Birmingham News
Fourteen Alabama companies named finalists for Manufacturer of the Year Awards
By Dawn Kent
Fourteen Alabama companies, from automakers to
chemical firms to a pottery studio, have been named finalists for the Manufacturer
of the Year Awards.
The Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Technology Network announced
the finalists today. The awards will be presented Wednesday at a luncheon in
Montgomery.
The awards program is in its 13th year and recognizes Alabama manufacturers
that show excellence in leadership, performance, profitability and work force
relations. Awards are presented in small, medium and large size categories.
The finalists range from large companies such as Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Alabama Inc. in Huntsville, which recently announced an expansion plan,
to small firms like Earthborn Studios of Leeds, which provided the dishes
for an episode of Food Network's "Iron Chef America" earlier this
year.
Here are the finalists:
Small manufacturers (one to 99 employees)
Cascades Sonoco, Birmingham
Earthborn Studios, Leeds
Electrifil Corp., Elkmont
Medium manufacturers (100 to 399 employees)
3M Co., Guin
Daikin America Inc., Decatur
Gambro Renal Products, Opelika
Heritage Wire Harness LLC, Fort Payne
Lear Corp., Montgomery
Prystup Packaging Products, Livingston
Large manufacturers (400 or more employees)
Austal USA, Mobile
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Gadsden
Rheem Water Heating, Montgomery
Sikorsky Aircraft, Troy
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Inc., Huntsville
Tuscaloosa News
Prystup finalist for BCA honors
By Dana Beyerle
Prystup Packaging Products of Livingston has been nominated for the 2012 Manufacturer of the Year Award by the Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Technology Network, the BCA announced Monday.
Prystup, a privately owned, independent folding carton company, is one of 14 companies nominated for the annual award. Prystup was nominated in the medium-size manufacturing category of between 100 and 399 employees.
Company officials couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Nominations were also made in the small and large manufacturer divisions.
Award winners will be named Wednesday at a luncheon in Montgomery, where Attorney General Luther Strange will speak.
The awards recognize Alabama manufacturing enterprises that exhibit excellence in leadership, performance, profitability and workforce relations. Winners are selected by an independent panel, the BCA said.
“These existing manufacturing companies epitomize what it takes to grow the private sector, create jobs, and move Alabama’s economy forward,” said BCA president and CEO William J. Canary.
Finalists in the small manufacturer division are Cascades Sonoco, Birmingham; Earthborn Studios, Leeds; and Electrifil Corp., Elkmont.
Finalists in the medium-size manufacturer division in addition to Prystup are 3M Co., Guin; Daikin America Inc., Decatur; Gambro Renal Products, Opelika; Heritage Wire Harness LLC, Fort Payne; and Lear Corp., Montgomery.
Finalists in the large manufacturer division are Austal USA, Mobile; Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Gadsden; Rheem Water Heating, Montgomery; Sikorsky Aircraft, Troy; and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Inc., Huntsville.
Troy Messenger
Sikorsky named as a finalist
By Robbyn Brooks
A Troy-based facility has been
named a finalist as part of a competition to be recognized as Manufacturer of
the Year.
Sikorsky’s Troy Operations is in
the running for the Large Manufacturer title to be awarded by the Business
Council of Alabama and the Alabama Technology Network in their Manufacturer of
the Year awards.
“We have utilized world class
lean manufacturing techniques to create capacity and increase our
competitiveness resulting in the addition of six new product lines in 2012,”
said Jason Lambert, general manager of Sikorsky Troy Operations. “To be
nominated and selected as a finalist with other fine Alabama companies is a
testament to our great workforce.”
Other companies up against
Sikorsky are Austal USA in Mobile, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in
Gadsden, Rheem Water Heating in Montgomery and Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Alabama, Inc. in Huntsville.
“These existing manufacturing
companies epitomize what it takes to grow the private sector, create jobs, and
move Alabama’s economy forward,” said BCA president and CEO William J. Canary.
“We applaud all the finalists for their commitment to a better quality of life
for their employees and for their commitment to the local community they
serve.”
A total of 14 Alabama companies
were recognized as finalists as part of small, medium and large manufacturing
categories based on the size of workforces. Winning manufacturers were selected
by an independent panel of judges who evaluated performance, customer focus,
employee commitment, operational excellence, continuous improvement, profitable
growth and investment in training and retraining.
Winners in each category will be
announced at a luncheon on Wednesday at the RSA Activity Center in Montgomery
following a keynote presentation by Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange.
Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers
(NAM) will also be on hand to present the third annual Governor Bob Riley
Building a Better Alabama Award. This is the 13th installment of the
Manufacturer of the Year Awards.
Gadsden Times
Gadsden Goodyear plant named finalist for Manufacturer of the Year award
By Dana Beyerle
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. of Gadsden has been named a finalist for the 2012 Manufacturer of the Year award by the Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Technology Network, the BCA said Monday. The plant was nominated by The Chamber of Gadsden and Etowah County.
Goodyear is one of 14 Alabama companies to be named finalists for the annual award. It was named a finalist in the large manufacturer division of at least 400 employees.
Awards also will be presented to small- and medium-size manufacturers. Heritage Wire Harness LLC of Fort Payne was named a finalist in the medium division of 100 to 399 employees.
Winners will be named Wednesday at a luncheon in Montgomery. Guest speaker will be Attorney General Luther Strange.
Goodyear plant Manager Jim Davis said just to be named a finalist is an achievement.
“I am so proud of our team, what we've been able to accomplish,” he said. “We'd sure like to win this award. Every day we work hard to serve our customers and improve our operations. Our team earned this recognition.”
Goodyear is in its 83rd year of operation in Gadsden. The plant employs 1,750 people and makes new and aftermarket tires.
“To me it's very meaningful to be nominated,” Davis said. “It demonstrates progress in many areas — technology, new product development and associate team membership and engagement.”
The BCA said the awards recognize Alabama manufacturing enterprises that exhibit excellence in leadership, performance, profitability and workforce relations. Winners are selected by an independent panel, the BCA said.
“These existing manufacturing companies epitomize what it takes to grow the private sector, create jobs, and move Alabama's economy forward,” said BCA President and chief executive officer William J. Canary.
Other finalists in the large manufacturer division are Austal USA, Mobile; Rheem Water Heating, Montgomery; Sikorsky Aircraft, Troy; and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Inc., Huntsville.
Joining Heritage Wire among the medium division finalists are 3M Company, Guin; Daikin America Inc., Decatur; Gambro Renal Products, Opelika; Lear Corp., Montgomery; and Prystup Packaging Products, Livingston.
Finalists in the small manufacturer division are Cascades Sonoco, Birmingham; Earthborn Studios, Leeds; and Electrifil Corp., Elkmont.
