The Bi-Weekly Newsletter of the Council of Industry
April 22, 2021
|
|
Manufacturing Industry News |
|
Hudson Valley Manufacturers' Spotlight:
Bantam Tools
|
|
Bantam Tools, which became a Council of Industry member last fall, manufactures table top CNC milling machines and other accessories. Bantam originated as a kick starter in San Francisco. In 2017, the CEO purchased the company, rebranded, and moved to New York. Bantam is headquartered in Peekskill.
Today, the company’s focus is growth. Bantam launched a new desktop CNC during the pandemic and has found massive demand from customers. To produce these the company added a new machine center and is awaiting an additional CNC machine. “Day to day, we’re working on improving our production efficiencies so we can make more. We’re engineering accessories and developing new products,” says Ron Lorentzen, General Manager at Bantam Tools.
Courtney Wong, Business Operations at Bantam Tools, explains the client-centered focus at the company and the unique experience the products offer their clients. “Bantam Tools is about making affordable CNC machines that give you the precision you need to get professional results,” she says. “Our mission is to empower people to make the things that they can dream up. We have lots of users out there who create incredible things with our machines and we’d like to see that grow.”
Both Lorentzen and Wong emphasize the company’s willingness to hire those without formal experience for entry level positions. “We are willing to train just about anyone with a positive attitude, patience, and a willingness to learn,” says Wong.
|
|
HV Mfg Spring 2021 Edition Now Available Online! |
|
In this edition of HV Mfg, we attempt to look at the realities, opportunities and challenges that will exist for manufacturers in a post pandemic world.
For many Hudson Valley manufacturers, the past 14 months have been a rollercoaster ride of challenges and opportunities. The health and wellbeing of our employees and their families, supply chain issues, lost business, pivots to new products and customers, government interference and government assistance, have provided many ups and downs, highs and lows and twist and turns which have left us feeling at once exhilarated and exhausted.
Click the links below to view our profiles and stories from our guest contributors in the digital edition of HV Mfg. We would like to thank our wonderful advertisers who make this publication possible; we appreciate your support.
|
|
|
|
APPRENTICE PROGRAM
Email
to Learn more.
|
|
For information on advertising in this and other CI publications
|
|
Microfactories v.s. Gigafactories |
|
If you buy Elon Musk’s vision of reinventing manufacturing in America, that means the bigger the better. His multiple gigafactories are squarely in the tradition of Henry Ford’s 16-million square foot, vertically integrated Rouge River plant. But that was nearly 100 years ago. Contrast this massive plant taking years to design, permit, and construct, with the concept of microfactories which are so modular, small, and automated that they only require 200,000 square feet,and can actually be assembled in existing, vacant industrial warehouses, rather than requiring a new building. Unlike conventional plants that may take two years to be operational, they are slated to be up, running, and revenue producing in as little as six months.
|
|
U.S. University R&D Funding Falls Further Behind OECD Peers |
|
In 2013, ITIF found that America was no longer the lead nation in terms of funding university research—nowhere near it, in fact—despite having world-leading research universities that have been key to driving American technological supremacy since World War II. According to the latest data available at that time, the United States ranked 24th out of 39 nations in government funding of university research as a share of gross domestic product (GDP). Since then, according to data provided by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United States remained in 24th place out of 36 nations, with the nine governments investing more than double the U.S. level. In addition, in terms of change, U.S. funding as a share of GDP fell by 0.06 percentage points. The only nations in the sample with larger declines were Lithuania, Estonia, Singapore and Ireland. The United States would need to invest an additional $17 billion per year to get to 15th place in government funding of university research; $31 billion per year to get to 10th place; $51 billion to get to 5th place; or $90 billion to match Norway in 1st place.
|
|
DOL Releases Model Notices for New COBRA Premium Subsidy |
|
Council of Industry Associate member Bond Schoeneck and King report that on April 7, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released model notices that can be used by group health plan sponsors to notify laid off employees and other “assistance eligible individuals” about the COBRA premium subsidy under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Our previous Information Memo explained the new COBRA premium subsidy and the actions that health plan sponsors must take to comply with the requirements relating to the subsidy.
|
|
Smart Masks Add Data, Technology to Pandemic Protections |
|
Face masks are getting upgraded with built-in fans, headphones, health monitoring and more, with Honeywell's Xupermask and AirPop's athlete-focused Active+ Smart mask among the new products from manufacturers. Razer introduced a smart mask prototype at this year's virtual CES event that featured av oice amplification system and LED lighting.
|
|
What Supply Chains Did Right and Where They Can Improve |
|
Contingency plans and risk assessments are an integral part of supply chain management; however, a global pandemic is beyond the scope of most plans. The complications that arose from companies facing supply chain disturbances at the same time that consumers' expectations increased became overwhelming.
|
|
GM Announces Flexible Work Policy |
|
General Motors announced its "Work Appropriately" program Tuesday, an arrangement that will allow employees not needed on-site to continue working remotely. “The future of jobs will not be a one-size fits all approach,” the automaker said in a statement explaining its “Work Appropriately” program to cover 155,000 employees worldwide. Instead, many employees will be allowed to keep working remotely, coming to an office as needed, as long as their tasks are not tied to assembly lines or on-site equipment. That would allow GM to recruit a programmer who lives in Boston without requiring that employee to move, GM global talent acquisition director Cyril George told reporters on a video conference.
