Northwest Florida Manufacturing News Monthly
American Elite Molding Wins Florida Manufacturer of the Year Award
American Elite Molding (AEM), America's leading manufacturer of cable ties, has been selected as a 2017 Florida Manufacturer of the Year by the Manufacturers Association of Florida (MAF). The company was chosen as a winner in the Medium (101-250 employees) category. For more than a decade, the MAF annual awards program has identified the top manufacturing and distributing companies in the state of Florida.
 
Thirteen judges devoted their time and expertise over the past quarter evaluating several dozen industry nominees. Each company was judged on leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, measurement, analysis and knowledge management, workforce focus, and process management. In addition to evaluation of the applications, the judges interviewed each nominee and toured their facilities. Other winners include Crevalle Boats (Wildwood), Exatech, Inc. (Gainesville), and C.H. Robinson (Tampa).

"We are very proud to be selected as a 2017 Florida Manufacturer of the Year, and we thank the Manufacturers Association of Florida for this honor," said American Elite Molding CEO and Founder Robert Sires. "We remain committed to producing Made-in-USA, top-quality products at our Crestview, Florida plant, which runs 24/7/365 and has the most advanced production processes in the country. The dedication of our team has enabled us to achieve double-digit growth for the past 12 years. We currently manufacture more than 1.5 billion cable ties annually and are on track to double in size within the next five years, reaching $50 million in sales. We will do this while continuing our commitment to providing superior service to our customers and a fantastic working environment for our staff."
 
"The 2017 winners represent a high standard of excellence in the Florida manufacturing industry," said Amanda Bowen, MAF Executive Director. "Our state's manufacturing industry is booming in every sense of the word. We are home to more than 20,000 manufacturers and these accomplished winners are leaders in their field. We are honored to recognize their achievements and propel them into the spotlight."
 
For further distinction, MAF awarded program winners who also hold membership in the association with the 2017 Seal of Excellence. The Seal sets those winners apart with an additional honor in recognition of their advances and leadership in the industry.

American Elite Molding is America's leading manufacturer of nylon cable ties. Located in Crestview, Florida, its state-of-the-art facility operates 24/7/365 and boasts the most advanced production processes in the U.S. AEM offers an extensive line of cable ties in a variety of lengths, tensile strengths, and colors, plus accessories such as mounting pads and cable clamps. American Elite Molding's specialty products include EZ-Off™ ties, releasable ties, custom-printed ties, and HVAC duct straps. All cable ties use virgin nylon 6/6 to guarantee superior quality and are UL Listed and Mil-Spec approved, including UL 62275 Type 21S. AEM maintains a full inventory of all cable ties for Just-in-Time delivery from one of four stocking locations to its national distributor network. American Elite Molding is committed to continuous improvement in quality and service in all areas. The company focuses on customer success as well as satisfaction, and all American Elite Molding products are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. 
 
For more information, call 1-888-463-3454, email CEO Robert Sires at rsires@robertsires.com, visit AmericanEliteMolding.com, or find AEM on Facebook.
Manufacturers Working with FloridaMakes Report Millions in Impact
FloridaMakes is excited to report that Florida manufacturers who received services have reported a combined total of over $248 million in measureable impacts (total survey data through Q3 2017). The results break down to include: 

  • Increased or retained sales: $166 million
  • Total cost savings: $25.5 million
  • Total investments: $56.6 million (equipment, new products, skills, and other) 
  • Jobs created or retained: 2381

These survey results represent data from 128 firms. On average, over $1.9 million in total impact and over 18 jobs were created or retained per firm. 

FloridaMakes is a great resource and can help your company address current challenges, create new opportunities for growth, and achieve measurable results. To learn how FloridaMakes’ services can unlock growth opportunities and cost savings for your company, contact your FloridaMakes Business Advisors: Daniel Krug at dkrug@uwf.edu or (850) 612-5895; Mike Shew at mshew@uwf.edu or (850) 377-0716.

Please take a look at both statewide and regional FloridaMakes success stories.

The findings were reported directly by manufacturers through a third-party survey conducted on behalf of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP).
MAF Updates
Florida Constitution Revision Commission
The Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) meets every 20 years to propose changes to the state’s constitution. Thirty-seven Commissioners make up the CRC: 15 appointed by the Governor, nine selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, nine members selected by the Senate President, three selected by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Attorney General. The CRC has selected over 100 proposals for further consideration. Three of these are of particular importance to the business community: Proposal 23 Environmental Rights, Proposal 29 E-Verify, and Proposal 48 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Proposal 23 Environmental Rights
Sponsored by Commissioner Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, Proposal 23 guarantees the right to a clean environment, including clean air and water, controlled pollution, and conservation and restoration efforts. 

Proposal 29 E-Verify
Proposal 29 states that employers who knowingly or intentionally employ unauthorized aliens will be in violation of any held licenses. This proposal, sponsored by Commissioner Rich Newsome, would require employers to verify employment eligibility of new employees using E-Verify.

Proposal 48 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee
Sponsored by Commissioner Thurlow-Lippisch, Proposal 48 would give the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee authority of the state with respect to habitats and wildlife corridors.
New CPT Recipients
Gabriel Garrett, an Automation and Production Tech freshman at Freeport High School, was the first in his class to earn his CPT certification. Gabriel has a visual impairment and utilized adaptive technology throughout the curriculum, adding great significance to this achievement. After he graduates in 2020, Gabriel wants to pursue a degree in an engineering field.
Scott Howard, a senior in the Manufacturing and Pre-Engineering Academy at Freeport High School, has earned his CPT certification. "I want to pursue a career in the automotive field. The CPT skills I have learned will continue to help me in problem solving and maintenance as I move into my future career," says Scott.
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This newsletter was developed in collaboration with the University of West Florida.