The AEM Manufacturing Express Continues to Build Momentum in Minnesota

The AEM Manufacturing Expresstour continues to gain momentum as it travels through the great state of Minnesota and visits with AEM member companies and their valued employees.

The tour closed out last week by heading to Rotochopperin St. Martin, Minnesota, on July 11, before moving on to Custom Products of Litchfieldin Litchfield, Minnesota, on Monday, and Felling Tailersin in Sauk Centre, Minnesota on Tuesday. Previously, the tour made its way to Minnesota-based AEM member companies Condux Tesmec, Jarraff Industries, and The Toro Companyearlier this month. Hundreds of manufacturing employees attended the events, engaged with AEM staff and other employees, as well as celebrated the many accomplishments and notable impact of the equipment manufacturing industry.

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 Lakesduring 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 short-term and long-term challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

One hundred Rotochopper employees greeted AEM staff and the Manufacturing Express at the company's production facility last week Thursday, welcoming them to a summer celebration that included great food, games, and plenty of camaraderie between staff on Rotochopper's 115,000-square-foot St. Martin campus. The wood grinder manufacturer highlighted its core values of community and sustainability during AEM's visit, and company leaders applauded the efforts of the 2.3 million men and women who make the products that help build, power, and feed the world.

This week opened with a visit to Custom Products of Litchfield, where employees joined in on an afternoon cookout celebrating the local community. The manufacturer of cabs and protective systems creates products for all kinds of equipment, from giant cranes to landscaping lawn mowers. Custom Products' impact is felt nationwide and on its home turf, thanks in no small part to the company's commitment to safety and investments made into local training programs. "Manufacturing is a great (industry) to work (in) because there is plenty of opportunity to grow. I have great bosses, and I am so proud to be at an American company," said Custom Products of Litchfield's Michelle Aller. heck out some of the highlights from the AEM Manufacturing Express' stop at Custom Products in the gallery below:

On a sunny Tuesday, Sauk Centre-based Felling Trailers took the opportunity to celebrate its 50th anniversary with the AEM Manufacturing Express, gathering employees for a celebration of the company's history and continued development. Felling Trailers has grown from a small shop to a factory and office complex that today covers over 400,000 square feet - and today, the company manufactures more than 5,000 trailers a year. "With Felling Trailers being a second-generation company that's celebrating 50 years, it's not lost on me that my parents purchased a small welding shop in 1974 and now, a half-century later, my sister and I, along with our spouses and our team, have grown our company to what it is today. And so, this tour serves as a uniquely valuable opportunity for me to reflect on the people who have made that happen and where we want to take things over the next half-century," said company co-owner and president/CEO Brenda Jennissen. Check out some of the highlights from the AEM Manufacturing Express' stop at Felling Trailers in the gallery below:

The AEM Manufacturing Express continues to roll along through Minnesota as it concludes its third full week on the road. After stopping yesterday at Superior Industries in Morris, Minnesota, the tour will make its way to Stepp Manufacturing in North Branch, Minnesota, and ATS in St. Cloud, Minnesota, before moving on to South Dakota next week.

Stay in the loop on what's happening with the AEM Manufacturing Express by visiting www.manufacturingexpress.org.

For more AEM news and updates, subscribe to the AEM Industry Advisor.