2022 Raytheon Technologies Premier Supplier Award

Raytheon Technologies has recognized Major Tool and Machine with a Premier Award for performance in 2022 and overall excellence in Collaboration & Customer Service and Cost Competitiveness. The Premier Award is an annual recognition platform under the Raytheon Technologies Performance+ Program to recognize suppliers with superior performance and that have provided exceptional value to Raytheon Technologies in one of the four key categories: Cost Competitiveness, Technology & Innovation, Business Management, and Collaboration & Customer Service.

Nicole Wetzler
2023 Everyday Safety Hero Award, Josh Beckedahl

Josh Beckedahl, Team Leader at Major Tool, has been named a 2023 Everyday Safety Hero

On Wednesday, March 1st, we joined Josh Beckedahl, at the Governor’s Workplace Safety Awards Luncheon to celebrate this accomplishment.

Josh has, and continues to be, a role model leading the charge on safety for himself and his team. Not only does he make safety a top priority, he also prioritizes health excellence, frequently working out at our on-site fitness center, while encouraging his team to do the same. Josh’s ability to positively influence those around him is evident when you speak to any member of his team.

Here’s just a short comment from his nomination: “The pride Josh has in his employees is apparent; he believes they’re capable of anything, and that belief empowers them to strive for excellence daily.”.

We’re beyond proud to have Josh as a key player here at Major Tool, and we look forward to his continued growth and success.

Nicole Wetzler
Manufacturing Day at Major Tool and Machine

February 22-23, 2023 we reopened our doors to students and educators around Indiana, offering an inside look at the world of manufacturing. This event gave participants the opportunity to tour our 600K sq. ft. campus, engage with our team as well as 17 other local manufacturers and four higher education institutions, and to learn of the variety of career opportunities available in our industry.


Over these two days, we hosted 515 students, which represents 25 schools around Indiana and three homeschool participants, and 21 exhibitors. We received great feedback from all, so we’re looking forward to making next year’s event better.. and bigger! Check out our video from this event!

Nicole Wetzler
Indiana Chamber Announces Rankings for Inaugural Indiana’s Best Places to Work in Manufacturing

December 14, 2022 (INDIANAPOLIS) — At the first Best IN Manufacturing luncheon today, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce celebrated that thriving industry by honoring the makers that have risen to the top in the Coolest Thing Made in Indiana competition and Indiana’s Best Places to Work in Manufacturing program.

“The importance of Hoosier manufacturers cannot be overstated. They create the goods that sustain individuals and businesses all across the state. And the products make their way throughout the nation and around the world,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar.

The second Coolest Thing Made in Indiana contest wound up being a battle of Kosciusko County. In the end, online voters crowned Maple Leaf Farms – and its roast half duck – of Leesburg the champion and Polywood of Syracuse – the maker of a 12-piece pit sectional – the runner-up.

Founded in 1958, Maple Leaf Farms has grown to 900 employees and produces about 40% of the nation’s duck supply. The winning entry, the roast half duck, is a fully cooked dish that both saves chefs time and allows consumers to create a restaurant quality meal at home for their families, according to the company.

Joining Maple Leaf Farms and Polywood in the semifinals were Hiker Trailers in Columbus and Kidstuff Playsystems in Gary. Rounding out the top eight: Grinds Coffee Pouches in Westfield, Hard Truth Distilling Co. in Nashville, Hudson Aquatic Systems in Angola and Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions in Granger.

The field began with 54 makers that represented 43 Hoosier communities and a wide variety of products made – from racing tires to children’s car seats to wine and video notes – and even Batmobile replicas.

Brinegar reports the battles were often fierce, with thousands of votes cast in every round.

“Indiana is fortunate to be home to companies that grow and make all kinds of things,” he enthuses. “We are thrilled to recognize and bring attention to some of the state’s best and most innovative manufacturers. We especially congratulate Maple Leaf Farms on its well-deserved victory.”

