For Immediate Release -June 21, 2012
Contact: Chris Franklin – ATN Corporate Communications
(205) 943-4773
ATN and BCA Partner to Present the 2012 Alabama Manufacturer of the Year Awards
The Alabama Technology Network (ATN) and the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) announced the winners of the 2012 Manufacturer of the Year Awards June 20 at a luncheon at the RSA Activity Center in Montgomery. The BCA and ATN began the annual awards ceremony in 2000, and the event has consistently drawn Alabama dignitaries and manufacturing leaders to honor companies that have a commitment to improving Alabama’s economy.
The awards program recognizes Alabama manufacturing enterprises in three size categories – Large, Medium and Small ‐ that exhibit excellence in leadership,performance, profitability and workforce relations. Winning manufacturers are selected by an independent panel of judges who look for demonstrations of superior performance in the areas of customer focus, employee commitment, operational excellence, continuous improvement, profitable growth and investment in training and retraining.
The 2012 Manufacturers of the Year are:
Large Manufacturer of the Year (400 or more employees)
Austal USA, Mobile
Austal is the world’s largest builder of high‐speed aluminum ships and is a leading supplier of ships to the U.S. Navy. Employing more than 2,800 men and women at its 125‐acre waterfront facility in Mobile, Austal brings a new dimension in high‐speed marine transport, utilizing the company’s leading edge lightweight aluminum design fabrication technology and capabilities. Whether Austal vessels are required to transport large members of passengers and cars, perform surveillance and defense activities, or provide a platform for recreation and entertainment – Austal recognizes and is committed to customization.
Medium Manufacturer of the Year (100‐399 employees)
Daikin America Inc., Decatur
Daikin America is renowned for innovation, quality products and customer commitment. The Daikin plant located in Decatur is the company’s only U.S. manufacturing site. The 350 men and women employed at Daikin’s Decatur plant manufacture chemical products used virtually everywhere in industry, homes and even space. With concern for the environment, Daikin America strives to develop products that do more with less – less waste, less energy, less material – yet produce increased performance and longevity.
Small Manufacturer of the Year (1‐99 employees)
Cascades Sonoco, Birmingham
A joint venture between Cascades and Sonoco Products, Cascades Sonoco is North America’s leading supplier of paper mill roll packaging products. The company specializes in paper‐based packaging products used in a wide array of products, including food take‐home boxes, bakery items, electronics, automotive parts, pet foods and fertilizers. The parent companies were early pioneers in waste recycling and environmental sustainability – long before such practices became fashionable or profitable. Cascades Sonoco employs 65 team members in Birmingham.
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In addition to the small, medium and large manufacturing awards, several other awards were presented at the luncheon including the Governor Bob Riley Building a Better Alabama Award to U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R‐Mobile; the 2012 BCA Partnership Award to Rheem Manufacturing; The BCA Centennial Award to Alabama Steel Supply; and the Best of the BEST Award to Davidson High School in Mobile for being the highest achieving school in the state during the 2011 BEST Robotics competitions.
An additional award presented annually by ATN, in partnership with the Alabama E3 Initiative, is the Sustainability in Manufacturing Award. ZF Industries of Tuscaloosa received this year’s award. Since it began in late 2009, the Alabama E3 Initiative has successfully assisted more than 40 manufacturers in the state to adapt and thrive in anew business era focused on sustainability through eliminating wastes and reducing energy intensity. The program has resulted in over $3 million in identified energy saving opportunities and just under $1 million in actual impacts. ZF Industries produces and services driveline and chassis technologies around the world. It ranks high on the list of leading automotive suppliers and aims to build and expand its presence in established markets.
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