Dave Fraser recently started Advanced Machine in the same building as his other two businesses at 2202 Aragon St.

Fraser said barely a month ago he was ready to call it quits and head back to Sheboygan, Wis., where he originally is from, over noise complaints that hobbled The Maxx Entertainment Center’s operations.

Thankfully, he’s worked with Iron Mountain city officials to address those noise complaints and can hopefully continue hosting shows at The Maxx. But Fraser said he is not out of the woods yet — show attendance has declined somewhat, so he needed another revenue stream.

And with The Maxx not opening until 10 a.m., he didn’t have much to do until noon, so decided to find a way to fill the open hours.

ADVANCED MACHINE operates out of the same building that houses The Maxx Entertainment Center and Grow Maxx businesses at 2202 Aragon St. in Iron Mountain. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)

He’s returning to his roots as a machinist, making tools, parts and objects in his own machine shop, he said. He also can do industrial repairs and fabrication, he said.

Fraser started in that trade young, learning to run his father’s manufacturing machines before he was 10 years old. Fraser said that much of what he knows is self-taught by staying late at the shops where he worked and asking questions of machinists about the equipment they were operating, such as milling, grinders and lathes.

Fraser owned and operated the first Advanced Machine in Sheboygan from 2003 until 2010, starting the business in his garage and eventually growing it to employ several people before a downturn in the economy forced him to close.

The new Advanced Machine is now an area behind The Maxx stage. If things take off for Advanced Machine, Fraser said he may move the stage forward to make more room or he could possibly add onto the building.

For the past few weeks, he has been assembling the machinery and equipment he needs and upgrading electrical to that part of the building.

Fraser had none of the equipment from his previous business — not even his hand tools — so he had to purchase everything. Along with a lathe that can handle material up to 80 inches long and vertical mill, Fraser purchased a Milltronics CNC machining center.

An advantage to Fraser’s setup is the machining center is not enclosed, so he can handle material up to 20 feet long.

Fraser reports that Advanced Machine already has completed one project and has more orders that he will begin filling next week. Advanced Machine has a contract to make stainless steel food-grade parts for producing hamburger patties and cheese.

Much of Advanced Machine’s work is expected to come from Wisconsin companies. He plans to spread that revenue around, subcontracting with other area businesses for some large-scale fabrication, painting and powder coating.

Fraser will do much of the work personally to start but said he has some part-time people ready to help, with the goal of employing as many as five people within a year.

“This company is just another leg of our little animal here,” Fraser said. “What I am really hoping for is to get just enough work to keep some people busy and then use any extra revenue to improve the whole property.”

Fraser also said he will be available 24 hours a day for any area manufacturer that needs an emergency repair and he is ready to serve any client, from “the average Joe” to the biggest companies in the region.

Advanced Machine can be reached at 906-221-2111 or advmach@yahoo.com.

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The Daily News plans to highlight some of the new businesses in the region. Know of one that recently opened or changed hands? Contact Jim Paul at 906-774-2772, ext. 229, or jpaul@ironmountaindailynews.com.