Four local manufacturers spoke in a round table program at the Aug. 19 Morrow Chamber of Commerce meeting held at Lubrication Specialties Inc., LLC (LSI).
Michelle Mounts of Lincoln Manufacturing Center in Fulton opened the program with a description of the company’s newest products and services. The company is repurposing shipping containers as porta pots, which are used at construction sites and festivals. Lincoln Center also sells many vac trucks and works in manufacturing many other metal products. Its products are shipped all over the state and the nation.
Lilly Industries representative Niki Lilly said the company is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. She said many people know them for the Lilly stoves they made. However, it hasn’t manufactured stoves for many years. She said 90 percent of its business is with a Columbus company to make steel road barriers. The company also makes lightening bolt fasteners, which they sell throughout the state as well as many local sales.
Kevin Adams spoke for LSI. It is best known for Hot Shot’s Secret and a whole line of diesel additives. The company does blending, packaging and marketing at its state Route 95 location. The company has expanded to use its original building for distribution. He said plans are in the works to continue expanding.
Cardington Yutaka Technologies (CYT) is in its 30th year. Casey Pollock represented CYT for its latest community outreach of two new pickle ball courts at its location. It is open to the public. Adams said the company’s products are shipped all over, and its supplies are from all over. He said the company may need to find more local suppliers with the changes in the present administration.
During the discussion, a member asked if anyone else had recently experienced problems with workers not showing up for interviews. There was general agreement this has been a big problem lately, although some said this is an on-going problem. Some suggested transportation is a factor for some in getting to interviews.
Guest speaker
The guest speaker was Jeff Spain from the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) of the Ohio Department of Development. MEP is at Columbus State Community College and serves Morrow County as part of a 12-county area.
Spain described MEP as “a connector.” He said its “secret sauce” is in the partnerships it forms in bringing many educational and practical resources to manufacturing. MEP services extend to consulting, job training, engineering and innovation. MEP works with workforce development, planning for automation, and business solutions for cybersecurity, marketing and supply chain optimization. He gave examples of MEP’s services resulting in an increase of company sales and employment. Spain finished with a description of Jobs Ohio small business grants.
Grace Byler of the Morrow County Development Office said its personnel can help companies looking at using grants. Dan Boysel of Consolidated Cooperative said his company has a substantial revolving loan fund where companies can apply for loans.
The next Chamber of Commerce Lunch and Learn program will be a Round Table of Small Business in Morrow County from noon to 1 p.m. on Sept. 16 at Creekside Farms in Marengo.
Alberta Stojkovic is a correspondent for The Morrow County Sentinel.
