Wood is good for Frank A Edmunds & Co., which manufactures wooden products such as dowels, posts, and other turnings as well as wooden displays, moldings, and custom pieces. Its turning products include balls, craft items, furniture parts, game parts, handles, knobs, spindles, and novelty items. Moldings include architectural moldings, frames, and furniture parts. The company also makes specialty parts (CNC work, rollers, specialty finishing, assembling, packaging, and order fulfillment) and through its F.A. Edmunds unit, makes fine needlework and quilting frames.

Advanced Flexible Composites (AFC) makes diverse products possible. This innovative manufacturer of high temperature, non-stick composite materials has risen to the forefront of the PTFE- and silicone-coated market. Whether it be fabric, conveyor belting, or pressure sensitive adhesive tape, AFC has solutions for a variety of industries. Common markets include food processing, packaging, plastics, composite bonding, can manufacturing, textiles, and vinyl windows, among others.

BBands is a for-profit social venture that empowers girls and women through two-toned, colorful sports headbands with inspirational tags. BBands allow girls to show off their individuality and flair while working out, playing sports, or otherwise leading an active lifestyle. They offer a variety of colorful, comfortable headbands from their Chicago based location.

AIR802 manufactures high quality equipment and goods for both the wired and wireless industries. For wireless, they have designed and manufactured antenna cable assemblies-jumpers-pigtails and business grade wireless access point or routers, which are used throughout the world. In addition, they manufacture many different antennas in various frequencies, along with a line of precision coaxial connectors, which include many uncommon types. Their cables are another major product line with both coaxial and Ethernet wired cable products in production. Another area of special focus is in power-over-Ethernet or PoE products. They also provide custom manufacturing.

AIR802 strives to offer a balance between superior quality products and affordable prices to create real value for their customers. They hope to do their part in generating ubiquitous broadband availability in every global village. New products are continuously added to their product portfolio as well. 

Caribbean American Baking Company is the producer and re-seller of the finest Jamaican Style baked products in the Midwest. They sell to both the retail and wholesale market, supplying a variety of Caribbean and African stores with an abundance of products. Some of their products include Patties, Breads & Buns, Cakes & pastries, Easter Buns and Jerk Cuisine.

Aeromotive Services is a manufacturer of high quality connector housings and produces specialty wire harness assemblies for short runs or production. For the past 24 years Aeromotive has been designing, prototyping, and developing electrical housings and wire harnesses for a variety of industries. At their Elgin, Illinois location they have implemented some of the latest technology to provide a higher standard of quality control and craftsmanship.

Aeromotive specializes in various automotive and industry specific electrical products and services. Services range from automotive connector sourcing, wire harness repair and reconditioning, custom manufacturing of wire assemblies, creating and origination of universal connectors, and providing the automotive industry with training to replace, install, and configure complex electrical products. They also specialize in manufacturing and reprocessing wire harnesses for most makes of cars and trucks, both foreign and domestic.

Written by Ashley Beaudoin, IMEC Technical Specialist and HR Specialist

How do you use employee engagement to retain key employees?

As manufacturing advances, companies report sizable skill gaps. The need for a qualified skill set is essential for success.  In order to keep a business growing, qualified candidates need to surface while key employees are retained.

Leaders are familiar with the basic understanding of employee engagement. However, do they know just how engagement affects the workforce?

Since its beginnings in 1995, Busy Beaver Button Company has gone from a one-woman operation in Christen Carter’s college apartment to a company with fifteen employees. Over the last 17 years, the Busy Beaver crew has overseen over 60,000 designs and produced millions of custom buttons for clients like Brooklyn Brewery, NBC Entertainment, The Art Institute of Chicago, Threadless, and WordPress as well as thousands of bands, non-profits, and small businesses.

Abbate Screw Products, Inc. is committed to producing high quality, precision-machined components and outstanding customer service. Their family-owned and operated company began in 1974 with two machines and a desire to become an industry-leading manufacturer of turned metal parts. Today, Abbate Screw Products, Inc. manufactures precision parts ranging from 1/16" to 2 1/4" in diameter.