When it comes to polymer-based products, Plastic Molding Manufacturing (PMM) of Hudson, Massachusetts is the go-to manufacturer. Throughout its fifty-year history, the company has aided in the design and production of its clients’ molds, reducing costs and incorporating the latest in technology. Chief Executive Officer George E. Danis takes great pride in his company’s products being American-made.

Automotive safety materials manufacturer Coastal Automotive is branching out to expand its applications in the automotive industry to include non-automotive opportunities. We had the opportunity to speak with Director of New Product Development Hazen Sills and Product Marketing Manager Ryan Simmons.

In the world of belt conveyors and seed handling, one company has made strides that no other has. KSi Conveyors, Inc. of Sabetha, Kansas, has applied a special group of employees, coupled with research and development knowhow, to conceive of and develop a patented cleat belt technology that outperforms conventional augers and conveyors and ensures greater efficiency. We spoke with Chief Executive Officer Paul Kaeb and Marketing Director Rick Smith to find out more.

Since 1965, Swiss Automation has been a supplier of precision turned components, and its work has been rewarded with contracts that extend to the aerospace, defense, medical device, firearms, and hydraulics markets. We spoke with National Sales Director Tom Irvin to find out more.

To remain competitive in a global market, you need to offer value and service. HE&M Saw of Pryor, Oklahoma does just that. We spoke with Chief Engineer Maxwell Harris about competition from overseas, the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) on the industry, and what it means to be family-run and owned.

When Telos Global began in 2016, no one could have foreseen its rapid rise to success. Growth has been steady, with no signs of abatement. Using leading-edge technology, the company looks to the future for more business opportunities in the automotive industry. We spoke with the company’s Engineering Manager Garrett Melton about the consulting side of the business and growth prospects.

A lack of skills training has been an issue for decades but is fast approaching a crisis worldwide. High schools have been reducing or eliminating shop classes for years; experienced workers of the baby boomer generation are retiring, and guidance councillors have long discouraged students from entering the manufacturing sector in favour of white-collar careers.

Many industries rely on band saw blades to cut wood and metal in order to manufacture various products, and WIKUS-Sägenfabrik, Wilhelm H. Kullmann GmbH & Co. KG, with its headquarters in Spangenberg Germany, has been producing top-of-the-line band saws for over sixty years. Wikus is a recognized leader in the area and the largest band saw blade manufacturer in Europe. We spoke with the U.S. organization Chief Executive Officer, Georgi Jossifov, to get the full story

Hailing from Newmarket, Ontario with offices throughout Ontario, Quebec, and the U.S., rubber compounding corporation AirBoss is one of the biggest and best in the business. Innovation carries the company forward as one of the premier composite manufacturers in the industry, and growth continues to be fuelled by product diversification and new ideas. We spoke with Vice President of Corporate Supply Chain Ed Kiell to find out more.

In May of 2016, Business in Focus wrote about CLIMAX Portable and Machining Welding Systems. At the time, it was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. There has since been a lot of progress, and once again, we had the pleasure of speaking with the Corporate Vice President of Sales and Marketing Dave Baker and President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Cunningham.

The global market is fraught with barriers to economic success. Cheap labour overseas can make manufacturing a difficult endeavour. Tie-down strap producer Erickson Manufacturing has struggled due to imports from China but found a way to embrace the situation and thrive. We spoke with President Brent Erickson and Marketing Director Tyler Daly about the current state of the industry and what projections there are for its future.

It was only a year ago that we spoke with Vice President and General Manager Arie Bregman, but a lot has taken place since. Tariffs are being imposed on the industry, and the move to automation is gathering strength.

Packaging is a crucial element of how products are perceived. It is something we commonly take for granted, but there is an art form to packaging…

Business in Focus magazine wrote about Swiss Automation, a leader in precision machining back in August of 2017. Demand has since increased and with it a renewed sense of urgency to train skilled laborers. The internal apprenticeship program is helping in that regard. Diversification is a part of this company’s history and will continue going forward. We spoke with Vice President Vanessa Malo-Kurzinski about this and the new building addition to the Barrington, Illinois facility that will increase efficiencies.

ASC Machine Tools of Spokane Valley, Washington, is a vertically-integrated machinery design and manufacturing company with a diverse product range that designs and builds equipment that is used to manufacture products you use every day. I spoke with Thomas Schwarzer, its marketing manager.

Fourstar Connections of Hudson, Massachusetts is a connections solution provider for manufacturing companies and much more. What started as a cable assembly shop grew into an innovative entity that helped technology companies reduce the time to market and enhance product performance. We spoke with President Phillip Holman about the business and its future enterprises.

Cole-Parmer is a leading source of laboratory and industrial fluid handling products, instrumentation, equipment and supplies. This is an industry where being exact is of crucial importance as demonstrated by the critical needs of the company’s customer in fields such as pharmaceuticals, academic research, and industrial process. New advancements in technology will always fuel it to exceed. We spoke with Joy Bennett of the marketing department and Michelle Joly, a technical service representative, to learn more.

For fifty years, Chief Buildings has been designing and manufacturing metal building solutions for a multitude of construction applications.