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• The remaining surveyed companies manufacture products specifically for sale to <br /> consumers or other businesses, which then assemble a value added product. Examples <br /> include valves, motors, and building materials. <br /> Several companies manufacture both a product line and provide custom or job shop type <br /> services to their customers. These are generally, but not exclusively, larger firms. In some <br /> cases, a company only manufactures a product line to custom specifications, thus <br /> obscuring the distinction between a job shop and a manufacturer. <br /> Five of Elk River's industrial firms are associated with the plastics industry, including <br /> the manufacturing of molds and the production of plastic items. Three of the companies <br /> surveyed are associated with the concrete industry, and either provide the raw materials <br /> or manufacture construction materials. Two companies are associated with high-tech <br /> industries and manufacture products for the computer industry or scientific pursuits. <br /> Although many companies either have machining capabilities or provide machined <br /> products to a specific customer, five companies provide general machining services for an <br /> array of applications. These tend to be smaller companies who have either not defined a <br /> specific market niche or who have chosen to diversify their customer base. <br /> Elk River is home to three companies who manufacture or distribute the tools used by <br /> machine shops and mold makers. These firms are especially notable for their ability to <br /> •• <br /> gauge the strength of the economy. Unfortunately, only one of these companies was able <br /> to be formally surveyed. <br /> The remaining nine companies surveyed manufacture product lines for a variety of <br /> applications, most of which are used by other businesses in production or sales <br /> applications. <br /> Markets <br /> The majority of companies received their supplies from the Minneapolis — St. Paul area, <br /> with the next main source of supplies being Chicago. Nearly all respondents had a <br /> national customer base and competed nationally with other similar firms. Three <br /> companies had other U.S. facilities. <br /> Machine shops as a group tended to have a more state or regional focus. Several business <br /> owners noted that Minnesota is a "hot bed" for machinists and plastic molders. One <br /> machine shop owner estimated that he had over one hundred competitors in Minnesota <br /> alone. <br /> Several companies had overseas customers, suppliers, and competition. The general <br /> consensus was that overseas production costs were less but the quality of the work was <br /> not as good. One company stated that it had established facilities in both Europe and <br /> Asia. <br /> 4 <br />