Business Magazine - May 2021

May2021

In the business world, artificial intelligence is enabling companies to work smarter and faster, doing more with significantly less. As technology and society continue to advance, more organizations are looking for powerful, sophisticated solutions that will improve and streamline operations, and allow them to understand customers in ways never thought possible.

Researchers project the global artificial intelligence market size to reach $733.7 billion by 2027, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 42.2 percent.

In this briefing, our speaker will discuss the link between artificial intelligence and data, and the increasing need for cybersecurity in advancing manufacturing and other industries, including health care, finance, education and more.

Timothy Kurzweg, Ph.D., is the director of the School of Engineering at Penn State Behrend and a professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Kurzweg holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He has a bachelor’s degree from Penn State. He has served as principal or co-principal investigator for approximately $9.5 million in funded research and has published more than 80 journal and conference papers. He also holds multiple patents.

Before joining Penn State Behrend in July 2018, he previously served as vice provost for undergraduate education and professor of electrical and computer engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

At Penn State Behrend, Kurzweg leads an engineering school with 1,600 students and a top-50 national ranking, according to U.S. News & World Report.

PRESENTED BY:

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BUSINESS VOL. XXXIV NO. 5 | MAY 2021

MAGAZINE

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SPOTLIGHT Q&A:

MADE IN PA MANUFACTURING TO PLAY CRITICAL ROLE IN INNOVATION, ECONOMIC RECOVERY

PENN STATE PROFESSOR DISCUSSES IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

SPECIAL SECTION:

2021 SHOWCASE OF MANUFACTURERS

Success requires change.

“There are always challenges that face your business. You can generally prepare for the common, reoccurring challenges. The harder challenges are the ones that you cannot anticipate.”

— Harvey Downey, president of NaviTek Machining Corp.

NaviTek Machining Corp. is unique in the machining industry for its ability to produce both one-up parts and high-volume production machining.

Customers also use NaviTek because of its quality certifications in both medical (ISO 13485:2016) and aerospace (AS9100:2016) generally found at much larger companies.

According to Harvey Downey, president of NaviTek, the most important part of staying competitive is being willing to change.

“Back in 1993 when I bought the company, I had a sign made that read: Success requires continuous improvement, and continuous improvement requires continuous change. Normal will never be back. Now, 28 years later, that sign is still posted in the same place. And perhaps more meaningful than ever.”

During good times and bad, having a healthy and open relationship with a bank is invaluable. When NaviTek needed a stronger banking relationship, they turned to Marquette.

“I moved all our banking over to Marquette in 2019. I knew the decision-makers and the board were all local. So they were willing and able to adapt to fit our needs — not the other way around.

“Marquette’s people have made all the difference. They are truly committed to my business.”

MarquetteSavings.bank/business

FEATURES FEATURE STORY | WHAT’S INSIDE

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Manufacturing Matters Technology is vital to transformation.

COVER STORY | LOCAL PROFILE

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Made in PA Manufacturers have played a pivotal role in Pennsylvania’s prosperity – through innovation and investment – and will be critical to its post-COVID-19 recovery, as well.

SPOTLIGHT Q&A | TECHNOLOGY

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DEPARTMENTS

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BUSINESS BUZZ WHAT’S NEW

AWARDS AND PROMOTIONS

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HR CONNECTION

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LEGAL Q&A

EDITORIAL

SPECIAL SECTION SHOWCASE OF 18 2021 MANUFACTURERS

PEOPLE BUZZ

LEGAL BRIEF | UPDATE

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See this special listing of companies that are proud to have their products “Made in PA.”

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Feature Photography iStockPhoto Design, Production & Printing Printing Concepts Inc. printcon@erie.net

MBA members share what matters most in the 2020 Government Affairs Survey results.

Jezree Friend

EVENTS | NETWORKING AND MORE

29 Contributing Writers Meghan Duda Jezree Friend William Speros Tammy Lamary-Toman

Public information or trade secret?

Pennsylvania battles over open records.

William Speros

ON THE HILL | KEY ISSUES

WORKPLACE TRENDS

Executive Editor Karen Torres ktorres@mbausa.org

Tim Kurzweg, Ph.D., director of the School of Engineering and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Penn State Behrend, discusses artificial intelligence and what organizations should consider when it comes to this powerful technology.

The MBA recognizes the achievements of area member companies.

Advertising Sales Frank Mehler 814/833-3200 fmehler@mbausa.org David Thornburg 814/833-3200 dthornburg@mbausa.org

On the Cover: The Keystone State has a proud manufacturing industry, producing everything from electronics, machinery and medical devices to food production, rubber, plastics and fabricated metal products. For full story, see page 5.

Mission Statement: The Manufacturer & Business

Association is dedicated to providing information and services to its members that will assist them in the pursuit of their business and community interests. – Board of Governors

Manufacturer & Business Association Headquarters: 2171 West 38th Street Erie, PA. 16508 Pittsburgh: 600 Cranberry Woods Drive, Suite 190 Cranberry Township, PA 16066 814/833-3200 |800/815-2660 | www.mbausa.org

© Copyright 2021 by the Manufacturer & Business Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial, pictorial or advertisements created for use in the Business Magazine, in any manner, without written permission from the publisher, is prohibited. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned unless accompanied by a properly addressed envelope bearing sufficient postage. The magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. The Business Magazine and Manufacturer & Business Association do not specifically endorse any of the products or practices described in the magazine. The Business Magazine is published monthly by the Manufacturer & Business Association, 2171 West 38th Street, Erie, Pa. 16508. Phone: 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660.

mbabizmag.com • MAY 2021

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FEATURE STORY | WHAT’S INSIDE

Manufacturing Matters TECHNOLOGY IS VITAL TO TRANSFORMATION

In the wake of COVID-19 and the move to a more digital world, many businesses have discovered that they need to evolve if they wish to stay competitive. Technology is profoundly impacting the way companies operate, including Pennsylvania manufacturers.

Production and inspection processes are being reinvented to foresee maintenance needs and minimizing waste, helping people and the environment that surrounds them. In addition, like many industries, manufacturers are contending with an aging population that’s retiring and taking their skills and knowledge with them, as well as the challenge of attracting new talent. Manufacturers recognize these trends, and a technological transformation is already well under way.

According to the 2021 Digital Transformation Assessment, published by The Manufacturer and IBM, more than two-thirds of manufacturers (67 percent) have accelerated their adoption of digital technologies as a result of the pandemic.

The survey also found that: • 92 percent say their most significant business imperative is improving operational efficiency.

• 88 percent say that COVID-19 has resulted in their organization placing greater emphasis on operational resilience.

• Cybersecurity, data analytics and cloud computing are the technology areas the greatest proportion have already implemented or are working toward implementing.

• Carving out the time to focus on improvements (i.e. working ‘on’ the business rather than simply ‘in’ the business) is the most significant barrier to adopting new technologies currently.

