The largest public engagement initiative in AEM’s 130-year-history is just getting started.
Following a successful launch in Iowa earlier this month, the AEM Manufacturing Express continued on to the great state of Minnesota this week for stops at member companies Condux Tesmec, Jarraff Industries, The Toro Company, and Rotochopper. Hundreds of manufacturing employees and family members joined for the events, engaged with one another, and celebrated the 2.3 million men and women who make the products that help build, power, and feed the world.
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 during the next four months. Along the way, AEM will tell the story of equipment manufacturing and the people behind it, as well as convey the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
Mankato, Minnesota-based Condux Tesmec celebrated its brand-new distribution facility by welcoming the AEM Manufacturing Express for a stop on Monday. Company officials highlighted how Condux Tesmac has grown into a leader in the production and distribution of line-stringing equipment: a safer, more efficient solution to grow the nation’s electric grid, as well as a provider of family-sustaining jobs in the Mankato area. “Manufacturing is a great place to have a career... I’ve been doing it for over 25 years. It’s kind of like a start and finish. You see the product in the beginning, you see it to the end, and then you see it being utilized in everyday life,” said Condux Tesmac employee Dick Courrier, a veteran of the industry who has worked in manufacturing for the last 25 years.
On Tuesday, the AEM Manufacturing Express rolled into St. Peter, Minnesota, to spend an afternoon with tree trimmer manufacturer Jarraff Industries. More than 80 employees joined St. Peter City Administrator Todd Prafke to celebrate the engineering, research and development, welding, fabrication, painting and assembling that take place across Jarraff's 17-acre campus. “It’s not about what you build. It’s about building community,” said Prafke, who applauded Jarraff for establishing itself as a cornerstone of the community and putting down roots in the local community. Check out some of the notable highlights from the visit to Jarraff Industries in the gallery below:
Wednesday brought the AEM Manufacturing Express to Bloomington, Minnesota, for a special celebration of The Toro Company’s 110-year anniversary. The event featured remarks from TTC Chairman and CEO Rick Olson, AEM President Megan Tanel, Bloomington Mayor Tim Busse, TTC Group Vice President, Underground and Specialty Construction Pete Moeller, and company VP of Kevin Carpenter, who commemorated The Toro Company’s storied history and continued growth into a global provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment (including turf/landscape management, underground utility construction, specialty construction rentals, and irrigation). Check out the video below for highlights from the AEM Manufacturing Express’ stop at The Toro Company:
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks for the AEM Manufacturing Express. Today brings a visit to St. Martin, Minnesota, and Rotochopper, a manufacturer of innovative waste grinding equipment. On Monday, the tour rolls on in Minnesota with visits scheduled at Custom Products of Litchfield (Litchfield), Felling Trailers (Sauk Centre), Superior Industries (Morris), Stepp Manufacturing (North Branch) and ATS (St. Cloud).
Stay up to date on all things related to the AEM Manufacturing Express by visiting www.manufacturingexpress.org.
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