MADISON, Wis. -- For more than a decade, residents living near Madison-Kipp Corp. have complained about pollution, odor and noise.

A News 3 investigation earlier this year showed emissions from the plant, which produces aluminum and zinc dye casts, had soared tenfold in the past decade.

Now, residents of the Schenk-Atwood neighborhood may be getting a welcome Christmas present: reduced pollution.

Madison-Kipp, which has been headquartered in Schenk-Atwood for more than 100 years, is testing a new lubricant that company officials say may help reduce air pollution and improve their production process at the same time.

Dan Melton, head of the Schenk-Atwood Neighborhood Association, said he welcomed the new development.

The relationship between the plant and residents has "hardened over the years to where Kipp and neighbors don't talk to each other or trust each other any more," he said.

Things got so bad last year that some residents wore gas masks, both as a protest and as a precautionary measure.

Now, with an experimental lubricant being tested for use with the plant's aluminum molds, Kipp-Madison and its neighbors are looking forward to clearing the air.

"The tests ran well," said Meunier, human resources vice president at Kipp-Madison. "Although the data won't be in for several weeks."

Melton said it's a good start.

"There's a lot at stake here and I know many neighbors will remain skeptical -- and rightly so -- but we have to start somewhere."

Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz also welcomed news about the test.

"What we need to do is make sure they are a good neighbor, that they fit in," he said. "This is a big step in the right direction."

Results are due in mid-January.