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MMPA NEWSLETTER - November 2003
Read our previous issues:
MMPA 39th Annual Meeting
October 3rd, 2003
October 3rd, 2003
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"Metals Month" for October and all other Octobers thereafter in Maine, top state and national speakers, MMPA member and partners display tables, state officials confirming support of our industry, great food and a warm, sunny day in Maine". What is this about? The MMPA Annual meeting on October 3rd was all of this and more. |
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We voted in new board members, passed a resolution to explore a rename of the association and heard from several state officials, partners and friends. We said goodbye and thanks to Bonita Pothier for serving on our board in the past few years. We welcomed Cheryl Bolduc, Pat Butler and Scott Dunning for joining the board. We acknowledged several new members who were in attendance looking for networking opportunities with other MMPA members. We laughed with Gary Crocker and listened to Commissioners Jack Cashman and Laura Fortman convey their support of our industry on economic development and labor concerns and needs. Steve Mandes, National NIMS director presented national certifications to Mid-Maine Technical Center and Central Maine Community College. |
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Board President, Bob King presented a resolution for vote (which passed) to hold "town meetings" statewide to elicit input from members on renaming MMPA to keep up with the advancement in our industry, technology and more inclusiveness of industry members.
The energy was electrifying. Wait until next year! |
Letter from the President
What a beautiful foliage season in Maine! It is no wonder that we live here!
Our MMPA 39th Annual Meeting was a tremendous success starting with a proclamation from the Governor, proclaiming October "Metals Month" in Maine (and all the Octobers to follow)! The Commissioner of Labor, Laura Fortman joined us to share that the department of Labor will work closely to address the education and training needs of the industry. Thanks to Steve Mandes, National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) Executive Director for being in Maine to present two of our education partners with NIMS Certifications. The keynote speaker, Commissioner of DECD, Jack Cashman said DECD would continue the strong partnership with MMPA! And a special thanks to our good friend, Gary Crocker, for making us laugh! MMPA awarded Gary an honorary membership for his faithful years of providing laughter to MMPA! Our sincere thanks to all the members that came to network business opportunities with members and to our partners for their support!
This month, MMPA will co-host a tour at Rich Tool & Die on November 6. Please join us to hear about "best practices" from Allen Estes, President of Rich Tool & Die. In the coming months we will travel to Castine to the Maine Maritime Academy, and to northern Maine for our yearly 3-day tour in the county.
I want to congratulate our newest elected board members, Cheryl Bolduc of Southern Maine Industries, and Pat Butler of Butler Bros. I am looking forward to serving with them. Also, Scott Dunning, of UMO Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) has agreed to join board! Thanks to all!
At the Annual meeting, MMPA members approved a resolution to hold "town meetings" around the state to discuss a proposal to rename the association. We will start to plan for the meetings at the first of the year. We will keep you posted on when and where!
I want to thank the MMPA staff for a very successful meeting! Great job!
Bob King
MMPA Board President
MMPA Member Company Profile
New England casting, LLC
Member Since 1988
"An Investment - Casting Foundry"
New England casting, LLC
Member Since 1988
"An Investment - Casting Foundry"
New England Castings is an investment-casting foundry, located in Hiram, Maine. Founded in 1985, their specialty is in the production of fractional pound castings too intricate or difficult to fill by most conventional shell investment casting shops. Their standard capabilities range from fractional ounces to approximately 30 pound castings in a work envelope of 12" x 12" x 15". They use only environmentally friendly, water based slurries in the production of their shells and have done so since the founding of the company.
The company was founded in 1985 as New England Castings, Inc and has been located in its present location since 1986.
In October of 1998 the founder sold the company to private investors who reorganized as New England Castings, LLC. The private investors did not take an active role in the management of the operation but rather retained the founder as the company president. Under the ownership of the private investors, the company invested heavily in new capital infrastructure to position the company for growth.
In early 1999, the company purchased a Spectrolab, optical emissions spectrometer, and 2 new automatic wax injection machines.
In early 2000, a new Ajax PACER, 200KW solid state power source, was purchased and installed along with a new Ajax 500 pound coreless induction melt furnace. At the end of 2000, 3500 square feet of new manufacturing space was added to facilitate process flow reorganization for better efficiencies.
In January 2002, the investor owners sold the company to the now current president, Walter Butler. The founder was retained for a period of 3 months to facilitate the transition of management.
In July of 2002, the company added a new heat treatment and annealing oven. In July, a quality system compliant with ISO 9000 was created. July also marked the addition of 2 new pass through sanders and 2 new sand-blast cabinets for the post cast finishing operations.
