On November 8th in Michigan, Delta County students from kindergarten to grade 12, along with their parents, attended ‘Industry after Hours’ at VanAire to learn more about the high tech, highly skilled, action packed manufacturing jobs that are available locally. Over 276 participants were treated to a fun, entertaining and informative event that exceeded expectations and inspired a future generation of manufacturers.
After a safety discussion, CEO Steve Soderman gave an overview of VanAire. Working with most valve and actuator companies in North America, VanAire’s hardware connects industrial valves to pneumatic or electric actuators. Valve Automation Hardware is used in numerous industries such as chemical processing, wastewater, oil and gas, and pulp and paper – anywhere there’s a pipeline. VanAire has product on all seven continents. Thousands of their products are in use at Verso and you can find them in the Lambeau Field (an outdoor athletic stadium in Wisconsin) and even in the fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
VanAire’s other core product line is Environmental Solutions. This department engineers and manufactures Dissolved Air Floatation Systems (DAFS) that use a mechanical process where microscopic air bubbles attach to impurities in wastewater. Companies can then sell or recycle the recovered by-product. Not only is VanAire known for rugged and reliable pre-treatment systems, but these DAFS help solve environmental issues for companies in industries like food processing, dairy and municipal pre-treatment systems. Customers served include McDonalds, Sara Lee, Jimmy Dean and Ballpark Franks to name a few.
Five manufacturing myths, along with pumpkins, were busted by the dynamic VanAire team of Steve Soderman and Tony Lambert. The five manufacturing misconceptions that were dispelled were the following:
1: There isn’t stability or growth opportunity in manufacturing
2: Manufacturing jobs are low skill and low-paying
3: Manufacturing jobs are “dirty jobs”
4: Operating machine tools is a mindless, boring and repetitive job
5: U.S. can’t compete in a global market
An education tour was even setup where VanAire employees demonstrated the latest manufacturing technology in action including a Laser Burning Table, Robotic Welder, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machines, Engineering and CAD positions along with Information Technology, Sales and Marketing. The entire evening was a tremendous success with food, fun and learning. Social media feedback from the students, parents, teachers, counselors and administrators in attendance was very positive. Throughout the year the Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, Michigan Works! Upward Talent Council and the Delta County Manufacturing Alliance will be celebrating manufacturing in the local community. Additional events planned include more Industry After Hours, Manufacturing Education Externships and Freshman and Sophomore Talent Tours. For more information contact Vicki Schwab, Executive Director, Delta County EDA at 906-786-2192 or eda@deltami.org.