• Looking ahead to the next 18 months, the most significant barrier to technology adoption is organizational culture.

• Greater support regarding determining the business case, identifying a benefitsbacked roadmap and upskilling the workforce would help accelerate the adoption of digital technologies.

The report further reveals that the vast majority of senior manufacturing professionals view cybersecurity and advanced data analytics as especially important to their business goals — cited by 92 percent and 90 percent participants, respectively.

Also ranked highly were digitizing and automating many of the process involved with overall equipment effectiveness and manufacturing/enterprise resource planning.

Alongside increased efficiency and visibility, this shift is being driven by businesses looking to free workers from time-consuming, monotonous tasks in order to focus on areas where they can add value.

advanced analytics (79 percent) and cloud computing (79 percent).

In this edition of the Business Magazine, we’ll explore some of the key topics for PA manufacturers as they contribute to innovation, investment and post-COVID-19 recovery in the Keystone State. We’ll also hear from Penn State Behrend professor Tim Kurzweg, Ph.D. on artificial intelligence and what manufacturers and other industries should consider when it comes to maximizing this powerful technology.

Plus, be sure to see our 2021 Showcase of Manufacturers, which highlights the many organizations that are proud to manufacture in Pennsylvania today.

To learn about the Manufacturer & Business Association’s rich history in supporting PA manufacturers and other members, visit www.mbausa.org!

This strategic importance is reflected in the top three technologies manufacturers have already implemented or are working toward implementing ­— cybersecurity (88 percent),

LEADING THE WAY

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Pictured above: John B. Pellegrino Jr., John B. Pellegrino Sr., PE & Mark Pellegrino.

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COVER STORY | LOCAL PROFILE

Manufacturing to Play Critical Role in Innovation, Economic Recovery

Manufacturing has a proud history in Pennsylvania. From companies focused on electronics, machinery and medical devices to food production, rubber, plastics and fabricated metal products, the Commonwealth boasts some of the greatest examples of modern manufacturing in not only the United States, but also the world.

These companies have adapted and innovated to global competition and current market conditions, and, yes, the unexpected. In fact, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many manufacturing companies quickly switched their production capabilities to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) within a few short months, providing critical health and safety equipment for individuals and businesses.

There is no question that manufacturers have played a pivotal role in Pennsylvania’s prosperity and will be critical in its post-COVID-19 recovery, as well. According to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), manufacturers help to drive Pennsylvania’s economy, with $36.84 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2019. Today, Pennsylvania is the eighth largest manufacturing industry in the country, including more than 14,430 establishments throughout the state and employing over 558,000 individuals.

What makes PA manufacturers so unique?

Manufacturing in Pennsylvania is directly linked to innovation and investment fueling growth in the state and other support industries.

For example, Eriez, a world authority in separation technologies headquartered in Erie, recently completed a major expansion of its Wager Road manufacturing and testing facility. The expanded space supports Eriez’ strategic growth initiatives for global research and development (R&D), aftermarket repair and testing, and recycling equipment technology.

According to Eriez-USA Vice President and General Manager Tim Gland, “The expanded repair, testing, demonstration and R&D areas will allow us to complete even bigger projects and pilot tests, speed up and enhance product development activities, and offer additional aftermarket repair capabilities with faster turnaround times.”

Plastikos in Erie also recently announced the second phase of construction on its Plastikos Medical facility. The company completed the first building in its medical business in 2019 and has added 10 medical injection molding machines since then. The second building will more than double the size of the current ISO-7 cleanroom to 24,000 square feet to accommodate an additional 15 medical injection molding machines to meet increased demand from the medical sector of its business. The company also plans to use more automation and Industry 4.0 principles and technologies to reduce risk and boost quality assurance and production efficiency.

For Matthew Lucco, president and chief executive officer of Precision Profiles, LLC in Titusville, Pennsylvania, the amount of high-precision,

“We are very proud to serve in these supply chains, which support high quality manufacturing jobs in our home state.”

- Matthew Lucco, Precision Profiles high-value manufacturing activity taking place in Pennsylvania is significant, particularly as it relates to space and national defense programs. “We are very proud to serve in these supply chains, which support high quality manufacturing jobs in our home state,” he states.

Precision Profiles is a manufacturer of high-precision, tight-tolerance components for the power generation industry. The company has been a trusted manufacturer of turbine components since 1994.

“Our manufacturing team is continuously focused on innovation, whether that involves identifying improvements that will increase operating efficiencies or developing new manufacturing processes and/or recommending new investments to meet the ever changing needs of our customers,” Lucco says. “Outside our facility, our leadership team invests time in local economic development initiatives (such as the NWIRC-led GR8T Manufacturing group) aimed at bringing manufacturing revenues and jobs back to Western PA.” At Ridg-U-Rak, Inc. in North East, Pennsylvania, one of the largest and most successful industrial pallet rack and storage rack manufacturers in the United States, the family owned company has made longstanding contributions to advancing manufacturing and career opportunities in the region. In fact, the Pellegrinos and their highly skilled workforce supply over 140 million pounds of steel storage racks to warehousing, distribution and retail operations located all across North America.

“Our family and highly committed employees are very proud of this success,” states Ridg-U-Rak President and CEO John B. Pellegrino Sr., P.E. “We feel fortunate to have such a deep-rooted organization here in northwestern Pennsylvania.”

Over the past few years, the company has invested significant capital in a new 250,000-square-foot warehousing and distribution operation, the 25,000-square-foot expansion of its Lake Street facility, and various other roll-forming and powder painting technological advancements.

New products have been introduced as well, including its RamGuard™ pallet rack impact protection and the Pellegrino™ seismic base isolation system for storage racks. “Ridg-U-Rak will certainly continue to invest and innovate going forward,” Pellegrino says. “In this rapidly changing world of distribution, logistics and e-commerce, remaining nimble and embracing change is a key to success and Ridg-U-Rak is committed to do just that.”

mbabizmag.com • MAY 2021

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SPOTLIGHT Q&A| TECHNOLOGY

Penn State Professor Discusses Impact of Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) in its simplest terms is the ability of a computer or robot controlled by a computer to do tasks that are usually done by humans because they require human intelligence and discernment. For many businesses, AI is a way to reduce operational costs, increase efficiency, grow revenue and improve the customer experience. Here, Tim Kurzweg, Ph.D., director of the School of Engineering and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Penn State Behrend, discusses AI and what organizations should consider when it comes to this powerful technology.

Today, more organizations are looking to utilize AI in their operations. What is the potential impact of AI on the business world?

Businesses are making the investment in AI because the impact can be huge.

Making data-driven decisions using AI or machine learning can reduce cost, increase productivity and optimize operations. Time saving is key, as well as focusing your best person-power at the tasks that need human interaction, thoughts and decisions.

What are some examples of AI applications in manufacturing and other industries?

