FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 10, 2006
For more information contact:
Larry Stewart, Center Director, Manufacturing-Works
Office: 307.760.0636

Manufacturing awards given to companies from Cheyenne, Pinedale, Riverton, Laramie, Gillette, Casper, Buffalo and Sundance

SHERIDAN– Exceptional Wyoming manufacturers and individuals who support the industry received awards from Manufacturing-Works® during a ceremony Wednesday, Aug. 9 in Sheridan.

The awards ceremony was part of a three-day manufacturing and technology event held by Manufacturing-Works® this week in Sheridan. Manufacturing-Works® provides technical, strategic and human resource assistance to manufacturers and technical oriented business in Wyoming. Manufacturing-Works® is a partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Wyoming Business Council, and the University of Wyoming. Visit www.manufacturing-works.com.

Legacy Award: Dyno-Nobel of Cheyenne
Dyno-Nobel is the third major operator of the chemical processing plant in its 40 year history. While there has been a change of ownership, the workforce has been stable and many employees have over two decades with the local facility. The approximately 120 employees operate the plant on a 24 hour basis continuously with only a few shutdowns each year.

Environmental Stewardship Award: Callaghan Cabinets of Pinedale
The company received this award because of their commitment to continuous improvement and leading manufacturing in "greening" their process, reducing waste, and improving the environment for their workforce and Wyoming. The facility has 22 employees that construct approximately 240 custom wood cabinets and architectural millwork per year. In 2005, Pinedale natives Chopper and Lynn Grassell purchased the business. According to their paint supplier, Callaghan Cabinets is the only cabinetry in Wyoming that uses water-based, environmentally friendly coatings.

Environmental Stewardship Award: Missile Drive Auto Body of Cheyenne
Because of their willingness to implement recommendations in the pollution prevention assessment, recycle by distillation, and improve the work environment of their employees by investing in environmental and safety training, Missile Drive Auto Body was chosen as a recipient. The business repairs and paints approximately 1,400 cars per year. The shop is housed in 10,000 square feet and has 12 employees. Based on its actions, the shop went from being a Small Quantity Generator (generates over 220 lbs. of hazardous waste per month) to a non-generator of hazardous waste.

Entrepreneur Award: Pertech Resources of Riverton
Pertech Resources is one of the largest employers in Riverton and if it were not for their entrepreneurial spirit they would not be in business today. When the employees bought the plant from Axiohm in 2004, they had 50 employees, a very small R&D staff, no sales force and a 15-year old product in a declining market. After two and one half years in operation the employment is now at 95 with a solid customer base. A new product has just been released that is tearing up the market, the IDEA Inc. and the Wyoming Business Council loans have been repaid and the company is ahead of projections for profitability.

Entrepreneur Award: The Tack Room of Laramie
Connie Woodruff opened the Tack Room in 1992. The original room was small, approximately 12 X 12, which inspired the business name. Today, the business has grown (approx. 2000 Square feet), moved, & made many changes, but one thing has always remained the same: diligent friendly customer service, quality merchandise at competitive prices, a good inventory of goods, and persistent hard work. She has a fixed store front, mobile tack store traveling a 500-mile radius, Store Web site, and Ebay store.

Transformation Award: Lubrication Management Services of Gillette
Lubrication Management Services is a well established mining tool service company (since 1999) primarily supporting equipment maintenance in coal and oil industries. The company utilized the right combination of employee talent and Manufacturing-Works expertise to develop new products in addition to their highly profitable service business, thus guaranteeing continuing success even with the possible decline of the booming energy/mining industry in future years. The company has grown from four individuals in 2000 to 29 in December 2005, with manufacturing adding significantly to the headcount increase. The company is now building stairs, bridges and cantilevers for the railroad industry and providing that product line, including installation, to Burlington-Northern Railroad throughout its multi-state operation.

Leading Edge Award: Defense Technology Corporation of America of Casper
The company received the award for being in the forefront of manufacturing in Wyoming by leaning their process, changing their production habits and thinking entirely differently in bold new terms. Defense Technology Corporation of America, a division of Armor Holdings Incorporated, is a manufacturer of less lethal weapons and munitions such as pepper spray, bean bag projectiles, tear gas, etc. The company currently has 87 employees. Initial results of the Lean Manufacturing training showed a $1.6 million dollar revenue gain on one product line, by cutting wasted time, motion and materials. Since applying Lean Manufacturing to their specialty line of non-lethal projectiles, they have seen a 33 percent production increase.

Friend of Manufacturing/Public: City of Buffalo
The city has worked for many, many years to resolve a smoke issue with a local business, Buckingham Lumber. Starting in 1994, a large number of complaints were filed by citizens regarding smoke from a Tipi Burner. By 1999, citizens formally organized a Committee to Stop Sawmill Burning and a year later hired an air quality lawyer. In 2004, the city hired Manufacturing-Works to provide alternatives to burning and to coordinate activities to facilitate a solution. A year later, the analysis by Manufacturing-Works led to agreements being reached and implemented to apply sawdust and ground wood scrap to abandoned mine land areas in Wyoming. The Tipi Burner is no longer in operation.

Friend of Manufacturing/Private: IDEA, Inc. of Riverton
The function of IDEA Inc., created in 1985, is to encourage and assist businesses through loans, investments and other vehicles. IDEA Inc. received a $1.5 million Business Ready Community grant from the Wyoming Business Council for the Brunton Project, negotiated leased agreements, used these leases as collateral for a $1.6 million loan and is presently beginning construction of the Brunton building on land leased from CWC Foundation. Upon completion, IDEA Inc. will receive an annual $38,000 building lease fee for the next 50 years from Brunton. IDEA Inc. has just completed another BRC grant project to construct a rail car repair facility in Shoshoni. This will result in $24,000 per year in lease fees to IDEA Inc. for the life of the lease agreement.

House of Lean Award: Kennon Aircraft Covers, Inc. of Sheridan
Kennon has put all their employees through LEAN 101 in May of this year, and a portion of their staff attended Value Stream Mapping in July. They are implementing this training and seeing increases in production, quality, and overall improvements. Kennon Products, Inc. was started in 1984 in a small rented garage in California and in 1989 the company moved to Sheridan.

Friend of MEP Award: Paul Clay and Sandra Johnson/Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center
The two individuals receiving these awards are from out of state and would prefer that their personal information not be divulged.

Future in the Works - A Shot In The Dark/Dian Blais of Sundance
This individual prefers not to have her company and personal information divulged.

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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