ADM Mechanical is a full-service process equipment fabrication and repair facility dedicated to the manufacture and repair of equipment used within Archer Daniels Midland Company. With over 28 years of experience in the field of ASME vessel manufacturing and equipment repair, the staff of 58 operates a state-of-the-art facility, offering support ranging from engineering and CAD design to fabrication and repair. The core of the business is structured around the fabrication of ASME vessels and heat exchangers plus the repair/certification of gearboxes, pumps, blowers, and PRVs for processing plants within Archer Daniels Midland Company.

ADM Mechanical’s significant achievements in the area of safety include no lost time accidents since January of 2007, and one recordable injury since June of 2008. The
facility uses multiple corporate safety programs and tools to ensure a high level of safety awareness utilizing a safety mission statement that “Zero is Possible.”

The award will be presented to ADM at a dinner ceremony during FMA’s Annual Safety Conference to be held April 24-25th at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. As the winner, a representative of ADM will receive complimentary registration, travel, and hotel accommodations at the conference.

“FMA is pleased to present the Rusty Demeules Award for the second consecutive year to ADM Mechanical,” said Edward Youdell, president and CEO of FMA. “This achievement proves that ADM has an ongoing commitment to safety.”

For more information on the awards program, safety conference, or FMA membership, please visit fmanet.org or call 888-394-4362.

About FMA
Based in Rockford, Ill., FMA is a professional organization with nearly 2,300 members working together to improve the metal fabricating and forming industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and the FABTECH® trade show. FMA also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, International (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating; and Green Manufacturer Network, a professional organization of individual members dedicated to working toward environmentally-friendly manufacturing.

About CNA
Serving businesses and professionals since 1897, CNA is the country’s seventh largest commercial insurance writer and the 13th largest property and casualty company. CNA’s insurance products include standard commercial lines, specialty lines, surety, marine and other property and casualty coverages. CNA’s services include risk management, information services, underwriting, risk control and claims administration. For more information, please visit CNA at www.cna.com. “CNA” is a service mark registered by CNA Financial Corporation with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Certain CNA Financial Corporation subsidiaries use the “CNA” service mark in connection with insurance underwriting and claims activities. Follow CNA on: Facebook | Twitter.

# # #

Contact

Patricia Lee

Public Relations Director,
Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA)
patl@fmanet.org
+1-815-227-8286

The 2013 Safety Award of Honor is presented to companies having perfect safety records – no recordable injuries or illnesses for calendar year 2012. One of this year’s honor winners, Main Steel Polishing Co., of Tinton Falls, N.J., has won for nine consecutive years.

Companies receiving the 2013 Safety Award of Honor are:

• Arrow Sheet Metal Products, Co., Denver, Colo.
• Main Steel Polishing Co., Inc. – (Three facilities – Tinton Falls, N.J., Atlanta, Ga., and Riverside, Calif.)
• Mech-Tronics, Melrose Park, Ill.
• Nisshin Automotive Tubing LLC, Versailles, Ky.
• Nova Group, Inc., Napa, Calif.
• Olympic Steel – (Two facilities – Gary, Ind. and Mt. Sterling, Ky.)
• Progressive Metal Manufacturing, Warren, Mich.
• Waukesha Metal Products, Grafton, Wis.

The 2013 Safety Award of Merit is presented to companies posting an injury and illness incidence rate for calendar year 2012 that is better than the published Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) rate by 10 percent or greater, based on their North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. Of the merit winners, ADM Mechanical, JMC Steel Chicago-Structural, Olympic Steel-Bedford Heights, Ohio, and Tampa Tank-Florida Structural Steel have each won a safety award for four consecutive years.

