The goal of the AEM Manufacturing Express tour is simple: Tell the story of the people, organizations, and programs driving equipment manufacturing forward.
Nearly four weeks into AEM’s biggest public engagement initiative ever, AEM has done exactly that. As it has made its way across Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota to meet with member companies at their respective facilities, the AEM Manufacturing Express has worked to showcase the impact of the industry and highlight the people behind the products that build, power, and feed the world. Over the past several days, the AEM Manufacturing Express concluded a successful two-week run in Minnesota with stops at Superior Industries, Stepp Manufacturing, and ATS, before moving on to North Dakota to spend a day with Terex Utilities, Dakota Bodies, and Crenlo Engineered Cabs.
The AEM Manufacturing Express will cover 20 states and make stops at more than 80 equipment manufacturing communities in the Midwest, South, Mid-Atlantic, and states around the Great Lakes throughout the remainder of this summer and into the fall. Along the way, AEM will share the uniquely important story of equipment manufacturing and the workforce behind it, as well as convey the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today. Stay up to date on all things AEM Manufacturing Express by visiting www.manufacturingexpress.org.
Morris, Minnesota-based Superior Industries brought more than 200 employees together to celebrate the arrival of the AEM Manufacturing Express last Thursday. The group enjoyed prizes, games, and food, while showcasing the company’s commitment to innovation and a strong organizational culture. With more than 1,000 employees across 22 locations, Superior continues to grow and develop into a leader in the manufacturing of portable crushing, washing, and conveying equipment for the mining industry, all while continuing to maintain its status as a tight-knit organization. “When I first got hired, I thought it might be a two-or-three-year job. But on my first day, I fell in love with the culture of the business, and that was 20-and-a-half years ago,” said longtime Superior employee Brad Olhoft. Check out some of the notable highlights from the visit to Superior Industries in the gallery below:
To close out last week in Minnesota, the AEM Manufacturing Express continued on to Stepp Manufacturing in North Branch and Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) in St. Cloud. At ATS, more than 170 company employees spent a good part of their Friday afternoon celebrated the company’s long-standing reputation as a trusted freight logistics company. “I don’t know if people realize the enormous impact trucking makes on our day-to-day lives. If trucking stopped, our shelves would be empty, our ATMs would be empty, we’d be completely out of water. What we do every day, it’s rewarding,” said ATS revenue enablement manager Megan Miller.
Monday of this week saw the kickoff of the South Dakota leg of the AEM Manufacturing Express tour at Terex Utilities’ state-of-the-art facility in Watertown. The manufacturer of bucket trucks, digger derricks, and auger components welcomed event staff to town with an impressive sight: a massive American flag suspended from a pair of Terex aerial bucket trucks alongside a crowd of more than 400 employees on-site to share in the excitement of the day: Terex’s investment in a brand-new 450,000-square-foot facility in Watertown, and an expansion of the company’s nearby Huron plant. Taken together, these completed projects reflect a steadfast commitment on the part of Terex to take its already successful Utilities division to even greater heights.
Later on this past Monday, the AEM Manufacturing Express made its way to Dakota Bodies’ production facility in Watertown to visit with 150 company employees, as well as State Sen. Lee Schoenbeck (R-SD) and State Rep. Hugh Bartels (R-SD). The company has grown from a local shop into a nationwide provider of custom-designed and engineered utility and service truck bodies. “At Dakota Bodies, custom is our standard,” explained Alan Stager, the company’s general manager.
Finally, Tuesday marked the third and final day spent in Watertown, with the AEM Manufacturing Express joining nearly 200 manufacturing workers at Crenlo Engineered Facilities. The company’s concerted focus on quality has helped it become a trusted supplier of cabs for major OEMs such as John Deere, Caterpillar, and CNH Industrial. “We’ve succeeded because there’s so much we’re able to do. So, when they ask if we can do it, the answer is almost always yes,” said Crenlo lead manufacturing manager Jessica Pickrel. Check out a quick video of AEM’s Chris Hansell at the Crenlo Engineered Cabs event:
As Week 4 of the AEM Manufacturing Express winds down, the tour made its way to Yankton, South Dakota, for a visit with Kolberg-Pioneer (ASTEC), and then on to Blair, Nebraska to see ASTEC CON-E-CO. For more information and to follow along with the tour, visit www.manufacturingexpress.org.
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