Manufacturing is on the cusp of some major AI breakthroughs in the areas of quality control and production use, while reducing design time and material waste. There are so many places to gather data in a manufacturing line, from the materials, the process to finishing inspection. If anything, the challenge is how to extract useful information out of the volumes of data that are available throughout the manufacturing process.

This is where the strength of AI and machine learning come into play as machines can detect trends potentially

missed by human observation.

For example, machine learning can rapidly analyze data as it comes in, identifying patterns and anomalies. If a machine in the manufacturing facility is working at a reduced capacity, a machine-learning algorithm can catch it and notify decision-makers that it’s time to dispatch a preventive maintenance team.

is happening in industry and academia.

People are realizing new application areas for AI all the time. However, the adoption of technology is often slower, and that is understandable. There is a cost, both financial and personnel time, to integrate new technology into systems. Companies need to be convinced that the investment in AI will pay off in the not too distant future.

What are some common myths about AI? Well, the first is that robots are going to take over the world. We have been fighting this myth since “The Terminator” came out in 1984. More seriously, there are concerns that people will lose jobs with the advancement of AI, or even more generally, and adoption of Industry 4.0. My feeling is that we will move jobs to robotics for safety, and that new jobs will be created from these technology advancements.

How important are data and cybersecurity to the organizations that use AI? Anything that is based on data, processing and communication needs to have security in place. According to recent data, manufacturing is behind in its cybersecurity systems. However, the good news is that they realize they are behind and moving quickly to catch up.

How rapidly is AI technology changing?

Quickly, yet also slowly. How about that answer? I think that the technology development and innovation is moving very quickly. Research and development

To learn more about artificial intelligence, join us for the MBA’s virtual AI IMPACT briefing from 11 a.m. to noon on May 20 by registering at www.mbausa.org.

The event is free to MBA members and nonmembers.

mbabizmag.com • MAY 2021

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LEGAL BRIEF | UPDATE

Public Information or Trade Secret?

Pennsylvania Battles Over Open Records

Argus Leader and the Future of RTKL Under the presumption of openness, a business could invoke a FOIA exemption to prevent public release of its commercial or financial information only by demonstrating that disclosure would cause substantial competitive harm. In June 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Food Marketing Institute v. Argus Leader Media rejected this longheld substantial harm test and instead concluded that information should be protected whenever it is actually treated as private by its owner and provided to the federal government under an assurance of privacy.

Williiam Speros is a partner at MacDonald Illig Attorneys. He counsels his clients on contract formation and disputes, corporate compliance, business acquisitions, internal and external investigations, and various export control and international trade matters.

FOIA and RTKL History Intertwined A decade ago, Pennsylvania’s open records laws were considered to be among the worst in the nation. Under the old law, secrecy was the norm. State and local records were largely presumed to be inaccessible by the public, which mirrored a 2001 U.S. attorney general memorandum mandating a presumption of protection, borne in part out of a need to safeguard national security documents during the post-9/11 global war on terror.

Most Pennsylvanians have heard of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which governs every U.S. citizen’s right to request and receive public records from the federal government. You may not realize, however, that our right to public information in Pennsylvania is governed by the Commonwealth’s Sunshine Law, a series of laws guaranteeing that our state’s citizens have access to state and local public records. Perhaps most important is the Right to Know Law (RTKL), Pennsylvania’s version of FOIA. RTKL is critical for both protecting and discovering public records, and a legal battle over our right to know public information is currently being waged across the Commonwealth.

With passage of the OPEN Government Act in 2007, the federal stance on public records abruptly changed to a presumption of disclosure. Pennsylvania again mirrored federal law as state lawmakers enacted RTKL in 2009. Rather than a presumption of protection, RTKL shifted the burden to the Commonwealth to justify withholding records requested by its citizens. In addition, RTKL created Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records to handle public records appeals and identified the public bodies that are subject to the law, including not only state and local executive agencies, but also the legislature, the judicial branch, privatized government agencies and certain public educational institutions.

Eighteen months later, Argus Leader’s impact is still unclear. If history is any indication, the federal pendulum could be swinging back toward a presumption of protection. If so, would RTKL swing right along with it? Unlike FOIA’s general exemptions, RTKL identifies 30 specific types of records that are exempt from disclosure. Nevertheless, state and local agencies must determine whether a requested record falls under one of the enumerated exemptions, and with RTKL being only 12 years old, there are relatively few court opinions forging a strong presumption one way or the other.

Advocates for open records in the Commonwealth see this gap as an opportunity to create favorable case law for more transparency, including two highly publicized court battles in York seeking to help Pennsylvania journalists gain access to previously sealed government records. Plus, the battles aren’t limited to the courts. Open records advocates also are calling for more action in the state legislature, saying that transparency is a bipartisan issue that all Pennsylvanians should support.

Pennsylvania businesses should keep an eye on how our courts and lawmakers continue to shape RTKL. Doing so can help you effectively utilize RTKL to discover valuable business information submitted to state and local agencies — and to protect your own.

For more information, contact Bill Speros at 814/870-7764 or wsperos@mijb.com.

mbabizmag.com • MAY 2021

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BUSINESS BUZZ | WHAT’S NEW ERIEZ COMPLETES EXPANSION OF MANUFACTURING, TESTING FACILITY

Eriez, a supplier of separation technologies, recently completed the expansion of its Wager Road manufacturing and testing facility, located in Erie, Pennsylvania, approximately 15 miles from the company’s world headquarters. The expanded space will support Eriez’ strategic growth initiatives for global research and development, aftermarket repair and testing, and recycling equipment technology.

Eriez purchased the Wager Road building in 2011, and the company broke ground on this latest expansion in January 2020. This project is the largest investment that Eriez has made to date at this facility.

The plant expansion adds 38,000 square feet to the existing building, bringing it to 148,000 square feet. The expansion includes adding another manufacturing bay to the current plant. The manufacturing bay has three distinct business purposes supporting key strategic initiatives. Initially, there will be a new Recycling Test Center established that provides large equipment demonstration testing capabilities; enabling full-scale evaluations of customer product streams.

Another section of the new manufacturing bay is additional floor space for the Aftermarket Repair Center. The footprint of the new repair center will double in size as a result of this expansion. The final section within the new manufacturing bay will be a new R&D area that will support new global product development programs.

A new Electronics Lab will house the next generation electronics product development activities. The lab will include a main product test area, an electrical hardware development lab, a magnetics testing and materials lab, and a software and circuit board development area.

“The expanded repair, testing, demonstration and R&D areas will allow us to complete even bigger projects and pilot tests, speed up and enhance product development activities, and offer additional aftermarket repair capabilities with faster turnaround times,” said Tim Gland, Eriez-USA vice president and general manager. “We are proud to make this latest investment in Erie, Pennsylvania.”

For more information, visit www.eriez.com.

Eriez recently completed the expansion of its Wager Road facility in Erie, Pennsylvania. The project is the largest investment that Eriez has made to date in the Wager Road location.

