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TechTrends e-Newsletter I July 2004 Page 3 of 6 <br /> Another point to keep in mind: You may not immediately see the long-term <br /> benefits of a new piece of technology. In fact, productivity may actually suffer at <br /> • g <br /> 0first, as employees navigate the hurdles associated with mastering the new <br /> equipment or software. That said, now is not the time to cut back on employee <br /> education. Jamming a technology change through with minimal or overly speedy <br /> training is a big mistake. "Most people enjoy learning something new," Gould says. <br /> "When they have this spurt of joy of learning new things, the intellectual content of <br /> their thoughts usually runs at a pretty high level too. If you capture those ideas, <br /> you are going to see that technology pay off dividends that you hadn't expected." <br /> For a more detailed look at the basics of investing in new technology, check out the <br /> Summer 2004 issue of Minnesota Technology® <br /> ['Tech Notes <br /> Technology business news from around Minnesota. <br /> Investors and employees of Morris-based Superior Industries Inc. have <br /> P <br /> purchased the stationary and portable conveyor systems manufacturer from its <br /> parent company, Astec Industries Inc., based in Chattanooga, Tenn. The $24.3 <br /> million sale closed on June 30. Founded in 1972, Superior Industries employs <br /> between 100 and 200 locally, and posts annual sales between $20 million and $50 <br /> million. <br /> Chisholm-based Smart Screen Systems Inc. (S3i) president and CEO Dr. <br /> I Daryoush Allaei accompanied Governor Tim Pawlenty on an official trade <br /> mission to Poland and the Czech Republic last month. S3i manufactures industrial <br /> ID <br /> ;,1 vibrating machinery for the mining, food, pharmaceutical, fuel, and aggregate <br /> industries. <br /> Bloomington-based achievement products producer Jostens Inc. has announced <br /> plans to close its graduation diploma plant in Red Wing in mid-October, cutting 179 <br /> jobs. According to the company, it will move remaining customer service and plant <br /> operations to Owatonna; Shelbyville, Tenn.; and Topeka, Kan. <br /> Brainerd-headquartered contract manufacturers and assemblers ATEK Cos. Have <br /> has announced their a new partnership with AbleNet Inc., a Minneapolis-based <br /> designer and manufacturer of learning products for children with disabilities. <br /> Through the partnership, the companies will produce a line of five recording and <br /> playback devices for educational use. <br /> 1 <br /> Duluth's Enventis Telecom has relocated to new offices on West Superior St., <br /> f across the street from the downtown headquarters of Allete, its parent company. <br /> Enventis, an installer of large-bandwidth voice, video, and data networks, currently <br /> employs 75 people. <br /> Anoka-based electronics manufacturing service NRI Electronics has announced <br /> plans to expand its employee base in its Aurora facilities, where it currently <br /> employs 45. The company also operates a facility in Rochester. The expanded <br /> operation in Aurora will process orders from Peoria-based heavy machinery and <br /> g engine manufacturer Caterpillar Global Inc. <br /> A <br /> III -' St. Cloud State University has received a $60,400 state grant from the <br /> Minnesota Job Skills Partnership to train 100 workers at Milaca's TriVirix Inc. <br /> plant. Purchased from Minneapolis's Medtronic Inc. in 2002, TriVirix manufactures <br /> http://www.minnesotatechnology.org/publications/techtrends/2004/July/print Version.asp 7/23/2004 <br />