1. 8 SANTA CLARITA VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL AUGUST 2016
Al Hirth Machining Inc.
Owner’s Name: Ivy Hirth
Year Firm Began: 1980, as Fraser Industries
Founded By: Tom Fraser. Al Hirth, Ivy’s father, purchased the com-
pany in 1996.
Founder’s relationship to you: No relation
How Many Generations: Two
How many Employees: Six
How Many Family Members are Employees: None others presently.
Annual Gross Earnings: $500,000 to $600,000
Brief Description of Business: The company performs high-precision,
short-production-run machining and manufacturing of parts for the De-
partment of Defense, the aerospace industry, and other kinds of businesses.
Al Hirth with daughter Ivy and granddaughter Raven at Hirth Machining in Valencia. Photo
by Dan Watson.
Advanced Technology Machining/TECC
Grinding
Owner’s Name: Joseph Howton, Vice President, Advanced Tech, Presi-
dent, TECC Grinding
Year Firm Began: 1987
Founded By: Joseph Howton
Founder’s relationship to you: He is the founder.
How Many Generations: Two
How many Employees: 28 at Advanced Technology Machining, 5 at
TECC Grinding
How Many Family Members are Employees: Advanced Technology
Machining: wife Vickie Howton, daughter Lacey Masoner, son-in-law
Brian Gruhlke. TECC Grinding: son Jeremy Howton, daughter Danielle
Gruhlke.
Annual Gross Earnings: Both companies, approximately $5.5 million
Brief Description of Business: Advanced Technology Machining is an aerospace
manufacturer of precision parts. TECC Grinding does precision cylindrical
grinding for the aerospace and other industries.
 Al Hirth and daughter, Ivy in
theworkshopatHirthMachining
in Valencia. Photo by Dan
Watson.
MultigenerationalFamily-OperatedManufacturingCompanies
SPECIAL REPORT
 Joe Howton, Vickie Howton, Lacey Masoner, Brian Gruhlke, Danielle Gruhlke, and Jeremy
Howton stand in their family business, Advanced Technology Machining, in Valencia. Photo
by Katharine Lotze.
 Quality Control
Manager Jen
Sherman, left, and
Ivy Hirth discuss an
aluminummounting
plate made in
the workshop at
Hirth Machining in
Valencia. Photo by
Dan Watson.
 Joe Howton, Vickie Howton, Lacey Masoner, Brian Gruhlke, Danielle Gruhlke, and Jeremy
Howton stand in their family business, Advanced Technology Machining, in Valencia. Photo
by Katharine Lotze.