Companies receiving the 2013 Safety Award of Merit are:

• ADM Mechanical, Decatur, Ill.
• BTD Manufacturing, Detroit Lakes, Minn.
• Eberl Iron Works, Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.
• Feralloy Corporation, Huger, S.C.
• Formtek, Inc., Warrensville, Ohio
• Harco Metal Products, Valley Head, Ala.
• JMC Steel Group – (Nine facilities – Blytheville, Ark.; two locations in Thomasville, Ala.; two locations in Chicago, Ill.; Wheatland, Penn.; Harrow, Ont.; Niles, Ohio; and Plymouth, Mich.)
• Kastalon, Inc., Alsip, Ill.
• Main Steel Polishing Co., Inc., Harmony, Penn.
• McAlpin Industries, Rochester, N.Y.
• Olympic Steel – (Two facilities – Bedford Heights, Ohio and Detroit, Mich.)
• Overton Industries, Mooresville, Ind.
• Steel Warehouse – (Two facilities – Cleveland, Ohio and Memphis, Tenn.)
• Tampa Tank, Inc.-Florida Structural Steel, Tampa, Fla.
• The Dupps Company, Germantown, Ohio
• VALTIMET, Inc., Morristown, Tenn.
• Welfab, Inc., No. Billerica, Mass.

The 2013 Safety Award – Honorable Mention is presented to companies posting an injury and illness incidence rate for calendar year 2012 that is at least equal to but less than 10 percent better than the published Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) rate based on their North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. Of the honorable mention winners, Anderson & Dahlen, Inc. has won a safety award for seven consecutive years, and GH Metal Solutions, Inc. has won a safety award for four consecutive years.

Companies receiving the 2013 Safety Award – Honorable Mention are:

• Anderson & Dahlen, Inc., Ramsey, Minn.
• GH Metal Solutions, Inc., Fort Payne, Ala.
• JMC Steel Group – (Two facilities – Cambridge, Ohio and Wheatland, Penn.)
• River Steel, Inc., West Salem, Wis.
• Southeastern Metal Products, LLC, Charlotte, N. C.
• Tube Hollows, International, Windham, Maine
• Timesavers, Inc., Maple Grove, Minn.

The 2013 Most Improved Safety Record was awarded to Timesavers, Inc., Maple Grove, Minn. for being the Safety Awards winner with the greatest percentage of improvement over the prior year.

“On behalf of the FMA, I congratulate the 2013 FMA/CNA Safety Award Winners,” said Edward Youdell, president and CEO of FMA. “This group of companies has distinguished themselves as best-in-class organizations that value delivering quality products through safe work practices. FMA, along with its business insurance provider CNA, are proud to recognize these manufacturers for their commitment to safety. “

To be eligible to receive recognition, companies were required to submit OSHA Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, for the period Jan. 1, 2012 through Dec. 31, 2012. Firms of all sizes were eligible. Winners were determined based on NAICS code categories and BLS injury and illness incidence rates.

The awards will be presented at a recognition dinner at the Annual FMA Safety Conference, which will be held April 24-25 in Nashville, Tenn. at the Sheraton Music City Hotel. For more information on the awards program, the Safety Conference, or FMA membership, please visit fmanet.org or call 888-394-4362.

About FMA
Based in Rockford, Ill., FMA is a professional organization with nearly 2,300 members working together to improve the metal fabricating and forming industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and the FABTECH® trade show. FMA also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, International (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating; and Green Manufacturer Network, a professional organization of individual members dedicated to working toward environmentally-friendly manufacturing.

About CNA
Serving businesses and professionals since 1897, CNA is the country’s seventh largest commercial insurance writer and the 13th largest property and casualty company. CNA’s insurance products include standard commercial lines, specialty lines, surety, marine and other property and casualty coverage. CNA’s services include risk management, information services, underwriting, risk control and claims administration.  For more information, please visit CNA at www.cna.com. “CNA” is a service mark registered by CNA Financial Corporation with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Certain CNA Financial Corporation subsidiaries use the “CNA” service mark in connection with insurance underwriting and claims activities. Follow CNA on: Facebook | Twitter.

###

Contact

Patricia Lee

Public Relations Director,
Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA)
patl@fmanet.org
+1-815-227-8286

“The primary goal of FMA is to help its member companies navigate and resolve their most vexing problems; for several years the skilled labor shortage has been at the top of this list and we anticipate the challenge to continue as more Baby Boomers retire”, said Jim Warren, senior director of Member Services, Education and Foundation at FMA. “Kelly Services has a long history of serving the manufacturing sector. With offices located throughout North America, and the world, Kelly can tap into their network to identify the right employees for specific manufacturing situations. We’re pleased to offer our members this preferred talent program.”

“The partnership with FMA helps to bridge the gap between the demand for skilled production talent and the supply of candidates,” said Gabrielle Caputo, Manufacturing Product Manager for Kelly Services. “Kelly can provide small and midsized manufacturers with access to national talent search resources.”