In August 2002, New England Castings filed for Federally Certified HubZone status. This certification positions the company in more favorable position for receipt of government contracts. Formal notification of our HubZone status confirmation was received in September 27, 2002.
In 2003, the company added the following;
1. Expanded aluminum melting capability with new 300# aluminum melt furnace.
2. Expanded non-ferrous melting capability with new propane melt system.
3. Installation of company wide computer network and internet access for production control/specification.
4. 600 square feet of new manufacturing space added for post casting operations.
5. Installation of new caustic, ceramic core leaching system.
6. Beginning stages of modification to the company quality system to be compliant with AS-9100 standard.
New England Castings currently has a quality system compliant with ISO-9000 requirements. The company is now in the process of revising their system to become compliant with AS-9100 and will seek third party certification of it by the end of 2004.
Contact:
New England Castings
57 Main Street, Route 117
P.O. Box 295
Hiram, ME 04041-3208
voice: (207) 625-3256
fax: (207) 625-3028
www.newenglandcastings.com
MMPA Resource Page
Job Seeker's Corner This month MMPA has 6 job opening on our website. For job details, contact information, and an uo-to-date selection, see our job posting board at www.maine-metals.org/jobpost.html TO EMPLOYERS: E-mail jobs to post on-line on the MMPA website to fill any open positions within your company !! Welcome Corner
MMPA would like to welcome the following new member to the association: Foxtech Design, Inc. 20 Godfrey Drive Orono, ME 04473 phone: 207-866-6551 fax: 207-866-6501 e-mail: scott@foxtech3d.com website: www.foxtech3d.com contact: Scott Cromwell Spill Free Oil Drainage Products, LLC 9 Dorr Lane Hermon, ME 04401 phone: 207-848-5858 fax: 207-848-3750 e-mail: info@spillfreeLLC.com website: www.spillfreeLLC.com contact: Priscilla Morin Hydrokinetics, Inc. 77 Biscay Road Damariscotta, ME 04543 phone: 207-563-5100 fax: 207-563-5544 e-mail: hydrok@midcoast.com contact: John Carroll MMPA Partners
KINGSWOOD LEASING If you have an interest in equipment leasing or refinance options call MMPA for a referral. Check them out at: www.kingswoodleasing.com Cliff A. Metcalfe Jr. President MESCA - SHIPPERS COOPERATIVE Call MMPA for a member referral for all your shipping, freight and transportation needs. |
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Acquisition by Rich Tool & Die
Rich Tool & Die Company (RTD) is pleased to formally announce the acquisition of Integrity EDM, LLC effective 28 May 2003. Integrity EDM was a privately owned and operated metal manufacturing job shop in Tipton, Indiana specializing in high-speed hole drilling with the use of electrical discharge machine (EDM) technology. The acquisition of Integrity EDM will expand an already robust EDM and precision manufacturing capability and allow Rich Tool & Die to be more competitive in the U.S. metal manufacturing markets and have a presence in the Midwest region. The Management Team at Rich Tool & Die Company welcomes the friends and employees of Integrity EDM and promises to continue the high standards of quality service and on-time delivery to all customers, vendors, and other business partners of Integrity EDM.
While the former Integrity EDM facility will remain open and operational in the Tipton, Indiana area, the official business headquarters and President/CEO of Rich Tool & Die Company will remain located in Scarborough, Maine. From this date forward, Integrity EDM will now be known as a business unit of Rich Tool & Die Company. For additional information or business related matters concerning the acquisition of Integrity EDM, please contact Rich Tool & Die.
Allen Estes, President
883-7424
883-7424
Smart Strategies for Energy and Environmental Efficiency
The Northeast Energy & Technology EXPO will be held on November 6, 2003 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Worcester, MA. This event is being hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the State Industrial Efficiency Partnerships in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
The EXPO will provide attendees with technical, financial, and programmatic solutions for increasing efficiency and improving the bottom line. Speakers include local and national experts with practical experience achieving energy efficiency, productivity, and waste reduction. They will share strategies to leverage and deploy technologies and meet evolving public policies surrounding energy, environment, and economic development. The exhibit area will showcase current and emerging technologies in the energy and environmental sectors.
The agenda follows four tracks:
The EXPO will be most beneficial to corporate energy managers, plant engineers, plant production managers, municipal energy managers, policy makers, and water and wastewater engineers.
Attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors are also invited to attend a complimentary evening reception on Nov. 5th. The reception marks the unveiling of the Northeast Regional CHP Application Center. The Application Center will facilitate the technology transfer and deployment of advanced CHP Technologies that assist DOE in meeting the goal of doubling CHP in the Northeast region over the next decade.
Visit our On-line Registration at www.energyEXPO2003.org
News from River Valley Technology Center
PRiver Valley Technology Center directors and stakeholders gathered recently to witness Norm MacIntyre, Director of the RVTC, sign a $2.4 million construction contract with CCB Incorporated of Westbrook, for the renovation of an old paper mill building that will be transformed into the largest of Maine's Applied Technology Development Centers. When finished, the 65,000 square foot facility, donated to the River Valley Technology Center by Mead Westvaco Paper Company, will house the precision manufacturing incubator, one of seven technology focused centers across the state.
ATDC Director Phil Helgerson explains that the regional project is possible because of DECD grants totaling one million six hundred fifty thousand dollars for the renovation work, including an establishment grant of $750 thousand, and an additional grant of $500 thousand from the recently approved "Jobs Bill" bond issue. The town of Mexico has received Phase One approval for a $400 thousand Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award for this program, according to Orman Whitcomb, director of Maine's CDBG program. CDBG Project manager Margo Fraser explains that the CDBG grant will be used for structural improvements and access within the multi-floor structure. Town Manager Joe Derouche proudly emphasizes the regional breadth of the program offering individual and business opportunities that will enrich the entire River Valley economy.
Remaining project funds included a $1.3 million grant from the Economic Development Administration. In another example of regional collaboration, the Androscoggin Council of Governments offices administers that grant. The Department of Labor is supporting the metal trades training program with an $800 thousand grant. Member communities of The River Valley Growth Council have contributed the remaining funds.
A broadly collaborative project, serving the ten communities of Western Maine's River Valley, the center will also host an extensive metal trades training program, in cooperation with the Maine Metal Products Association, Central Maine Community College, Region Nine Vocational Center, and the CareerCenter. MMPA director Lisa G. Martin explains, "The graduates of this one-year metal trades curriculum are able to complete an associate's degree in the trade, and qualify for jobs in technology-rich manufacturing companies. MMPA provides several scholarships for students in this program because it serves need for skilled workers in this industry." When construction is complete in second quarter 2004, other training and economic development offices will be moved to the center, making it a one-stop center for business training, workforce development, and economic development.
The facility will offer space for emerging firms in the precision manufacturing and electronics sector. Firms will be assisted with business, technical, and financial training, information, and introductions. Partners such as the School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology of the University of Southern Maine, the Advanced Manufacturing Center of the University of Maine at Orono, the Maine Small Business Development Center program, the Maine Technology Institute, will connect new entrepreneurs with the know-how to move their company ahead successfully.
RVTC will bring lots of activity to this prime location on the central island of Rumford, below the falls of the Androscoggin River, offering new economic and business opportunities for businesses and workers.
Important Survey
An important survey of Maine businesses is happening right now!
This survey represents a unique combined effort of the Federal Government, Maine State Government, and Maine Businesses to solicit information about safety and health in the workplaces of Maine. We need to know what works, what doesn't work, and what types of services and programs you need to maintain a safe and productive workplace, while also reducing Workers' Comp Costs.
We know you are busy - and that you are bombarded with survey requests - but we urge you to set aside the 8 minutes it takes to complete this important survey.
Just click on this link www.interventionteam.com/home.htm to complete the survey online - all responses are confidential and are being collected and analyzed by an independent consulting firm.
Plus - just for submitting your survey you will become eligible for drawings for LL Bean Gift Certificates ($100, $50, and $25!!).
Simply point and click, and your voice can be heard in Augusta, along with thousands of others who are participating in this effort.
MMPA on the Road
MMPA participated in two trade shows lately.
The Maine Industrial Show took place in Bangor on September 24 -25, 2003. This regional event gave MMPA the opportunity to showcase MMPA services and the members' products. It also gave us a great chance to meet new prospects and some current members of the association. (Advantage Gases and Tools, American Steel & Aluminum, EA Buschmann, DownEast Machine & Engineering, McCann Fabrication and Unifirst Corp.)
The second event - New England Job Shop Show - was held in Marlborough, MA on October 7-9, 2003. Dorota went there with member company D&G Machine, to help with the show. It was very nice to see the MMPA members' displays and to meet with them. (Grover Gundrilling Inc, Millinocket Fabrication & Machine Co, New England Castings, O'Brien Consolidated Industries and Prescott Metal.
We welcome your sample products and promotional brochures
to distribute at our display table.
to distribute at our display table.
Maine Metal Products
Association
Copyright © 2003 - 2004 MMPA, Inc.
All related marks, content, material and logos are trademarks of MMPA, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Copyright © 2003 - 2004 MMPA, Inc.
All related marks, content, material and logos are trademarks of MMPA, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.