Company description
Advanced Integrated Technologies was founded by Paul Balentine. Paul began working as a janitor in the tool room of Spartan Southwest in Albuquerque New Mexico in 1962. This was his first exposure to the world of machining. He soon entered an apprenticeship to become a machinist and worked for various companies in Albuquerque NM. Between 1966 and 1974, Paul moved around to various companies gaining experience. During this time he worked for Arkansas Tool and Die building progressive and blanking dies, for Unidyamics in Saint Louis helping build the first nuclear submarine power plant, and for Timex Corporation in Little Rock Arkansas building tools for assembling watches. With Timex he gained extensive experience in micro machining and eventually became a department head over about 10 machinists. In 1975, Paul and a friend, Joe Gatti, decided to start their own machine shop. Paul sold his Triumph 750 motorcycle to buy a milling machine, lathe, and a drill press. Paul and Joe rented a building and started their business with no customers and little knowledge of how to do business. Gross sales the first year were less than $5,000. In 1976 they split the business and Paul and his family moved to Stone County Arkansas. He built a shop immediately and started Ozark Machine and Tool.