GREENLEAF UNVEILS NEW SOLID CERAMIC END MILLS

Greenleaf Corporation recently announced XSYTIN®-360, a new line of high-performance solid ceramic end mills, to the global market.

XSYTIN®-360 end mills combine Greenleaf’s phase-toughened XSYTIN®-1 substrate with a unique cutting geometry that offers ten times higher productivity and tremendous cost savings.

The strength of the material allows the user to apply chip loads similar to solid carbide end mills with higher speeds common to ceramic machining. These new ceramic end mills provide customers with significant increases in productivity over current solid carbide or ceramic products.

Greenleaf’s XSYTIN®-1 material, introduced in 2016, was engineered to machine a wider variety of materials than any other ceramic in the industry. The structure of this phase-toughened ceramic exhibits high wear resistance and outstanding thermal shock resistance, which makes the XSYTIN®-360 end mills highly predictable, very versatile, high-performance products.

According to the company, XSYTIN®-360 end mills have shown the highest material removal rates and resulted in increased productivity on a wide range of materials. These end mills have proven to be extremely effective when machining a variety of different materials including high-temperature alloys, 3D-printed sintered high-temperature alloys, hardened steels, ductile cast irons, and compacted graphite iron (CGI).

In hardened steels specifically, the tool life of XSYTIN®-360 end mills has proven to be equal to high-performance carbide end mills when run at high-end speeds (11,460 RPM), while also removing over 73 cubic inches (over 1200 cubic cm) of material.

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Greenleaf Corporation, headquartered in Saegertown, Pennsylvania, is a leading supplier of industrial cutting

tools, specializing in the manufacturing of highperformance tungsten carbide and ceramic grade inserts and innovative toolholding systems.

For more information, visit www.greenleafcorporation.com.

PROCHEMTECH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPS NEW ENERGY REDUCING PRODUCT FOR WATER TREATMENT

ProChemTech International, Inc. recently announced that a patent application, No. 17/114,902 — “Cooling Water Treatment Composition for Decreasing Energy Use,” has been filed with the U.S. Patent office. This application discloses a new chemistry that can be added to almost all existing cooling water treatment compositions in the amount of 5 mg/l active to substantially decrease the surface tension of the treated water. Decreasing the surface tension of water increases it ability to transfer heat, thus reducing the energy use by HVAC systems. Current estimates are that this invention can reduce energy use of HVAC chillers by 5 to 15 percent.

Inventors of this product are Megan Briody, laboratory director, and Timothy Keister, chief chemist; the patent application has been assigned to ProChemTech International, Inc. ProChemTech has its main office, laboratory, and equipment and chemical manufacturing facility located in Brockway, Pennsylvania, and has a second chemical manufacturing facility and service center located in Apache Junction, Arizona. The company specializes in innovative equipment, systems, and equipment for management of boiler, cooling, process and waste waters for industrial and commercial customers.

For more information, visit www.prochemtech.com.

PEOPLE BUZZ | AWARDS AND PROMOTIONS ERIEZ’ MANKOSA RECOGNIZED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS; BLICHA PROMOTED TO GLOBAL SENIOR DIRECTOR

Eriez® President and CEO Lukas Guenthardt recently announced that Eriez Vice President of Global Technology Michael J. Mankosa, Ph.D., has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 Robert H. Richards Award. This recognition is presented by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) and funded by the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME). According to SME, this award honors an individual’s achievement, which unmistakably furthers the art of mineral beneficiation in any of its branches.

The Robert H. Richards Award is typically presented in person at the SME Annual Conference. However, due to COVID-19, the 2021 SME Annual Conference was held virtually March 1-5 and Mankosa was recognized at that time. SME Executive Director David L. Kanagay says the following citation had been prepared in Mankosa’s honor: “For outstanding contributions to applied research, engineering development, and commercial deployment of advanced separation systems for the mineral processing industries.”

Mankosa, an Eriez employee for close to 25 years and a past chairman of the Manufacturer & Business Association Board of Governors, has distinguished himself as a leader and trailblazer in the field of mineral beneficiation throughout his career. Many of his groundbreaking research projects have led to innovative developments that have helped to advance the minerals processing industry.

His most recent work is focused on improving the efficiency of mineral recovery systems while simultaneously providing substantial reductions in energy and water consumption.

Mankosa has invented a wide range of technologies that are rapidly being adopted by the mining and minerals industry.

Two of Mankosa’s most widely accepted developments include the HydroFloat® and StackCell® separators, which are used for coarse and fine particle concentration in the coal, industrial minerals, precious metals and sulfide industries.

Throughout his career, Mankosa has published more than 100 articles in prominent scientific and technical journals, obtained 50 process and equipment patents, and received

several million dollars in research funding from state and federal agencies. Among Mankosa’s many honors, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2018 and received the 2014 Frank F. Aplan Award from the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers in recognition of engineering or scientific contributions that further the understanding of the technology of coal and/or mineral processing. Additionally, he has presented at various academic and technical conferences and provided industrial workshops and training for domestic and international audiences.

Mankosa earned his doctorate in mining and minerals engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in 1990. His graduate work focused on modeling, design, instrumentation and control of process equipment.

Additionally, John Blicha has been promoted to the position of global senior director of Marketing and Brand Management.

Since joining Eriez in 2012 as manager of Marketing Communications, Blicha has consistently earned promotions to various roles of increasing responsibility within the company’s marketing department.

In his new role, Blicha heads the company’s global marketing efforts and serves as a member of the Eriez executive management team. According to Guenthardt, Blicha will be instrumental in developing strategic global and regional marketing initiatives in conjunction with the sales and marketing staff in Eriez’ worldwide operating units.

Blicha’s additional responsibilities include leading the development and implementation of a global initiative under the “one Eriez” umbrella in areas such as product standardization, communications, the company’s websites, and more.

Blicha holds two degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Bachelor of Science in marketing and a Bachelor of Science in management. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from California University of Pennsylvania.

In Blicha’s career prior to joining Eriez, he held marketing and management positions at highly respected local and international industrial equipment companies.

ERIE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION WELCOMES NEW BUSINESS LENDER

Erie Federal Credit Union (Erie FCU) has announced the addition of Mark Paradise as a business lender.

Paradise will be responsible for helping to grow Erie FCU’s business loan portfolio and for building relationships with new and existing business members in Erie and Crawford Counties by identifying and serving their financial needs with appropriate products and services. He will work out of the credit union’s Glenwood corporate office at 3503 Peach Street in Erie.

Paradise holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mercyhurst University and has been in the finance industry for over 21 years. Before joining Erie FCU, he was a personal banker and business relationship manager at PNC Bank. He has also held posts at Citizens Bank and Mellon Bank.

“We’re very excited to welcome Mark Paradise to our growing team as he brings a wealth of business banking knowledge and overall banking experience in his new role,” said Nathan Crouch, commercial lender, Erie FCU. Since its inception in 1936, Erie Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in Northwest PA, has been serving its members in and around the Erie, Pennsylvania area with a wide array of financial products. Erie FCU has grown its membership to almost 66,000 with assets of more than $688 million.

