Juan Vargas measures for tolerances of a recently punched piece that will be wound with copper wire and used in a motor at Sko-Die Inc. in Morton Grove on Thursday, Jan. 10. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Some recently punched metal at Sko-Die Inc. in Morton Grove on Thursday, Jan. 10. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Socorro Vargas and Jimmy Hunt put together parts for an oil-well drilling motor at Sko-Die Inc. in Morton Grove on Thursday, January 10, 2013. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Socorro Vargas and Jimmy Hunt put together parts for an oil-well drilling motor at Sko-Die Inc. in Morton Grove on Thursday, January 10, 2013. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Diemaker John Perschke moves a blanking die that creates a part for Segways at Sko-Die Inc. in Morton Grove on Thursday, Jan. 10. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Mike Glisovic marks a spot on a blanking drill at Sko-Die Inc. in Morton Grove on Thursday, Jan. 10. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Mike Glisovic works on a blanking drill at Sko-Die Inc. in Morton Grove on Thursday, Jan. 10. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Juan Vargas removes a recently punched piece that will be wound with copper wire and used in a motor at Sko-Die Inc. in Morton Grove on Thursday, Jan. 10. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

A blank (middle) is machined down to parts for oil drilling (left and right) at Sko-Die Inc. in Morton Grove on Thursday, Jan. 10. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

President Patrick Steininger at Sko-Die Inc. in Morton Grove on Thursday, Jan. 10. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Kostas Gianitsaros measures for tolerances on machined parts at Sko-Die Inc. in Morton Grove on Thursday, Jan. 10. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Metal shavings from a lathe at Sko-Die Inc. in Morton Grove on Thursday, Jan. 10. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media