For information on membership in FMA and full details on the new Kelly Services affinity partner program, log on to www.fmanet.org/kelly or call 888-394-4362.

About FMA
Based in Rockford, Ill., FMA is a professional organization with nearly 2,500 members working together to improve the metal processing, forming, and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and the FABTECH® tradeshow. FMA also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, Intl. (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating; and Green Manufacturer Network, a professional organization of individual members dedicated to working toward environmentally friendly manufacturing.

About Kelly Services
Kelly Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB) is a leader in providing workforce solutions. Kelly® offers a comprehensive array of outsourcing and consulting services as well as world-class staffing on a temporary, temporary-to-hire, and direct-hire basis.  Serving clients around the globe, Kelly provides employment to more than 560,000 employees annually. Revenue in 2012 was $5.5 billion.  Visit kellyservices.com, kellyservices.us/fma/ and download The Talent Project, a free iPad® app by Kelly Services.

Connect with Kelly Services: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube

iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

###

Contact

Patricia Lee

Public Relations Director,
Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA)
patl@fmanet.org
+1-815-227-8286

ROCKFORD, Ill., Feb.18, 2013 – A&E Custom Manufacturing, a sheet metal fabricator based in Kansas City, Kan., has received The FABRICATOR’s Industry Award 2013, presented by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Intl. (FMA). The FMA award is bestowed upon an individual or company within the metal forming and fabricating industry that has successfully improved operations, attained business success, and contributed to both the local and industry communities.

The FABRICATOR’s Industry Award 2013 will be presented to A&E in a ceremony during The FABRICATOR’s Leadership Summit, which begins Feb. 27 at the Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort in Palm Harbor (Tampa), Fla.

“This award recognizes those individual leaders and companies who consistently optimize business practices, promote manufacturing in their communities, and exemplify success in daily operations,” said Edward Youdell, president and CEO of FMA. “A&E isn’t waiting for someone else to solve the skilled labor shortage that is keeping many companies from growing. It has taken on the responsibility of assuring its incumbent workforce is highly skilled and that it can add new staff with the right skills by implementing an in-house training program that turns new hires into productive team members with the opportunity for advancement.”

Kansas City based A&E Custom Manufacturing began as a tool-and-die shop in 1959, developed metal stamping capabilities in the 1980’s and expanded into sheet metal fabrication in 2001. It is an established supplier to the transportation industries and manufactures construction, military, medical and food processing equipment as well.  With nearly 50,000 operational square feet and 72 employees, A&E’s success is based in its focus on skilled workforce and its implementation of automation for cost-competitiveness in a worldwide market.

Customer satisfaction is another factor in the company’s growth and profitability. They’ve been tracking customer satisfaction levels annually since 2007 with an anonymous survey and utilizing feedback to drive their service improvement initiatives.

As the winner, one company representative and one guest receive complimentary registration, travel, and hotel accommodations to The FABRICATOR’s Leadership Summit.

A&E Custom Manufacturing also will be featured on the cover and as the cover story in the February 2013 issue of The FABRICATOR, North America’s leading magazine for the metal forming and fabricating industry.

“The people at A&E Custom Manufacturing are doing the right things.  They focus on automation, they invest according to need, they lead the company with solid business metrics, and they promote people and processes such as cross-training,” said David Brambert, group publisher of FMA Communications.  “They are following a logical path toward success that is not mysterious – it’s easy to understand, but difficult to do.  Congratulations to the management and staff.”

Based in Rockford, Ill., FMA is a professional organization with nearly 2,300 members working together to improve the metal processing, forming, and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and the FABTECH® tradeshow. FMA also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, Intl. (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating; and Green Manufacturer Network, a professional organization of individual members dedicated to working toward environmentally-friendly manufacturing.