PAGLIARI NAMED PRESIDENT OF ERIE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

Attorney Nicholas R. Pagliari of MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton, LLP took over duties as president of the Erie County Bar Association, effective January 1, 2021. Pagliari, a graduate of McDowell High School, The Pennsylvania State University and the University of Dayton School of Law, is heading into his role with several key objectives including: focusing on ECBA members’ financial and mental well-being during the pandemic; expanding community outreach; and finding new ways to provide our members with additional value for their membership dollars.

Pagliari is an active member of the Erie County Bar Association, the Allegheny County Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute and the American Bar Foundation. He is also one of the founding members and past president of the Judith K. Fitzgerald Bankruptcy Inn of Court. The American Inns of Court inspire the legal community to advance the rule of law by achieving the highest level of professionalism through example, education and mentoring.

Eriez is recognized as a world authority in separation technologies.

ERIE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

The Erie County Bar Association is a not-for-profit professional association whose members are attorneys and judges in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The ECBA assists members in the practice of law by providing educational opportunities, programs, and services to facilitate the practice of law.

mbabizmag.com • MAY 2021

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MAY 2021 • mbabizmag.com

ON THE HILL | KEY ISSUES

2020 Government Affairs Survey Recap Members Share Feedback On What Matters Most Jezree Friend is the senior director of Public Affairs at the Manufacturer & Business Association.

Contact him at 814/8333200, 800/815-2660 or jfriend@mbausa.org.

The Manufacturer & Business Association is your voice on local, state and federal issues.

Our Government Affairs Department monitors what is happening in Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg, alerts members to pending legislation and provides a powerful, unified voice for business.

However, we would not be effective if not for your participation to prioritize our efforts. Legislators regard us as experts on the issues facing our business community thanks to your input. Our 2020 Government Affairs Survey establishes direction on the issues that matter most.

This year’s participants included industry leaders in manufacturing, nonprofit, health care, logistics and professional services. To those members who participated in this year’s survey, thank you!

Here is the pulse from our members: When it comes to short-term business concerns, 74 percent of survey takers expressed the need for access to qualified workers. Other top short-term concerns included reducing Pennsylvania’s Corporate Net Income Tax Rate and aligning the state’s Section 179, immediate expensing

allowance for pass-through businesses, with federal tax law.

To get quality feedback from the membership, we purposefully allowed for open-ended comments. Many of those responses included frustration over the government’s handling of the business shutdowns from the spring. In addition to those who found themselves forced to close at the government’s hand, many others felt the ripple effect on their operations.

Some of the most notable responses came from our question, “What keeps you up at night?” Eighty percent cited the high cost of group health insurance. This is consistent with last year’s survey and further validates our efforts to advocate cost reducing association health plans.

Significantly, 62 percent of members are concerned about the regulatory culture and 52 percent are concerned about an increase to the minimum wage.

Participants also revealed an overwhelming response to the need for a skilled workforce and concern the governor would implement another shutdown or further restrictions on their business.

With many employers expressing their frustrations with rising health insurance costs, we asked what steps they have been taking to keep it manageable. The top response was to share the cost increase with employees followed closely behind by moving to higher deductible plans. Our survey also indicated these increases have affected about one-third of employers’ ability to provide raises or bonuses for their employees.

Good news: Jobs are available.

According to our members, 87 percent said if the right workers were available, they would hire more employees in 2021. Fiftyfive percent of survey takers indicated they would hire one to five employees, and 19 percent responded they could hire eleven or more should they find the right talent.

Since most manufacturing jobs pay higher entry level wages than other industries, about half of our survey takers were not concerned with a minimum wage increase.

However, for those that it will affect, the top two responses were to reduce employee benefits and automate where possible.

This should concern lawmakers when considering these policies.

Wrapping up our list was the effect and concern that legalizing marijuana would have on business. More than half (54 percent) indicated this was a concern.

Specifically, there is worry about what is not included in these policy conversations.

Insurance liabilities, safety fears, inability to test in real-time if an employee is impaired, employer employment rights and worker motivation were recurring trends in the feedback from our members.

The MBA’s 2020 Government Affairs Survey qualifies the effects of public policy on our membership and serves as one of our most useful tools to develop policy positions. Our Government Affairs team plans to use this information to increase our effectiveness to support pro-business policies.

To learn more, visit the Government Affairs page on www.mbausa.org or contact us at 814/833-3200.

mbabizmag.com • MAY 2021

15

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MAY 2021 • mbabizmag.com

CO M PAN Y PR O FIL E Address: 1253 West 12th Street P.O. Box 4061 Erie, PA 16512

Phone: 814/455-3941 (VP of Sales & Engineering Bill Goodwin)

Websites: www.eriepress.com www.ajax-ceco.com Newly Formed Ajax/CECO/Erie Press Offers New Opportunities New investments, equipment and market opportunities were outlined aerospace, power generation, tool, primary steel and aluminum industries during the recent company meeting in Erie, PA by the newly formed Ajax/ worldwide. Today, new presses and forming systems are also being commisCECO/Erie Press company, which brought together exceptional brands, sioned for industrial growth areas such as China and India.

Ajax/CECO Erie Press Systems. The meeting hosted by Edward Crawford, The core business is building custom hydraulic presses, including forging former CEO and chairman, and Ernie Lauber, president of Park Ohio’s presses, extruders, upsetters, stretch formers, along with mechanical Engineering Products Group, talked about the positive impact on the local forging presses, mechanical trim presses, forging hammers, wire and Erie economy and the leadership position bar drawers straighteners, and cutoff machines. of creating North America’s largest forging Some of these are highly complex machines equipment supplier of new equipment, that may take up to 30 months from design rebuilds, service and replacement parts. through commissioning and SAT. Others are Park Ohio, a $1.3 billion publicly traded required to be first time erected/assembled/ company, is investing in the Erie, PA facility commissioned at the customer’s facility due to drive Ajax/CECO/Erie’s growth which to their size. will create jobs. The Ajax/Erie integration Large-scale materials forging and forming strengthens Erie’s strategic importance knowledge ultimately guide the company’s and will lead to an improved life cycle future. “Combining Ajax and Erie will increase platform for their customers’ equipment. our diverse, skilled workforce who take pride With Ajax and Erie having built more than in designing, building and maintaining complex ma7,000 forging industry machines, this chines, enabling us to win when competing with new company’s roots dated to the 1800s companies many times larger in international and fueled the Industrial Revolution. Its markets,” states Clark King, president. equipment was integral to the automotive,

mbabizmag.com • MAY 2021

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2021 SHOWCASE OF MANUFACTURERS AJAX/CECO/ERIE PRESS 1253 West 12th Street, Erie, PA 16501 Phone: 814/455-3941 Websites: www.eriepress.com www.ajax-ceco.com Ajax / CECO / Erie Press is now North American’s largest forging equipment supplier. Manufacturer of custom hydraulic and mechanical presses, hammers and upsetters for the forging industry, extrusion, wire drawers, stretch forming, and compaction for the metal forming industry.

