East Granby Manufacturer Opens Their Doors to Local Dignitaries
Lt. Governor Fedele, DECD Commissioner Joan McDonald Tour Magnatech Plant

5.13.2008
For immediate release
Contact:  Rebecca Kane Dow, 860.513.3217

(East Granby, Conn.) - Lt. Governor Michael Fedele, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development's Commissioner Joan McDonald, Rep. Ruth Fahrbach, Rep. Richard Ferrari and Connecticut's Business Advocate Rob Simmons were among the dignitaries to attend a tour of the Magnatech plant today. John Emmerson, Magnatech president, along with Garry McCabe, Executive Vice President at Magnatech invited the officials to attend the tour after the company experienced significant results by implementing an aggressive Lean Manufacturing program.

In response to an increase in production demand that the company was unable to keep up with, Magnatech enlisted CONNSTEP, Connecticut's manufacturing resource, to assess productivity challenges and develop an inventory management process as well as an approach for developing a local supply chain and maximizing inventory turns. The Lean Manufacturing program helped them cut costs and slash their inventory by more than half, which in turn increased profits by 200% and allowed them to add 12 new employees - an increase of their workforce by 38%. They expect the growth trajectory to continue as new technology displaces the old and are currently on schedule to increase sales by 58% over the record sales of 2007.

"Magnatech is a prime example of Connecticut companies that are making major changes to meet the needs of today's global economy," said Lt. Governor Michael Fedele. "As a result, they remain in the forefront of manufacturing and continue to grow despite the fierce competition both here and abroad."

"Magnatech's success helps the Connecticut economy overall, because as they expand, their local supply chain expands, which benefits numerous Connecticut companies," said Commissioner McDonald.

Much of the cost associated with "Leaning" Magnatech was covered by Connecticut's Aerospace and Defense Initiative, which was announced by Governor Rell in May 2005 and is a $2 million, two-year initiative to help small and medium-size companies use Lean Manufacturing to increase productivity and efficiency. The ADI is funded by the Department of Economic and Community Development and administered by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT).

"My company was positively impacted by the level of involvement and commitment that CONNSTEP showed during the engagement. We couldn't have achieved these results without their help," said John Emmerson, president, Magnatech.

Magnatech's major products - systems for orbital tube, pipe and tubesheet welding operations - serve rapidly growing worldwide markets that demand increased welding productivity and quality, especially those fabricators serving the aerospace, chemical, pharmaceutical, power generating and pipeline industries.

"This success demonstrates the essence of what CONNSTEP is all about," said Bonnie DelConte, president, CONNSTEP. "Manufacturers like Magnatech benefit from the proven benefits of the strong partnership that CONNSTEP has with the state's Department of Economic and Community Development."

About CONNSTEP
CONNSTEP's mission is to help Connecticut manufacturers apply advanced technology and modern management methodologies to become more competitive. CONNSTEP is sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and the U.S. Department of Commerce through the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program in the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

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