ORWIGSBURG — The Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association recognized local manufacturers and service-providing firms during its annual Excellence Awards dinner Tuesday evening at the Schuylkill Country Club.
Darlene J. Robbins, MAEA president, said the annual awards dinner provides an opportunity to recognize the technological innovations and community involvement of the local businesses.
“It speaks volumes of how much our manufacturers care about continuing to want to make things in America and how much our employers are committed to being a part of every community they are in,” Robbins said.
Four manufacturers and four service-providing firms received awards. Winners were chosen based on the company’s energy efficiencies and environmental improvements, process improvement, community involvement, product innovation and expansion.
Manufacturers receiving awards were MI Windows and Doors LLC, Hegins, for community involvement; Sapa Extrusion, Cressona, for process improvement/product innovations; Cardinal Systems Inc., Schuylkill Haven, for product innovation; and Solar Innovations Inc., Pine Grove, for expansion.
Employers receiving awards were Southwestern Energy, Tunkhannock, energy efficiencies/environmental improvements; Sterman Masser Inc., Sacramento, product innovation; M&T Bank, Pottsville, for community involvement, and Borton-Lawson, Wilkes-Barre, process improvement.
Cardinal Systems also won the second Commitment Award, which is awarded to a company that shows complete dedication to the goals and values of MAEA through various means, according to the event program.
Cardinal Systems, a manufacturer of in-ground steel pool walls and components, created a new product line, Sierra Outdoor Designs, according to the event program. Sierra Outdoor Designs is a system of outdoor kitchen cabinets utilizing a modular design.
“To be able to provide something new is really exciting,” Debra Haase, president of Cardinal Systems, said.
The company has also invested in its employees by utilizing MAEA’s services. In 2015, the Cardinal Systems invested more than $33,000 in sponsorships, program participation, training and consulting, according to the program.
“A strong workforce is the heart of our business,” Haase said.
Sapa Extrusion is currently producing a high volume of precision tubing to Ford for their new aluminum Ford F-150 series truck line, which required extensive product development that included a specialized aluminum alloy and extrusion recipe to meet the product requirements, according to the program. A custom automated work cell installation was also required to automate the processing of the tubes.
Jean-Christophe Tygier of Sapa Extusions said the company has supplied 8.7 million pounds of aluminum to Ford in 2014 and expects a 50 percent increase this year.
Solar Innovations completed a 30,000 square foot expansion in 2015 on their second building to segregate their aluminum, wood and vinyl manufacturing into three separate buildings, according to the program. The company had a 40 percent growth in 2015 and had already exceeded its pledge to create 30 new jobs between 2014 and 2017.
“We just keep building a good team and doing it by having the great support of the community, the county and the people around you,” Greg Header, president of Solar Innovations, said.
M&T Bank has donated $139,534 to local organizations in Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in 2015 and its employees volunteer for more than 20 organizations in Schuylkill County, according to the program.
“We don’t do this because we have to do it, and I think all the employees have learned that we do it because we want to help and it’s the right thing to do,” Ken Stolarick, vice president of M&T Bank, said.
Last year, MI Windows and Doors formalized their community outreach efforts by establishing The MIWD Charitable Foundation, which has donated time and funding to numerous local organizations, emergency response teams and families in need, according to the program. The company has also organized events for the community like Friends and Family Day and have supported nonprofit organizations like the Four Diamonds Fund, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Homes for our Troops.
“Any family or organization in need, we are always willing to help out,” Troy Etzweiler of MI Windows and Doors said.
The third largest natural gas producer in the country, Southwestern Energy launched its Energy Conserving Water water management program in 2015, according to the program. The company completed the Fall Brook Acid Mine Drainage Treatment and Restoration Program last fall and worked with about 12 municipal, county, state and federal agencies, as well as other organizations, to improve the water quality in the Susquehanna River Basin and Chesapeake Bay. The company also established a trust dedicated to funding ongoing maintenance.
Borton-Lawson has advanced engineering technology with new tools to streamline construction and make engineering costs more predicable.
Sterman Masser invested in a new machine to pack potatoes. Their side delight roastables won the 2016 GDUSA American Package Design Award and are currently in three locations.