. Jamie brings a rare blend of perspectives to the conversation. With more than two...
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94. How Losing a Machine Shop Led to Gabe Draper’s Calling
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Some conversations stay with you long after you hit “stop” on the recorder—and my time with Gabe Draper is absolutely one of them. I’ve known Gabe for years, but I never fully understood the depth of the journey he endured as he attempted to take over, stabilize, and ultimately shut down the family machine shop. His story isn’t just informative; it’s gut-wrenching, enlightening, and, ultimately, incredibly redemptive. In this episode, Gabe walks me through the emotional roller coaster of trying to save a failing shop, the painful impact of relying too heavily on one industry,...
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93. A Builder at Heart Pivots and Buys a Machine Shop
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Buying a machine shop is never simple — and for Matt Fortner, it was a leap into the unknown. Coming from backgrounds in plumbing, industrial fittings, product development, and even scrap metal buying, Matt felt a pull to get back to “building something real.” That pull led him to Progress Machining in Muskegon, Michigan — a shop he became the fifth person to attempt purchasing. Once inside, Matt quickly realized how much transformation the business needed. The shop was filled with aging machines, tribal knowledge, and 60 tons of accumulated scrap and unused tooling. Setups stretched...
info_outlineWhat happens when two people with a shared vision for community, craftsmanship, and legacy decide to take the leap into shop ownership? For Scott and his wife, the answer is Delaware Metals.
In this inspiring conversation, Scott Bruneau shares how he and his wife purchased a decades-old, well-run machine shop—not as a quick flip, but as a long-term investment in American manufacturing, their team, and their community.
With over 20 years in the industry himself, Scott knew the road ahead would be demanding. But armed with a clear “why,” a strong culture-first mindset, and a willingness to learn from both successes and mistakes, he’s been steering Delaware Metals into new markets, upgrading capabilities, and building a younger, highly skilled workforce.
We cover everything from the buying process and financing tips, to shop layout improvements, training strategies, and the reality of recruiting in today’s tight labor market. Scott also opens up about the importance of open-book leadership—sharing the numbers, empowering the team, and making sure everyone understands their role in the shop’s growth.
Whether you’re dreaming about buying your first shop, preparing to sell yours, or simply looking for leadership inspiration, Scott’s story is packed with actionable wisdom. This is about buying a machine shop for all the right reasons—and building a business that lasts.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
- (0:00) Preserving legacy knowledge after a veteran retires
- (0:21) Register for Top Shops 2025 and get 20% off
- (1:254) Learn about Scott Bruneau and Delaware Metals
- (6:30) Shop snapshot: size, equipment, and niche in small, precise, handheld parts
- (8:35) Relationship with the previous owner, his exit, and the strong foundation they inherited
- (10:02) Certifications, ERP transition, equipment investments, and workflow reorganization
- (11:57) Diversifying the customer base and expanding into aerospace with industry partners
- (15:14) Building a team of subject matter experts and fostering a culture of shared knowledge
- (19:46) Recruiting strategies, lean manufacturing introduction, and reorganization into cells with cross-training
- (25:33) Quality management approach and gaining team buy-in for process improvements
- (30:14) Check out SMW Autoblok’s massive catalog at SMWAutoblok.com
- (31:27) Closing the gap between office and shop floor through visible, hands-on leadership
- (34:21) Lessons from the buying process: financing, due diligence, and structuring the deal
- (40:21) Transparency with the team on costs, profitability, and impact on benefits
- (42:06) Career development through reviews, training opportunities, and goal setting
- (44:59) Biggest challenges: recruiting, assessing technical skills, and hiring for culture fit
- (49:06) Bringing in younger talent, mentorship, and patience in skill development
- (54:17) Real-life example: Software experience versus machining experience
- (56:37) The big decisions that are moving the company forward
- (1:01:16) Future proof your shop by listening to Lights Out
Resources & People Mentioned
Connect with Scott Bruneau
- Delaware Metals
- Connect on LinkedIn
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Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK