Kondex Recognizes National Manufacturing Day with Visit from Kleefisch, Grothman

(October 6, 2015): In celebration of National Manufacturing Day, Kondex welcomed Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, Congressman Glenn Grothman, and nearly 70 visitors to its facility on October 2^nd. In addition to Kondex associates, manufacturing and engineering students from Moraine Park Technical College and Lomira High School were in attendance, along with representatives from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the local community.  

Both Kleefisch and Grothman addressed the importance of manufacturing, commended the students pursuing careers in this field, and spoke of its advancements and skill requirements. 

“This industry supplies our state’s workers with 462,000 jobs, that’s 19% of our workforce. That’s a really big deal… [Manufacturing] means a tremendous amount to the state’s economy, and they hold great family-sustaining jobs,” Kleefisch stated in her Manufacturing Day presentation. 

“When you take a look at the shop floor at Kondex, it’s very different from the jobs of American manufacturing past,” Kleefisch continued. “Today, the jobs require incredible education, an incredible amount of talent, a deep knowledge of the chain of supply and the chain of command, and people who show up on time every day with a sense of urgency for incredibly dignified work that puts Wisconsin on the map.”

Following the presentations from Kleefisch and Grothman, attendees received a tour of Kondex operations, providing many with a first-hand look at its modern, clean environment, and the technology and automated processes used today. They were also able to join AEM’s manufacturing advocacy campaign, I Make America. One such supporter, Kondex Maintenance Technician Don Lennop, was the lucky winner in a random drawing for an iPad Air. He was 1 of approximately 85 individuals who signed up to support I Make America and its pro-manufacturing legislative efforts.

The day concluded with a closed-door session between Congressman Grothman, Kondex leadership, and AEM officials to discuss pending infrastructure regulations, the export-import bank, and other agricultural and manufacturing-related legislation. 

“This was a terrific celebration of American manufacturing,” said Kondex President Jim Wessing. “We were very impressed with the message shared by the Lieutenant Governor and Congressman, and those attending seemed to be equally impressed with their tour of Kondex and its operations. Many students were even asking about how to apply for a job.”

Kondex, a manufacturer of cutting and wear-resistant components, uses new technologies to improve product life by 2-3 times and manufacturing innovations to strengthen product functionality. For our OEM customers, this elevates market share; for end users, it extends the life of their machinery. With the majority of our products agriculturally based, these efforts support our mission of helping to feed and fuel the world. For additional information, please visit www.kondex.com.