A family machine shop, second generation
Walt Brenner started Datum with two manual mills in a rented bay. His daughter Karen runs it now. The rule has not changed: the part matches the drawing.
Founded
1987
People
64
2210 Harrison Avenue, Rockford, Illinois.
Thirty-nine years of parts that fit
1987
Walt Brenner opens Datum in a rented bay with two manual mills and one customer.
1996
First CNC machining center. Walt learns G-code from the manual.
2004
ISO 9001 certification and the move to Harrison Avenue.
2014
Karen Brenner takes over after twelve years on the floor and in quality.
2016
AS9100 certification and our first flight hardware.
2022
A 5-axis cell with robotic loading goes in on the east wall.
2026
31 machines, 64 people, two shifts, and still one granite table per inspector.
Three rules the whole shop can recite
Rule 1
The part matches the drawing
If it does not, it does not ship. Anyone on the floor can stop a job.
Rule 2
Tell the customer first
A late part is bad. A late part you hear about on the due date is worse. We call early.
Rule 3
Leave the machine better
Clean the machine, log the tool wear and write down what you learned for the next shift.
Who you will talk to
Karen Brenner
Owner and president
Twelve years on the floor before the office.
Dan Okafor
Engineering lead
Reads every drawing that comes in.
Maria Lindqvist
Quality manager
Can stop any job, and has.
Luis Ortega
Production manager
Runs both shifts and the schedule.
52,000 sq ft on Harrison Avenue
Floor space
52,000 sq ft
Machines
31
People
64
Shifts
2, Mon to Fri
Crane capacity
5 ton
Inspection lab
68°F year round
Send a drawing. Get a quote in 48 hours.
STEP, IGES, PDF or DXF. We sign your NDA before you send anything.