CHANNELLOCK 1306 S. Main Street, Meadville, PA 16335 Phone: 800/724-3018 Website: www.channellock.com Founded in 1886, Channellock, Inc. is a worldwide leader in the manufacture of high-quality pliers and assorted hand tools. Family owned and operated, Channellock, Inc. has more than 4,000 U.S. wholesale and retail customers and ships to customers in 45 countries.

ERIE STRAYER COMPANY 1851 Rudolph Avenue, Erie, PA 16502 Phone: 814/456-7001 Website: www.eriestrayer.com Erie Strayer Company, family owned since 1912, is a fourth-generation industry leader in the designing, engineering and manufacturing of concrete batch plants. From custom ready-mix plants to highly mobile paving plants, ERIE’s rugged quality and timely aftersale support helps to ensure repeat business. ERIE also manufactures its own Heavy-Duty Tilt Drum Mixer, Liberty Batching Control System and state-of-the art PLC-Based Automatic Material Handling Controls.

ERIEZ MAGNETICS 2200 Asbury Road, Erie, PA 16506 Phone: 814/835-6000 Website: www.eriez.com Eriez designs and manufactures separation, metal detection and material handling solutions for processing industries. Headquartered in Erie, Pennsylvania since 1942, Eriez has grown into a global company with 12 manufacturing facilities around the globe.

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GREAT LAKES MANUFACTURING 1521 Enterprise Rd., Corry, PA 16407 Phone: 814/734-7303 Website: www.GreatCabinets.com Manufacturer of UL Listed enclosures for industrial control panels and IT equipment; available in multiple NEMA ratings for harsh indoor and outdoor environments.

LINCOLN RECYCLING 1602 Selinger Ave. 986 French St. Erie, PA 16505 Meadville, PA 16335 Phone: 814/838-7628 814/724-2241 Website: www.lincolnrecycling.com Lincoln Recycling is a full-service recycling center located in Erie and Meadville and has provided quality recycling services to the tri-state area including PA, NY and OH for over 75 years. The company offers two drive-thru, dropoff locations in Erie and Meadville. It also offers pick-up service to its’ industrial and commercial customers placing containers onsite to fit their recycling needs.

MATRIC GROUP 2099 Hill City Road, Seneca, PA 16346 Phone: 814/677-0716 Website: www.matric.com Founded in 1971, Matric has provided world-class Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) for 50 years. The company specializes in high mix/low to high volume contract assembly. Services include Surface Mount & ThroughHole Technology Assembly, Cable & Harness Assembly, Electromechanical Assembly, Aftermarket Services, and Obsolescence Management. Certifications include AS 9100, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14001, NADCAP Accredited in Electronics, ITAR, RoHS, and ATEX/Ex Qan compliant, and a HUBZone business. From design to production, throughout a product’s lifecycle, Matric partners with customers to achieve their products’ highest potential.

MCCOURT LABEL COMPANY 20 Egbert Lane, Lewis Run, PA 16738 Phone: 800/458-2390 Fax: 888/735-0014 Website: www.mccourtlabel.com We provide Solutions that Stick…McCourt’s quality and attention to detail are at the highest levels to be found in the label industry. With both digital and flexo capabilities, McCourt has extensive expertise in designing and manufacturing custom and stock products for virtually every conceivable labeling need.

Pennsylvania’s manufacturing industry comprises more than 14,400 establishments and more than 550,000 employees that represent both traditional and additive manufacturing. Along with national and international companies, small and medium-size businesses have a significant presence here, and share in the state’s manufacturing history. Here are a few of those companies that are proud to manufacture in the Keystone State:

MICRO MOLD CO., INC. 4820 Pittsburgh Avenue, Erie, PA 16509 Phone: 814/838-3404 Website: www.plastikoserie.com Provides custom mold design & fabrication services along with plastics engineering support services to the medical device and electronics industries.

RIDG-U-RAK, INC. 120 South Lake Street, North East, PA 16428 Phone: 866/479-7225 Website: www.ridgurak.com At 79 years strong, Ridg-U-Rak is one of North America’s largest and most successful industrial pallet rack and storage rack manufacturers. Ridg-U-Rak designs and manufactures a full array of storage rack solutions.

R

PARKER LORD 2455 Robison Road West, Erie, PA 16509 Phone: 814/868-3180 Website: www.lord.com A diversified technology and manufacturing company developing highly reliable adhesives, coatings, motion management devices, and sensing technologies that significantly reduce risk and improve product performance.

For more than 90 years, LORD Corporation has worked in collaboration with its customers to provide innovative aerospace, defense, automotive and industrial solutions.

THE

PLASTEK GROUP

1956

65 YEARS

2021

PRECISION PROFILES 45727 State Route 27, Titusville, PA 16354 Phone: 814/827-9887 Website: www.precisionprofilesllc.com Precision Profiles is a contract manufacturer specializing in the production of tight-tolerance, high-precision OEM steam turbine components for industrial and defense applications. The company also offers a full suite of CNC milling, machining, turning, saw cutting and wire EDM services.

THE PLASTEK GROUP A world-class injection molding, rigid plastics processor.

2425 West 23rd Street, Erie, PA 16506 Phone: 814/878-4400 Website: www.plastekgroup.com Specializing in consumer packaging, Plastek is a global supplier for all customers’ plastic needs. Family owned and operated since 1956, and multiple industry award winner, Plastek is an integrated company with capabilities producing high quality custom & stock designs, tool & mold build manufacturing, molding & assembly, and added value services.

SMITH PROVISION COMPANY, INC. 1300 Cranberry Street, Erie, PA 16501 Phone: 814/459-4974 Website: www.smithhotdogs.com Manufacturer of premium quality wieners, sausages, deli meats, bacon and award-winning hams.

TM

URBAN ENGINEERS 1319 Sassafras Street, Erie, PA 16501 Phone: 814/453-5702 Website: www.urbanengineers.com A multidisciplinary planning, design, environmental and construction support services consulting firm with 15 locations across the United States.

PLASTIKOS, INC. 8165 Hawthorne Drive, Erie, PA 16509 Phone: 814/868-1656 Website: www.plastikoserie.com Plastikos provides custom injection molding along with plastics engineering support services to the medical device and electronics industries.

PLASTIKOS MEDICAL 8121 Hawthorne Drive, Erie, PA 16509 Phone: 814/868-1656 Website: www.plastikoserie.com Plastikos Medical is a state-of-the-art, medical injection molding company with a certified ISO-7 (Class 10,000) cleanroom molding floor, and which is strategically located just down the street from Plastikos.

THE WARREN COMPANY 2201 Loveland Avenue, Erie, PA 16505 Phone: 814/838-8681 Website: www.thewarrencompany.com “We put the ‘service’ in Service Center” A leader in materials supply and custom fabrication.

Providing value added services of laser cutting, plasma cutting, torch cutting, rolling, shearing, forming, fabrication and blanchard grinding.

Wettekin Electronics Automation for Industry

REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY 1738 West 20th Street, Erie, PA 16502 Phone: 814/455-8023 Website: rehrigpacific.com Manufactures recycle bins, milk crates, and dairy crates, to name a few.

WETTEKIN ELECTRONICS 4506 West 12th Street, Erie, PA 16505 Phone: 814/838-9184 Fax: 814/838-6060 Website: www.WettekinElectronics.com Wettekin Electronics is a multifaceted, industrial distributor with over 50 years of experience in supporting Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and in supplying Maintenance Repair Operations (MRO) throughout the tri-state area of Northeastern Ohio, Northwestern Pennsylvania, and Southwestern New York. mbabizmag.com • MAY 2021

19

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Concerned about your financial plans? Need a second opinion?

Whether you’re just starting, building your financial assets, or a long-time investor, Erie Advisors, located at Erie Federal Credit Union, will listen to your goals, offer objective advice, establish a plan for you and closely monitor your investments.

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*Representatives are registered, securities sold, advisory services offered through CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. (CBSI), member FINRA/ SIPC, a registered broker/dealer and investment advisor, which is not an affiliate of the credit union. CBSI is under contract with the financial institution to make securities available to members. Not NCUA/NCUSIF/ FDIC insured, May Lose Value, No Financial Institution Guarantee. Not a deposit of any financial institution. CBSI is a registered broker/dealer in all fifty states of the United States of America. The representative may also be a financial institution employee that accepts deposits on behalf of the financial institution.

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Including LifeSolutions EAP, a confidential employee assistance program essential for employees and members of their household. It’s also why LifeSolutions EAP is endorsed by the Manufacturer & Business Association. And why members of MBA receive a 10% savings for working with our EAP services. For more than 20 years, Workpartners has helped employers of all sizes make the most of their workforce, including with integration of population analytics, advocacy programs, and HR technology.

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CO M PAN Y PR O FIL E Address: 1105 Thompson Avenue McKees Rocks, PA 15136 Ace Wire Spring & Form is an industry leader in the manufacturing of custom precision compression springs, extension springs, torsion springs and wire forms. In 1939, Ace Wire Spring & Form started out in the industry with a small coiling machine making garter springs by hand.

The owner, Joseph Vodvarka, was a machinist, working hands-on in the upstairs room of his house, which was converted into a small office / shop to produce the garter springs needed at the time.

Through the years, Ace Wire Spring & Form grew, and the belief of family was always a part of it. In 1976, Joseph Vodvarka’s daughter, Linda, and her husband, Rich Froehlich, bought the company and continue to keep it a family owned and operated business. Rich and Linda Froehlich have a strong belief in family and carry over that belief into the company culture when doing business. Customers benefit from this by receiving personalized customer service, engineering assistance, and a quality final product suited to meet their needs.

Ace Wire Spring & Form is expanding into new machinery and the most up-to-date CNC technology, allowing them to offer the widest variety of custom precision springs. The company continues to be a community leader,

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growing awareness of manufacturing career opportunities and reaching out to help grow the next generation of manufacturing. A first-class team of onsite engineers is ready to assist customers with developing solutions for a large variety of applications, along with an onsite quality control staff. Their veteran craftsmen are trained in the latest and most advanced forms of mechanical and CNC wire forming machines and techniques. The benefit Ace Wire Spring & Form delivers to companies time and time again is that it understands their customers’ needs and meets their requirements while delivering a quality product.

Phone: 412/458-4830 Website: www.acewirespring.com Email: aceinfo@acewirespring.com

HR CONNECTION | WORKPLACE TRENDS SURVEY: FRONTLINE MANUFACTURING WORKERS WANT CONNECTED DIGITAL TOOLS, BUT MANY LACK ACCESS

The majority of U.S. frontline manufacturing workers (72 percent) have no concerns using mobile software and apps in order to do their jobs better; however, fewer than half report having mobile technology on the factory floor to help them work more efficiently, according to the results of a new survey conducted by Parsable, the Connected Worker™ Platform company.

As part of The State of Digital and Connected Work on the Manufacturing Frontlines, Parsable surveyed 1,168 U.S.-based frontline manufacturing workers to understand the technologies they are being given to help them do their jobs, gauge overall sentiment on using digital tools in the workplace, and identify generational differences in attitudes toward technology and company loyalty.

Manufacturing, Other Industries Should Consider Additive Value of Women Leaders to Aid Recovery Over the last year, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted lives around the world.

Now, researchers report this disruption may negatively impact women’s workforce equality.

Since the pandemic began, nearly 3 million women have exited the workforce, 400,000 more than men. This mass exodus has been a setback for many organizations, resembling the workforce of nearly a decade ago. More disturbingly, this trend may not level out for several more years; projections by McKinsey and Oxford Economics show women recovering to pre-pandemic levels by 2024, while men will recover by 2022. This may have a severe economic and diversity impact as most industries, including manufacturing, need all the talent available to sustain recovery.

While headway has been made in gender equality, a gap still exists in both pay and promotion. Pre-pandemic, women only earned 82 cents for every dollar a male earned and moms earned 70 cents for every dollar a dad earned. For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 85 women were promoted. Now, as women attempt to re-enter the workforce, concerns swirl around even lower pay and a longer corporate ladder climb.

To combat this, business and industry must consciously consider other perspectives.

Research shows women provide additive value — both in viewpoint and return on investment (ROI). Studies demonstrate company profits are 50-percent higher when women are well represented in leadership. Further, senior-level women are more likely than their male counterparts to advocate for diversity and equality. Losing women, especially in leadership, could mean diversity setbacks and additional women exiting.

More than half of respondents said the opportunity to work in a more modern, digital environment would be part of their decision to leave their current employer. Among digital-native Millennials and Generation Z, 56 percent have been in their current manufacturing job for less than two years; many intend to move on to a different employer within two years.

STUDY: 83 PERCENT OF MANUFACTURERS SEE SMART MANUFACTURING AS CRITICAL Plex Systems, a leader in cloud-delivered smart manufacturing solutions, recently announced the results of its sixth annual study, the State of Smart Manufacturing. This year’s study, which was conducted in collaboration with Hanover Research, highlights how manufacturers use smart technology to tackle today’s challenges and drive measurable ROI, and are positioned to take advantage of future opportunities.

The findings demonstrate a need for smart manufacturing technology to address current challenges, including those heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, 83 percent of manufacturers say the pandemic has made adopting smart manufacturing technologies and processes a priority.

If you want to know more, attend the MBA’s Women in Leadership course on Tuesday, May 25. This full-day course provides both men and women a leadership perspective with a focus on women’s unique contributions and obstacles in the workforce.