Learn about all the companies in the tournament at www.indianachamber.com/coolestthing.

An online randomizer generated the initial Coolest Thing Made in Indiana matchups, with online voting determining the winners in each round. There was no entry fee to participate. A company did not need to be headquartered in Indiana, but the product submitted had to be manufactured in the state.

The inaugural Indiana’s Best Places to Work in Manufacturing program saw 14 companies recognized with Kalenborn Abresist Corporation of Urbana coming in at the very top. The Wabash County company develops and manufactures custom solutions for the protection of industrial facilities from wear and impact damage to ensure the proper flow of materials in the production process.

“Manufacturing workplaces must adhere to various safety and other regulations. Every company on the list not only is committed to those standards but goes above and beyond for its workers and is a leader in its community,” Brinegar offers.

“Kalenborn Abresist, in particular, showed how it values its employees and frequently recognized them and jobs well done.”

The 2022 Indiana Best Places to Work in Manufacturing companies range in Hoosier employee count from 39 to over 7,600. The list by ranking:

1. Kalenborn Abresist Corporation in Urbana
2. Nucor Steel Indiana in Crawfordsville
3. IBC Materials & Technologies LLC in Lebanon
4. Nix Companies in Poseyville
5. Nexxt Spine LLC in Noblesville
6. CrossPoint Polymer Technologies LLC in Evansville
7. Oliver Winery in Bloomington
8. Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions in Granger
9. Major Tool and Machine in Indianapolis
10. MCP USA, Inc. in Portage
11. SMC Corporation of America in Noblesville
12. Lippert in Elkhart
13. Functional Devices, Inc. in Sharpsville
14. Kelco Industries in Fremont

Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions pulled off a double – also being honored as a Coolest Thing Made in Indiana company quarterfinalist.

Recognized Best Places companies were determined through employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys. The Workforce Research Group handled the selection process.

Learn more about Indiana’s Best Places to Work in Manufacturing in the current issue of BizVoice magazine at www.bizvoicemagazine.com.

Best IN Manufacturing sponsors are spirit sponsor Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP); gold sponsor Gibson; and silver sponsors Evonik Corporation, Insperity, Nucor Steel Indiana, SMC Corporation of America and The Horton Group.

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The Indiana Chamber partners with 25,000 members and investors to achieve the mission of “cultivating a world-class environment which provides economic opportunity and prosperity.”

Nicole Wetzler
Major Tool voted a Best Place to Work in Manufacturing!

2022 Indiana Best Places to Work in Manufacturing

Major Tool and Machine was recently named as one of the Indiana Best Places to Work in Manufacturing. This program was created by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

 

The statewide survey and awards program is designed to evaluate participating organizations and honor those with the highest levels of employee satisfaction and engagement in the workplace. This year’s inaugural list is made up of fourteen companies.

 

“We have many tremendous employers in the state, so it’s great to see more and more companies take part in this effort to evaluate their workplace cultures and gain the recognition they deserve,” says Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar. “These companies consistently demonstrate to their employees how much they value their contributions.”

 

To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:

- Be a manufacturing operation;

- Be a for-profit, not-for-profit business or government organization;

- Be a publicly or privately held organization;

- Have a physical operation in Indiana;

- Have at least 15 full- or part-time permanent employees working in Indiana;

- Have been in business for at least one year, at the program registration deadline.

 

Companies from across the state entered the two-part survey process to determine the Indiana Best Places to Work in Manufacturing. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. This part of the process, the Employer Assessment, was worth approximately 20% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process, the Employee Feedback Survey, was worth approximately 80% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings. Workforce Research Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Indiana, analyzed the data, and determined the final rankings.

 

The final rankings will be announced at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, and then full list will be published in the Indiana Chamber’s BizVoice® magazine.

 

For more information on the Indiana Best Places to Work in Manufacturing program, visit www.BestPlacesToWorkManufacturingIN.com.

 

Nicole Wetzler