# # #

Contact

Patricia Lee

Public Relations Director,
Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA)
patl@fmanet.org
+1-815-227-8286

ROCKFORD, Ill., Feb.18, 2013  – Independence Tube Corporation’s Decatur, Ala. location was nearly demolished by an EF5 tornado on April 27, 2011, but only 12 months later the rebuilt facility was open and ready for business – no small accomplishment considering the fact that the storm destroyed 385,000 square feet of the plant’s 435,000 square foot facility. The resilience and recovery plan demonstrated by the staff of this company earned them the TPJ Industry Award 2013 presented by TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal® and sponsored by the Tube & Pipe Association Intl. (TPA). The TPA award is bestowed upon an individual or company within the tube and pipe fabricating and producing industry that has successfully improved operations, attained business success, and contributed to both the local and industry communities.

The TPJ Industry Award 2013 will be presented to Independence Tube in a ceremony during The FABRICATOR’s Leadership Summit, which begins Feb. 27 at the Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort in Palm Harbor (Tampa), Fla.

“This award recognizes those individual leaders and companies who consistently optimize business practices, promote manufacturing in their communities, and exemplify success in daily operations,” said Edward Youdell, president and CEO of FMA. “No company can expect to have a disaster of this magnitude strike its facility, but every company should have a well designed recovery plan in place just in case a natural disaster hits.  The way this company developed a recovery team and executed a plan that focused on the facility, its employees and the needs of its customers was truly exemplary.”

As the winner, one company representative and one guest receive complimentary registration, travel, and hotel accommodations to The FABRICATOR’s Leadership Summit.

Independence Tube also will be featured as the cover story of the February 2013 issue of TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal, an international trade journal for manufacturers that produce or use metal tube and pipe.

“The story of Independence Tube’s rise from the rubble of catastrophe is both inspiring and instructive,” said David Brambert, group publisher of FMA Communications Inc.  “The company’s management acted as we hope we would in similar circumstances – honestly, forthrightly and with lots of communication.  Their attention to their workers and customers during the rebuilding process really showed the company’s commitment to the people part of the business.”

Based in Rockford, Ill., FMA is a professional organization with nearly 2,300 members working together to improve the metal processing, forming, and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and the FABTECH® tradeshow. FMA also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, Intl. (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating; and Green Manufacturer Network, a professional organization of individual members dedicated to working toward environmentally friendly manufacturing.

# # #

Contact

Patricia Lee

Public Relations Director,
Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA)
patl@fmanet.org
+1-815-227-8286

ROCKFORD, ILL., Jan. 11, 2013 – Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® (NBT), The Foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA), announces the winners of its 2013 manufacturing camp grant awards.
Ten grants, ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 were awarded by NBT to community and technical colleges offering day camp experiences that introduce young people ages 12 to 18 to careers in manufacturing and engineering. Major sponsors of these camps are the CNA Foundation of Chicago, and San Francisco-based Corenet, Inc.

The 2013 grant winners (listed alphabetically by state) are:

• Northeast Alabama Community College, Rainsville, Ala.
• Chabot College, Hayward, Calif.
• Triton College, River Grove, Ill.
• Anoka Technical College, Anoka, Minn.
• Itawamba Community College, Tupelo, Miss.
• Manchester Community College, Manchester, N.H.
• Thomas Nelson Community College, Hampton, Va.
• Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wis. (3 programs)
• Moraine Park Technical College, West Bend, Wis. (Affiliate camp)

“There is a demand for highly-skilled professionals who can design, program, and operate technology, and we don’t see that demand subsiding for decades,” said Traci Tapani, NBT board chair and co-president of Wyoming Machine Inc., a metal fabrication services company in Stacy, Minn. “Creating a skilled manufacturing workforce is vital to the American economy, and it all starts with introducing young people to the career potential in this sector and providing an engaging hands-on experience. Inspiring youth to consider these trades will have a positive effect on graduation rates, increase the chance for them to earn a living wage, and create a more qualified workforce in the participating communities,” Tapani added.

“We’re making an investment in the manufacturing workforce.  We need to increase the pool of available, highly skilled workers to address the skilled labor crisis as Baby Boomers retire. These camps provide youth with the exposure to vocational and technical trades that no longer exist in most public education systems. Introducing youth to well-paying, high-tech manufacturing careers will definitely improve future prospects for our economy,” said Edward Youdell, president & CEO of FMA and NBT.

The camps target middle- and high school-aged youth, exposing them to math, science and engineering principles, and giving them opportunities to tour companies, work directly with technology, and design and manufacture a product to take home with them.

Supporting these camps with CAD/CAM student edition software donations is SolidWorks Corporation.

Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs: The Foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl., also issues scholarships to students attending community colleges and trade schools to pursue training leading to careers in manufacturing. More information on NBT is available by visiting www.NutsAndBoltsFoundation.org.

About FMA
Based in Rockford, Ill., FMA is a professional organization with nearly 2,500 members working together to improve the metal processing, forming, and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and the FABTECH® tradeshow. FMA also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, Intl. (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating; and Green Manufacturer Network, a professional organization of individual members dedicated to working toward environmentally friendly manufacturing.

About CNA
CNA is the 7th largest U.S. commercial insurer providing insurance protection to more than one million businesses and professionals around the world.  The CNA Foundation concentrates its support in programs designed to meet the education needs of children; assist and support children, youth and adults in developing vocational skills, and support economically disadvantaged children and families.

About Corenet, Inc.
CoreNet Global is the premier association for corporate real estate professionals. The northern California chapter of CoreNet supports the NBT camp program in the San Francisco Bay area.

About SolidWorks Corporation
SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systèmes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops and markets software for design, analysis, and product data management. It is the leading supplier of 3D CAD technology, providing intuitive, high-performing software that helps professionals design better products. Visit the company’s Web site at www.solidworks.com.

# # #

Contact

Patricia Lee

Public Relations Director,
Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA)
patl@fmanet.org
+1-815-227-8286

ROCKFORD, Ill., Jan. 18, 2013 – Ed Youdell, President and CEO of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International today received the annual CMA Leadership Award from the Council of Manufacturing Associations of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). The award recognized Youdell’s leadership in creating the concept of a national Manufacturing Day and bringing together other industry-leading organizations including NAM, The Manufacturing Institute, and the U.S. Commerce Department’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to collaborate as co-producers.

The Leadership Award was unveiled by the CMA Board of Directors in 2001 and is given annually to the association chief staff officer who has done the most to further the CMA’s mission. The recipient is selected by the Chairman of the Council and is honored at the annual Winter Leadership Conference, held this year in Annapolis, Md.

“I am humbled that an idea which started as what seemed like a bit of a pipe dream about how to bolster the image of manufacturing in America and draw attention to its great career opportunities led to this recognition,” said Youdell. “The event will continue to grow and prosper because of the dozens of organizations that now support it and the hundreds of participating companies.”  Manufacturing Day 2013 is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 4. More information is available at mfgday.com.

Youdell was also elected to a three year term on the CMA Board of Directors at today’s conference.

Based in Rockford, Ill., FMA is a professional organization with nearly 2,500 members working together to improve the metal processing, forming, and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and the FABTECH® tradeshow. FMA publishes seven industry magazines and also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, Intl. (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating; and Green Manufacturer Network, a professional organization of individual members dedicated to working toward environmentally-friendly manufacturing.

###

Contact

Patricia Lee

Public Relations Director,
Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA)
patl@fmanet.org
+1-815-227-8286

ROCKFORD, Ill., November 13, 2012 – Rick Hargrove, vice president, steel processing, of American Strip Steel/Marino Ware, Pasadena, Texas; Carlos Mendizabal-Perez, vice president, Industrias Selbor SA de CV, San Luis Potosi, Mexico; Ed Severson, district manager, SB Specialty Metals, Minneapolis, Minn; and Gregg Simpson, president, Ohio Laser, LLC, Plain City, Ohio, were elected to the board of directors of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) at the group’s recent annual meeting.  All will serve three-year terms on the 18-member board.

Current board member Burke Doar, vice president, sales & marketing, TRUMPF Inc., of Farmington, Conn., was elected chairman. Doar became active on the FMA board in 2005.

In addition to Doar, the slate of board officers for 2012-2013 includes: Carlos Rodriguez-Borjas, president & COO, Feralloy Corp., Chicago, Ill., as 1st vice chairman; Edwin Stanley, vice president, GH Metal Solutions, Fort Payne, Ala., as 2nd vice chairman; and Al Zelt, director, sales & marketing, ASKO, Inc., Homestead, Pa., as secretary/treasurer.

Based in Rockford, Ill., FMA is a professional organization with nearly 2,500 members working together to improve the metal processing, forming, and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and the FABTECH^® tradeshow. FMA also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, Intl. (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating; and Green Manufacturer Network, a professional organization of individual members dedicated to working toward environmentally friendly manufacturing.