|
|
Weed and the Workplace: A Closer Look |
|
Cannabis, or marijuana, is the most consumed illicit substance.And now, roughly one in three Americans live in a state where cannabis is legal for either medical or adult-use (sometimes called recreational use).That, combined without dated policies and testing capabilities, have resulted in a hydra of concerns for companies caught between following the law and ensuring employee safety.
|
|
What's Happening in Your Association |
|
Please Note: Council of Industry Address Change |
|
The Council of Industry office is located at 263 Route 17K, Suite 106, Newburgh, NY 12550. Please ensure all mail is addressed to this location. |
|
The Council of Industry's Congratulates Alicia Zito, Member Engagement Coordinator |
|
The Council of Industry is pleased to announce the promotion of Alicia Zito to Member Engagement Coordinator.
Alicia joined the Council of Industry in October 2020 as an administrative assistant. Prior to joining the Council of Industry, she worked in inventory control at Bell Flavors and Fragrances.
“We are very happy to have Alicia on our team and are excited for her to be in this new Member Engagement role," said Harold King, Council of Industry President. “Her commitment to building relationships with our members as well as her experience in manufacturing make her especially qualified for this position.”
“I am excited for this opportunity to get to know the members better and help them access all the programs and services the Council has to offer. When I worked at Bell, I had the opportunity to participate in several Council programs, including the manufacturing leadership training and the annual luncheon, so I know firsthand how valuable these can be," said Zito. “I’m looking forward to connecting with the members and helping them to get even more value from their membership in the Council.
|
|
When: Tuesday, April, 27, 2021, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Pine Bush High School, 156 NY-302, Pine Bush, NY 12566
Cost: Free for Members
Manufacturers across the country are finding it more and more difficult to fill available jobs, and this is also the case in New York State. Pine Bush High School's Advanced Manufacturing Program is producing graduates with the skills and credentials which make them immediately employable and gives them significant advantages if they are pursuing a post-secondary education.
Due to the success of their programs and the quality of their graduates currently working in the field, Haas Automation, a California based company, is providing Pine Bush High School with a $250,000 naming rights grant to renovate and redesign their current instructional spaces.
Join us at Pine Bush High School on April 27th to celebrate this exciting building project.
|
|
Multi-Sector Virtual Trade Mission to Mexico
June 21–July 2, 2021
Registration Deadline: April 23, 2021
Hosted by Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors' & Premiers' (GSGP)
|
|
Your Company’s Managers Are Exposing You to Employment Lawsuits |
|
When: Friday, April, 30, 2021, 01:00pm - 02:30pm
Where: Interactive Zoom Meeting
Cost: Free for Members
Many costly employment law and human resources issues are caused by a company’s managers. This includes them both being a part of the problem and/or by not being a necessary part of the solution. While managers are often very skilled in the business/production part they are managing, the majority are not trained at all with how to properly communicate with employees and HR on Human Resources issues. They also often fail to understand their complicated specific role in dealing with diverse employee issues such as discrimination, leave, reasonable accommodation and discriminatory harassment. Unfortunately, if not properly addressed, these, and other related issues can lead to costly employment lawsuits.
Seasoned employment attorney, Joel Greenwald, facilitates a brand new and hugely interactive presentation designed to stick in the minds of attendees. The presentation includes interactive and collaborative peer-to-peer breakout rooms, trained Broadway actors doing vignettes of real work scenarios, and other fun ways of approaching this tough, but necessary, topic to protect businesses.
About the Speaker: Joel Greenwald is the Managing Partner of Greenwald Doherty LLP, a management-side employment law firm. While he fiercely defends his clients from claims and aggressively pursues claims on their behalf, Joel believes in helping employers avoid litigation from the start.
|
|
The Manufacturing Matters Podcast |
|
Manufacturing Matters Podcast: Cedric Glasper, President,
Mechanical Rubber Products
|
|
|
In this episode, Council of Industry Vice President Johnnieanne Hansen speaks with longtime Council of Industry board member, Entrepreneur and manufacturing leader, Cedric Glasper, about Mechanical Rubber Products as well as his growth and development as a manufacturing leader.
Mechanical Rubber is a solutions-based, custom contract manufacturer of high-quality rubber, plastic, and metal products. The company continues to innovate processes using cutting edge technology to ensure the highest quality standards are met with each and every order. Johnnieanne and Cedric also discuss his acquisition of an Ohio based specialty rubber business and economic and workforce challenges.
|
|
|
Be a Guest on the Podcast! |
|
The Council of Industry extends thanks to all Manufacturing Matters guests and listeners for their support. With more than 40 episodes released, we've documented countless conversations with local manufacturers.
In 2021, we're looking to introduce new faces to the podcast. If you or someone you know is involved in the Hudson Valley manufacturing sector and would like to be a guest on Manufacturing Matters, please contact Johnnieanne Hansen at [email protected].
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
