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Area 30 students set to tour local facilities for Manufacturing Day
In celebration of Manufacturing Day 2019, Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center has organized more than 50 Area 30 Students and four local major manufacturing companies as part of an effort to highlight modern manufacturing — a vibrant and growing industry that offers diverse, high-paying career opportunities.
The event will showcase facility tours and presentations from Crown Equipment, Phoenix Closures, Heartland Automotive and Asena Retail Group.
Additionally, Greencastle Mayor Bill Dory recently sign a proclamation recognizing Friday, Oct. 4 as Manufacturing Day in Greencastle.
Manufacturing Day, an annual national event held in communities across the country, is supported by thousands of manufacturers as they host students, teachers, parents and community members at open houses, plant tours and more to change perceptions of manufacturing and highlight the high-tech and innovative companies that are solving tomorrow’s challenges today.
First held in 2012 by its founder, the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International, Manufacturing Day is now organized by The Manufacturing Institute — the education and workforce partner of the National Association of Manufacturers.
The kick-off events around the country and month-long initiative gives manufacturers the opportunity to address the skills gaps they face, connect with future generations, take charge of the public image of manufacturing and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the industry.
Area 30 Career Center provides career and technical education to juniors and seniors who attend Cloverdale, Eminence, Greencastle, North Putnam and South Putnam schools.
Many courses offer state-recognized certifications or industry credentials in their career area. Students can participate in career focused internship and clinical experiences.
Industries participating in the tours include:
Phoenix Closures is a world leader in packaging innovation. This sixth-generation, family-owned business has supplied clients with closures and packaging since 1890. The company’s products and processes have continuously progressed year after year and decade after decade.
Fifty patents and billions of packages later, Phoenix strives to stay ahead of industry changes and challenges and continue to be future-focused.
During the Manufacturing Day 2019 tour, participants will be guided through the Phoenix production floor, witnessing mold technicians and utility workers operate machinery that makes plastic lids. They will then be shown the maintenance shop where maintenance, tooling maintenance and setup technicians work.
The tour will finish in the 170,000-square foot warehouse, where material techs will be busy shipping out the product all over the world.
Local students touring will meet department managers and be able to ask questions regarding the Phoenix process and future job opportunities.
Crown Equipment Corp. is a leading innovator in forklift and material handling equipment and technology. As one of the world’s largest lift truck manufacturers, Crown is committed to providing the customer with the safest, most efficient and ergonomic lift truck possible to lower their total cost of ownership.
Crown is excited to showcase its manufacturing facility to area students. The students will have the opportunity to observe the manufacturing of the Greencastle plant’s material handling equipment from start to finish. Processes observed will include laser cutting, machining, welding, forming, painting and robotics resulting in the assembly of several models of Crown forklifts
Ascena Retail Group is a national specialty retailer offering apparel, shoes and accessories for women under the Premium Fashion segment (Ann Taylor, LOFT and Lou & Grey), Value Fashion segment (dressbarn), Plus Fashion segment (Lane Bryant, Catherine’s and Cacique) and for tween girls under the Kids Fashion segment (Justice).
Ascena Retail Group, through its retail brands, operates eCommerce websites and approximately 3,500 stores throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Participants will experience eCommerce material handling equipment technologies (including robotics), instruction in how skills transfer from high school to the workplace and Ascena’s commitment to workplace readiness and success.
Heartland Automotive was founded in 1987 as a subsidiary of Shigeru Co. Ltd. in Japan. Production started two years later in 1989. Heartland mainly manufactures the parts for the Subaru Outback, Legacy, Impreza and Ascent. Its core products are instrument panel (dashboard) and door panel. Those products are made by the plants in Greencastle and Lafayette.
Thanks to the partnership with the community, Heartland has grown to employ more than 1,000 associates for both facilities combined. The company strives for highest quality, employee happiness and community engagement.
The Heartland Greencastle facility boasts of variety of processes such as injection molding, slush molding, vacuum forming, thermoset stamping, interior/exterior paint system and automated headliner assembly.