about us
ENGINEERING AT
superior quality and
speed
Located just outside of Minerva, Ohio, we are close to many major markets which are constantly in need of our specialty services. As an Ohio machining shop, the company has developed its stellar reputation from a rock-solid work ethic and excellent customer service with quality-product delivered nationwide to a very diverse customer base over the better part of three decades now.
SJK Machine prides itself on its ability to perform in a high-pressure, time-sensitive environment. Our manufacturing schedule has allowed SJK to create the possible and to accomplish that promise in every situation. Our machining and automation experience allows us to work with customers from product design and prototype stages through the very end stages of production and development, providing engineering and design expertise, assembly, machining, fabrication, and inspection to ensure a quality product as end result.
history
SJK Machine was started in 1998 from a garage with 1 manual mill and limited tools. Steve had strong knowledge in the machining and automation industry and strived to succeed. At that time, only very simple and small quantity machining of parts was all that could be accomplished. Throughout the next couple of years, that 1 manual mill turned into 1 CNC mill, 1 CNC lathe, and a welder. At that point was the start of custom automated machines for various companies in the plastic industry.
Although it was tough to get there, this is when success was on the horizon. For years, Custom Engineered Machine continued to work with different industries to provide all aspects of custom fabrication and machines.
Fast forward to 2020, Custom Engineered Machine purchased McGuire Machine and SJK Machine was established. We Now strive to complete highly complex precision parts, machines, fabrications, and prototypes for an extremely wide range of industries. We work with Aerospace, Department of Defense, Automotive, Oil and Gas, Medical and Electronics are only a few of the industries we provide engineering and products for nationwide. We do this in a state-of-the-art, 30,000-square-foot facility consisting of multiple CNC Lathes, Vertical mills, Horizontal mills, Waterjet, and Wire EDM’s.
STAFF.
STEVE KIKO
PRESIDENT / HEAD OF ENGINEERING
I am a self-driven individual and am very motivated in everything I do. I never wanted to just machine parts, I wanted to build what the machined parts went into. After serving an apprenticeship with the Timken company I pursued exactly that….I took a job as a machine builder. I was a machine builder for 12 years when I was hired by a company to design and build these same type of machines….not just build them. After 5 years working for this company I decided I could do this better. So, I started Custom Engineered Machine in 1998. I have worked very hard and have put in many hours to get to where I am today. These details are mentioned above under “History of the company”.
Recently I have been working on a few inventions that are currently in the “patent pending” stage. This is what drives me now. Trying to find solutions to ongoing issues. Some of these issues are safety issues where many have been hurt or even resulted in death.
Most of my time is thinking about new ideas and how to make things better. When not doing this I like to spend time with my wife (Jodi) and with our kids and grandkids. I like to bike ride and watch any type of sporting event….especially college football!!
JODI KIKO
VICE PRESIDENT / ACCOUNT MANAGER
Steve and I have been married since 2014. We have 4 adult children. He has a son (Aaron) and a daughter (Chelsea). And I have a daughter (Morgan) and a son (Bart). We also have 6 grandchildren that keep us busy!
I am very excited to be involved in our Company. I have extensive Customer Service experience and have worked in the Business/Manufacturing World for over 25 years. When we are not at work, we enjoy spending time with family and going on short adventure trips.
AARON KIKO
I have been married since 2011 to Christina and we have 2 kids, a daughter born in 2012 and a son born in 2015. I am a gearhead and enjoy every aspect of moving parts and engineering. I like to be challenged and to think outside the box, I become bored when not facing challenges.
I am on a NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster team with The Michalek Brothers Racing squad based out of Columbus OH as a Head specialist on our Nitro Injected Dragster. This keeps my mind busy and constantly thinking about what we can do to be better. A lot from the machining world translates into racecar engineering and this challenge is what I love. I have been doing this for about 8 years now but have been around drag racing my whole life. We compete in about 9 races a year travelling across the country with our 1st win as car owners being at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte 2022. Anyone that knows Nitro can understand how critical the details and in between round services are on these cars, along with how much work it takes between races to prepare for the next one.
While not doing that, I enjoy coaching our kids in various sports, camping, boating, skiing, and driving/checking out sports cars with my son Jak, the youngest gearhead in the family. We are both Carroll Shelby enthusiasts.
I started my own company in 2006 and that was my “college” to learn what it takes to grow and succeed in business. I decided that it was best for the family in 2021 to start engaging in my father’s company and to start putting my efforts into growing 1 company together, rather than having 2 and grow separately. We have since grown a lot and there aren’t any signs of stopping. I’m driven to succeed and won’t let anything stop that.
OPERATIONS / SALES MANAGER