Visit www.fmanet.org and www.greenmanufacturer.net for more information.

# # #

Contact

Patricia Lee

Public Relations Director,
Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA)
patl@fmanet.org
+1-815-227-8286

Factory Tours Urged to Raise Awareness of Skilled Career Options

ROCKFORD, Ill., June 26, 2012 – To highlight the importance of manufacturing to the nation’s economy and draw attention to the many rewarding high-skill jobs available in manufacturing fields, a group of public and private organizations announced today the launch of Manufacturing Day for Oct. 5, 2012.

The effort is sponsored by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), the U.S. Commerce Department’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), Wisconsin MEP (WMEP) and Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center (IMEC). MEP is part of DOC’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The sponsors invite additional associations and organizations supporting the manufacturing industry to join the program. Through open houses, public tours, career workshops and other events held at participating facilities on Oct. 5, the sponsors hope to introduce as many people as possible to the important role played by manufacturing both in local communities and for the nation. The grassroots events will also introduce manufacturers to business improvement resources and services delivered through the MEP’s network of more than 400 affiliated centers across the country.

Studies by the nonprofit Manufacturing Institute and others show that almost 80 percent of Americans believe manufacturing is important to our economic prosperity, standard of living and national security. Yet only 30 percent would encourage their children to go into manufacturing as a career.

With the gap growing each year between the skills students learn in school and those they will need on the job, it is increasingly difficult for manufacturers to find and hire qualified employees. By promoting Manufacturing Day, manufacturing associations and other organizations led by NIST MEP centers and the FMA said they want to remove some of the myths surrounding manufacturing. For example, manufacturing is a solid, long-term career choice for qualified candidates—including the young people who will form the workforce of tomorrow, and it is a vital part of our economy.

“Manufacturing Day will be the ‘coming out party’ for U.S. manufacturers all across the nation,” said Ed Youdell, president and CEO of the FMA. “October 5th is dedicated to celebrating the great work and innovation of the 12 million men and women who make the United States the world’s largest manufacturing economy. FMA and MEP centers are encouraging their members and manufacturers to open their doors to their local school kids, community college students, press, and job seekers so that they can see firsthand the safe, high-tech and innovative work environments that await the best and brightest who pursue careers in manufacturing.”

“Manufacturing is a crucial part of the national economy,” said Buckley Brinkman, executive director and CEO of the WMEP. “It drives value creation, innovation and employment throughout the country, and we want to show our communities the opportunities available in manufacturing today. Our future depends on our ability to strengthen and advance this vital sector and Manufacturing Day can accelerate that process.”

“We hope that every manufacturing organization—local, regional and national—will encourage its members to embrace the concept of Manufacturing Day and conduct an open house for the community,” said Dave Barber, chairman of the FMA board of directors and president of The Wilmington Grill Company in Wilmington, N.C. “And, we hope the organizations themselves will encourage the media to report on these events so that thousands of people will visit local manufacturers and learn what really goes on in America’s industrial parks. It is particularly important that educators and parents avail themselves of this unprecedented opportunity to visit local employers with children—particularly those in middle school and junior high—to introduce them to the career opportunities that exist for those who are prepared with appropriate science and math skills.”

“Setting aside October 5th as Manufacturing Day to promote the gains we’ve seen in manufacturing is a great initiative,” said Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH), co-chair of the House Manufacturing Caucus. “The Fabricators and Manufacturers Association and the National Institute of Standards and Technology are playing no small part in the resurgence of manufacturing—and I commend them for their hard work.”

“As co-founder of the House Manufacturing Caucus, I have long championed the need to maintain our competitive edge in all manufacturing industries,” said Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL). I encourage all manufacturers to reach out and invite their members of congress to visit their facility on Oct. 5th for a tour and a chance to meet their constituents.  Manufacturing Day is a great opportunity to do this.”

To learn more about Manufacturing Day, log on to www.mfgday.com or call 888-394-4362. Organizations that wish to become involved as official sponsors of this program should call 888-394-4362 or email info@mfgday.com.

