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<br /> 8 / Star News / Wednesday, October 29, 2003 • Visit urs on the web at www.erstarnews.com
<br /> ELK RIVER
<br /> Speakers, tours hi hl ht re_e
<br /> Manufacturing,
<br /> technology `
<br /> week brings in a
<br /> top state official ,f
<br /> e
<br /> by Jake Muonio :` .,,`,..,''1,:44v-/-1
<br /> Staff writer
<br /> River's u 'A 4, '
<br /> Minnesota Manufacturing t
<br /> and Technology Week � `
<br /> (MMTW) have pretty
<br /> impressive offices. )f#
<br /> One runs a companythat ry
<br /> takes up half a floor of the
<br /> IDS tower in Minneapolis. Y `� '+�s
<br /> d'
<br /> The other sits in a desk in 4m �
<br /> the state Capitol. , n „,,,,*:.,t,,,,z,::::, 4,,..17...,,f,,t,,,,::,,
<br /> Mark Sheffert, CEO of
<br /> Manchester Companies,
<br /> spoke at. an Oct. 21 lunch
<br /> eon for members of Elk
<br /> ti
<br /> River businesses and the
<br /> Chamber of Commerce,
<br /> calling for constant innova- jilt _
<br /> tion at the manufacturing
<br /> level. Mark Sheffert stresses that companies constantly
<br /> The other guest, Minne- strive to be bigger,better faster and cheaper.(Photos:by
<br /> sota Department of .lake Muonio, graphic by Lynne Kasper)
<br /> Employment and Economic was very impressed with Sportech,which was recent-
<br /> Development (DEED) the progress they've made, ly the recipient of$200,000
<br /> Commissioner Matt especially in terms of secur in federal grant dollars
<br /> Kramer, was on hand to ing financing." which Kramer's - office
<br /> visit several Elk River corn-
<br /> ion
<br /> om Cymbet raised millions of approved.
<br /> parties. dollars from foreign Since an expansion,which
<br /> "It was quite an honor er investors in an earlto
<br /> ier capi was helped out by the grant
<br /> host Commissioner Kramer tel campaign,but has had a dollars,Sportech has added
<br /> and to; show him some of harder time raising money eight full-time jobs and will
<br /> our manufacturers,” said lately. add at least seven more.
<br /> Cathy Mehelich,Elk River's Mehelich said it was also "I think it kind of put Elk
<br /> director of economic Bevel beneficial for Kramer to River in his mind, for when
<br /> opment. hear about some of the he talks to prospective new
<br /> Kramer visited Cymbet, How well do ou know your local manufacturers?
<br /> Marketech and Sportech struggles Marketech has businesses from out of statey
<br /> had recently. and across the country,
<br /> during his trip to Elk River. i,pyretic s stems
<br /> "It's good to hear from Mehelich said. "In the end Y produces servomotors that are used in which of the
<br /> "The commissioner heard following.
<br /> some of the challenges both companies — how my hope is he will keep us a cooling brakes anddriven-1h A€igiilftr ccs
<br /> �-t they're changing their busi in mind for these business b.Flush valves onaii,lane toilet $},
<br /> (`iymbet'S) been going „ Flush vrobotsuse totkea, „caves Afhanist "`-,` -,
<br /> ness plans and looking at opportunities. d a a c only t
<br /> through since its inception, a ani of fh#abore , x
<br /> Mehelich said. "I think (he) new _opportunities so they Sheffert spoke to about 25 , kFt# ;
<br /> can succeed,"she said. Chamber members and- 2. + industry relies on fat M Precision Machi in i ii t
<br /> aileciaf dies for which of the following shapes
<br /> Mehelich said the two business people, challengtitc
<br /> companies are good exam- ing organizations to inno os fail" _� ;`
<br /> pm . ' Ales of the companies being vate. i`ia arari;M1e3 �
<br /> ` , i a e.All of the above
<br /> ,° recognized . MMTW. This is a tough, tough
<br /> ` "Both companies have business (climate),"he sa>d, 3.204,14i1 local company is working with , r ,
<br /> �+ ,;; - a t Fin
<br /> a th`e develo ment of alternative h dr $
<br /> about 16 employees,and its Every company today has diet p y ��
<br /> those small-to medium size to look inside and find a b. ill � r�;#tib: k ,.
<br /> ctescoiri' +-�r
<br /> companies that are often way to put something in 0.b.N a c omy s ,
<br /> Y processg- e.All of the above � 3
<br /> kl'lthe bread and butter of our to make it bi
<br /> �`'' communities like ours" she ger better, faster and a:Each earn '""
<br /> y ggregate Industries produc
<br /> said. cheaper.
<br /> » landscape products?
<br /> Kramer also toured Mehelich said Sheffert'sblocks a 4 - "A �'., --;•
<br /> speech was one of the bet-
<br /> o. ,ui%iiiin Noche '
<br /> d:9,flf3it ti00 blocks ''
<br /> ter attended MMTW events e.None of the above
<br /> s Matt Kramer, commission- they've had.
<br /> �~
<br /> er of the Minnesota rtiPIRGconvertswasteproductsinto a
<br /> The Oct. 21 events were ma;;y heroes per rear'
<br /> Department of Employ- s onsored b the cit of Elk l
<br /> P Y Y ar'#,l1oEi hbn56§ zi
<br /> r ment and Economic River and the 'Elk River hatma homes 1
<br /> ''''''i7 Development Development spoke Oct. 0.;;10.000 homes 9 V
<br /> Area Chamber of 26 000 homes
<br /> 21. i ua!g figrtisa ,
<br /> `"," Commerce.
<br /> k
<br /> �- _ —
<br /> ‘,,,t,..1
<br /> - to it`a-C.41:`a-I Kai
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