About Independent Machine Company   History   In 1975 the idea for Independent Machine Company was tossed around by an 18 year old with drive and vigor matched only by his intelligence and fabrication prowess. His steel fabrication and manufacturing career began in a garage where he manufactured a  portable wheel lathe used to turn locomotive wheels. Keith Sandstrom started his business with that one product, then expanded the company in 1978 to include making plows for locomotives.  Always the visionary, Keith looked for other products he could manufacture for the railroad.  This led to a lot of prototyping and working with the major tier railroads.   As business grew in those early years, Keith moved the plant to the Gladstone Industrial Park.  There were about 5 employees back then.  The continual growth included adding gear cases for locomotives in 1987, and in 1990 expanded into manufacturing about 25 miscellaneous parts for freight cars.  Soon after  he was supplying a majority of the tier ones, regional and short-line railroads with their gear cases, plows, wear plates, and any other miscellaneous part that was sent over.  The Iron Horse Portable Wheel Lathe continued with it's own success and was revised and revamped many times.   The late 1990's into the 2000's brought continued growth and expansion.  Now most steel gear cases in the market could be manufactured at IMC along with most of the plows and wear plates used on running locomotives, GE or EMD.  Our prototype work also brought forth our entry into the Draft gear pocket market.   Sadly in January 2009 Keith Sandstrom passed away leaving a still growing legacy in his wake.  IMC is just as strong now as it has ever been and has become a major player in the world market.     Facilities   Independent Machine Company has 35 years of experience. We can provide proto-type work and large quantity production runs. Let us assist you in your fabrication needs.   30+ workforce at your service 28,000 Sq. Ft. Facility (Plant 1) 9,800 Sq. Ft. (Plant 2) Equipped with the Finest Staff & Tooling Possible ISO 9001:2008 certified, M1003 certified First Part Inspection on 4% run, Second Too None in the Industry.  Some Talk about their Quality, We Stand Next to Ours and Guarantee our Craftsmanship Only the Best Prime American Steel Used in Fabrication Above and Beyond Our Competitors AWSD1.1, D1.1M2006, and D15.1 2001 Certified (10) MIG Welding Stations Mild and Hard Steels, Aluminum, and Stainless Steel Welding Certified Welders, Certified for Unlimited Thickness in Welding 120” x 250”, Duel Torch, CNC Burning Station Up to 2’ Thick Mild Steel Up to 1-1/2” Thick Stainless Up to 1-1/2” Thick Aluminum Oxy Fuel Up To 4” Thick Mild Steel Acuren Inspection X-Ray Weld Tests Performed Auto Feed Horizontal Band Saw 18” SQ Bundle Capacity 72”  Shear CNC Vertical Mills Haas VF 3/90 (40X x 20Y x 25Z) Haas VF 5/50 (50X x 26Y x 25Z) Haas VF 6/50 (64X x 32Y x 25Z) Engine Lathe (3” Thru x 36” Bed) 36” Blanchard Grinder Brake Press Summit (220 Ton x 12’ Long) Accurpress (100 Ton x 8’ long) Drill Presses Cleereman Gear Head ½” Chuck, Bench Heat Treat Furnace 12” x 18” x 36” Duel Chamber Electric (10) MIG Welding Stations Large Sandblast & Paint Booths  (20’x 14’ x 9’) Gogan Hardness Tester Faro Arm Model S08-02 CMM (Faro Arm Inspection) (2)  Autocad Design Stations 36” Inkjet  Plotter