Participants learn what it means to lead in your own style, how to handle conflict, and how to communicate with various communication styles (including gender differences). To register, visit www.mbausa.org.

Meghan Duda is an instructor at the Manufacturer & Business Association and former assistant professor and chair of Communications at Mercyhurst University.

She is also the owner of Duda Digital Marketing.

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mbabizmag.com • MAY 2021

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LEGAL Q&A | GET ANSWERS WHERE IN MY PLACE OF BUSINESS AM I REQUIRED TO POST LABOR POSTERS? Generally, federal workplace posters must be displayed or posted in conspicuous places where they are easily visible to all employees — the intended audience. The Family and Medical Leave Act, Equal Employment Opportunity, and Employee Polygraph Protection Act posters also are required to be placed where they can be seen by applicants for employment.

DO I HAVE TO POST THE FEDERAL WORKPLACE POSTERS IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH? With a few exceptions (Family and Medical Leave Act, Migrant and Seasonal Agriculture Worker Protection Act, and Executive Order 13496), the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) regulations do not require posting of notices in Spanish or other languages. However, the DOL strongly encourages you to post the posters that are available in other languages if employees in your workforce speak other languages.

WHERE CAN I GET THE REQUIRED LABOR POSTERS? Employers can generally download posters from the state and federal websites, or they may choose to order laminated all-in-one-type posters from a reputable poster vendor, such as the Manufacturer & Business Association.

Visit www.mbausa.org to learn more.

DOL Issues Guidance on Electronic Posting of Labor Law Notices On December 29, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued Field Assistance Bulletin 2020-7, which addresses when the DOL will consider electronic posting by employers (by email, or an Internet or intranet website) sufficient to provide employees with required notice of their statutory rights under a variety of federal labor laws.

The Bulletin was issued in response to employer questions about the use of electronic means to post notices under the following laws, as more employees work remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This Compliance Bulletin summarizes the current statutory and regulatory posting requirements, and explains how electronic means of satisfying these requirements can be achieved pursuant to the DOL guidance.

The Bulletin outlines when electronic posting is an acceptable substitute for the continuous posting requirement contained in several statutes. Where delivery of notices to individual employees is permitted, email delivery (or another similar method of electronic delivery) is sufficient only if the employee customarily receives information from the employer electronically. Affected individuals must be able to readily see a copy of the required postings in electronic format, which will depend on the facts. For example, the affected individual must be capable of accessing the posting without having to specifically request permission to view a file or access a computer. The employer must take steps to inform employees of where and how to access the notice electronically.

In most cases, electronic notices supplement, but do not replace, the statutory and regulatory requirements that employers post a hard-copy notice. For example, the DOL encourages both methods of posting when an employer has employees onsite and others teleworking full time.

According to the DOL, whether notices are provided electronically or in hardcopy format, it is an employer’s obligation to provide the required notices to all affected individuals.

Tammy Lamary-Toman, JD, PHR, is vice president and employment counsel at the Manufacturer & Business Association. Contact her at ttoman@mbausa.org.

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MAY 2021 • mbabizmag.com

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MAY 2021 • mbabizmag.com

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Parker LORD Corporation Headquarters: Cary, North Carolina NWPA Operations: Erie, Cambridge Springs and Saegertown 1-877-275-5673 (ASK LORD) www.lord.com or www.parker.com

Stronger Together: Parker LORD Corporation In October 2019, Parker Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH), the global leader in motion and control technologies, completed its acquisition of LORD Corporation – a leading manufacturer of advanced adhesives and coatings, as well as vibration and motion control technologies. The strategic transaction creates a combined organization with strong materials science capabilities, electrification and aerospace product offerings that are highly complementary.

LORD will strengthen Parker’s portfolio of attractive margin

CO M PAN Y PR O FIL E

and high growth businesses, and significantly expand Parker’s materials science capabilities with complementary products, better positioning Parker to serve customers in growth industries and capitalize on emerging trends such as electrification and lightweighting.

Both Parker and LORD are strong organizations with rich histories, passionate team members, and winning cultures. For more than 100 years, Parker has engineered the success of its customers in a wide range of diversified industrial

and aerospace markets. For more than 95 years, LORD has worked in collaboration with its customers to provide innovative aerospace, defense, automotive, and industrial solutions. Together, these two great companies partner to expand our technology portfolio and strengthen our position as a global leader in engineered materials and products.

What made this deal so attractive to Parker is not only the complementary nature of the product lines but the skills and talents of the LORD team members.

Bringing the teams together is a natural fit, as both companies share a focus on safety, quality, customer experience, profitable growth and high performance. We know from experience that engaged team members are the foundation of Parker’s success and we are committed to providing the tools and resources needed to help all individuals thrive.

Parker Hannifin is a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies. Locally, Parker LORD operations are located in Erie, Cambridge Springs and Saegertown, PA. Parker Hannifin has other operations in Erie, PA and Union City, PA.

mbabizmag.com • MAY 2021

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STRONGER THAN EVER. JV Manufacturing continues to grow. And with that growth comes new capabilities. We now offer solutions for stamping plastics with the recent development of new stamping tool methods.

When you need an expert manufacturing partner to deliver your most essential die stamping and component manufacturing projects on-time, on-spec and on-budget, reach out to our ever-expanding team.

Learn more at jvmfgco.com

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MAY 2021 • mbabizmag.com

EVENTS & EXTRAS | NETWORKING & MORE

The Manufacturer & Business Association is proud to recognize our members that are celebrating milestone anniversaries. To learn more about the benefits of MBA membership, as well as upcoming programs and services, visit www.mbausa.org. in nia recently marked its 50th year FPI Industries in Arnold, Pennsylva was incorporated in 1971. business. Fabricated Plastics Inc.

Heath Oil in Franklin, Pennsylvania is marking its 50th anniversary in 2021.

Congrats to Canfield Auto Radiator Inc. on 75 years in business. The company was started in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1946. rating 100 years this year.

Longue Vue Country Club is celeb Longue Vue includes a private, Located in Verona, Pennsylvania, pionship golf course. full-service clubhouse and cham

Sightline Ophthalmic Associates is marking its 20th year in 2021.

The medical group practice located in Sewickley, Pennsylvania speci alizes in ophthalmology and optometry.

10 Years! NEXT Architecture in

Pittsburgh recently marked a decad

e in business.

mbabizmag.com • MAY 2021

29

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ERIE, PA PERMIT #199

Stick with what works.

96% of businesses that choose UPMC Health Plan stay with UPMC Health Plan.

You’ve given a lot of thought to your employees’ health coverage. And you’ve come to a familiar conclusion — nothing’s better than UPMC Health Plan. Choose us for affordable plan options.

Full in-network access to UPMC along with other doctors and hospitals in the community.

Urgent care when you travel. Service from a designated Health Care Concierge. And health tools that keep up with busy lives and schedules. All this is worth sticking with, don’t you agree?

To learn more, visit UPMCHealthPlan.com/employers. #stickwiththeplan