About the FMA
Based in Rockford, Ill., FMA is a professional organization with nearly 2,500 members working together to improve the metal processing, forming and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events and the FABTECH® tradeshow. FMA also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, Intl. (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating; and Green Manufacturer Network, a professional organization of individual members dedicated to working toward environmentally friendly manufacturing. Learn more at www.fmanet.org.

About NIST MEP
Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) is a public/private partnership that works with small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to help them create and retain jobs, increase profits, save time and money, develop new customers, and expand into new markets. Founded in 1988, the nationwide network provides a variety of services, from innovation strategies to process improvements to green manufacturing. MEP field staff includes more than 1,400 technical experts located in every state. For every dollar of federal investment, the MEP generates around $30 in new sales growth ($3.6 billion in new sales annually). For every $1,570 of federal investment, MEP creates or retains one manufacturing job. Visit www.nist.gov/mep or call 1-800-MEP-4MFG for more information.

About the IMEC
IMEC was established in 1996 to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Illinois’ small and mid-sized manufacturing firms. A nonprofit economic development organization, IMEC is funded in part by NIST MEP and by fees for services paid by Illinois manufacturers. Experienced staff based at 11 office locations throughout Illinois provide hands-on technical assistance and consulting services to help manufacturers innovate, contain manufacturing costs, streamline processes, and increase profits.

About the WMEP

The WMEP is a private, nonprofit organization committed to the growth and success of Wisconsin manufacturers. Since 1996, WMEP has helped to generate more than $1.8 billion in economic impact and create and save more than 14,000 state manufacturing jobs, according to results documented by customers. WMEP receives financial support from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and NIST MEP. The WMEP also partners with many public and private organizations to serve Wisconsin manufacturers.

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For more information contact:

Patricia Lee, Director of Marketing
Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Intl.
(815) 227-8286 • patl@fmanet.org

Jennifer Huergo, Director of Media Relations
National Institute of Standards and Technology
(301) 975-6343 • jennifer.huergo@nist.gov

ROCKFORD, Ill., May 5, 2012 – According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 250 million tons of waste is created each year in the United States, and more than half ends up in a landfill.

Manufacturing executives can learn how to help reverse this trend and make their company’s operations more sustainable, eco-friendly and profitable by attending the Green Manufacturer Network’s Zero-Waste-to-Landfill Workshop June 12 in Portland, Ore.

“Results show implementing zero waste can yield significant cost savings, increased competitiveness and reduced environmental impacts,” said Kate Bachman, editor of Green Manufacturer magazine. “This interactive event will provide the resources needed to either begin the zero-waste-to-landfill journey or improve upon an already robust waste management program.”

Attendees will tour Purdy Professional Painting Tools to see a zero-waste-to-landfill program in action. Purdy, a division of Sherwin-Williams, manufactures high-quality paint brushes and roller covers. The facility in Portland, Ore. supplies brushes to all 50 states in the U.S. as well as the U.K., Australia, and Iceland. In 2009, the Purdy plant became the first Sherwin Williams facility to achieve Zero-Waste-to-Landfill status. Employee engagement and involvement have been key in this achievement and are reasons why Purdy has maintained its status as Zero-Waste-to-Landfill to date. The plant was recently awarded the 2012 City of Portland BEST award for its sustainability practices.

The remainder of the workshop will be held at Portland’s LEED® Gold Certified Ecotrust building. Additional presentations and discussions with industry experts will provide insight on approaches manufacturers can implement to achieve Zero-Waste-to-Landfill.
Cost to attend the event is $295. Green Manufacturer Network members can attend for $195. Registration is available via phone at 888-394-4362 or http://www.greenmanufacturer.net/event/zero-waste-workshop-oregon.

About FMA & Green Manufacturer Network
Based in Rockford, Ill., the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA) is a professional organization with members working together to improve the metal forming and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and industry trade publications. Green Manufacturer Network (GMN), is a technology affiliate of the FMA. The mission of the GMN is to be the principal resource to advance sustainable manufacturing.

FMA Communications, Inc., the publishing affiliate of FMA, produces Green Manufacturer magazine, a bimonthly publication delivered to 55,000 manufacturing professionals that covers the process applications, products, and opportunities that manufacturers need to know about in order to run an effective green operation.

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Contact

Patricia Lee

Public Relations Director,
Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International (FMA)
patl@fmanet.org
+1-815-227-8286