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What Manufacturing Day Means for the Plastics Industry
Companies large and small will showcase modern plastics manufacturing and trumpet career opportunities on Oct. 7.
Geoff Giordano
October 4, 2022
4 Min Read
Image courtesy of Alamy/Quality Stock
The plastics industry is showing up in a big way for Manufacturing Day 2022 on Friday, Oct. 7, with dozens of companies and the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) geared up to drive home the importance of plastics as a manufacturing force and leader in sustainability initiatives.
Manufacturing Day “is the manufacturing industry’s biggest annual event to inspire the next generation to start careers in modern manufacturing through a series of focused events to promote manufacturing to students and parents,” explained David O’Brien, Vice President of Strategic Communications for the National Association of Manufacturers. “It is the one day every year on which the entire industry comes together and speaks with one voice.”
The manufacturing showcase comprises events small and large, coast to coast. More than 420 events are planned, O’Brien said. Included among those are:
Xcentric Mold and Engineering (Clinton Township, MI) will hold a plant tour on Oct. 8 to show off quick-turn part prototyping and provide an in-depth look at the technology that powers today’s innovative machines — including the company’s proprietary software, which trims days off the span from design to part production. Actual parts will be produced and packaged on site.
Hoffer Plastics Corp. (South Elgin, IL) will participate in its 12th consecutive Manufacturing Day since the event’s inception in 2011. The custom injection molding company plans a monthlong celebration, which includes Hoffer experts speaking with members of the media to showcase the plastics industry’s growth and opportunities.
Industrial Heater Corp./Hi Tech Fabricating (Cheshire, CT) will open its facility to the public, said Vice President Tom McGwire, “but as we are an ITAR facility, this is limited to American citizens. We've done this every year since 2015. We show visitors the products we make and the equipment we use. We want to showcase the technology used in manufacturing today to show that there are exciting careers at our company and in our industry. We want to impress how important manufacturing is and how critical it is that we promote and grow it in our country. The supply chain issues during and after COVID are a good recent example.”
Advanced Blending Solutions (ABS; Wallace, MI) held an event on Sept. 22 that was open to the public. Community members from several local counties came for tours, demos, and on-site interviews, said Marketing Manager Chloe Linsmeier. “This was our first Manufacturing Day event. We had over 80 attendees this year and set a goal to exceed 100 next year. We wanted attendees to get a better idea of who ABS is and what opportunities are here in our community.”
The STEM Careers Coalition, a national STEM initiative powered by corporate leaders and anchored in schools by Discovery Education, will offer three curated resources: Manufacturing-focused career profiles will showcase manufacturing professionals using the skills they learned in school to become problem solvers; hands-on at-home learning activities will help students take STEM skills from theory to practice in areas like food packaging and precision design; and classroom activities accessible at no cost that feature STEM skills.
The US plastics industry accounted for nearly a million jobs and $468 billion in shipments in 2021, according to PLASTICS data. Furthermore, the plastic products portion of the plastics industry was the sixth-largest US industry in 2020, according to the organization’s 2022 Industry Size and Impact report.
“The members of the plastics industry are proud of the innovative work we are doing on a daily basis to improve people’s lives while maintaining a low environmental footprint,” said Ashley Hood-Morley, Vice President, Industry Engagement, at PLASTICS. “Manufacturing Day is a wonderful opportunity to underscore that fact and invite both current job seekers and young people planning their futures to be part of it all. As we continue to grow, and the workforce turns over, we will need more people who have the skills and the passion to make things.”
PLASTICS members “open their doors, in the spirit of Manufacturing Day, to show their communities the accomplishments and opportunities that modern plastics manufacturing represents,” Hood-Morley added. “As students are considering their future employment opportunities, we encourage those who have a passion for working in highly technical and innovative spaces to make things better to consider a career in plastics.”
Find a Manufacturing Day event near you.
These plastics-related companies have announced their participation in Manufacturing Day:
Accutrex Products Inc.
Advanced Blending Solutions
AGSS Automotive
AmeriChem Systems
ARCH Cutting Tools
Ascent Aerospace
AUTOKINITON
Avon Machining
BAE Systems
Baker Industries
Berg Tool Inc.
Best Tool & Engineering
Chicago Mold Engineering
CIE USA
Complete Prototype Services
Daiek Woodworks
Dana Inc.
Detroit Radiant Products
Diamond Envelope Corp.
Drake
DWM Holdings
Dynamics Group
Dynasty Fab
Eagle Flexible Packaging
Eckhart
Eifel Mold & Engineering
Elite Mold & Engineering
Fisher Dynamics
Fori Automotive
Futuramic Tool & Engineer
GKN Additive (Forecast 3D)
Greater Chicago Advanced
Hydraulex
JB Cutting Inc.
KUKA Robotics
L&L Products
Lanzen Inc.
Luckmarr Plastics
Maclean
Medbio
Milacron
Minco Tool and Mold Inc.
Models & Tools
Momentum
National Bronze MFG. Co.
Oakley Industries
PCS Company
PTI Engineered Plastics
RAVE Computer
RCO Engineering Inc
Rocktech Systems
Smith and Richardson
Stanley Engineered Fastenening
Synergy Additive
Synergy Prototype Inc.
Systematic Manufacturing
Tarus
TEMO Inc.
TK Mold & Engineering
TransNAV PVL
UHI Group
Valley Education
Valley Industrial Association
Weldaloy Specialty Forging
Xcentric Mold & Engineering
Zero Tolerance Inc.
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