Students pose for a picture right after hopping off the bus at PRO-TEC on Thursday morning in Leipsic.
Cade Higgins | The Lima News
LEIPSIC — To celebrate Manufacturing Day, students from Columbus Grove donned their hard hats and were manufacturers for the day at PRO-TEC Coating Company.
Students received a tour of the plant and took part in hands-on activities, including using a virtual reality crane simulator, examining lab samples of steel through a microscope, conducting battery testing and engaging in various tape-measuring activities.
Shannon Shartell, manager of Human Resources at PRO-TEC, explained what Manufacturing Day meant to PRO-TEC.
“We show the kids that PRO-TEC can be a viable career and a good-paying job with good benefits,” she said.
PRO-TEC Coating Company, located at 5500 PRO-TEC Parkway, Leipsic, is a leader in processing steel, including advanced high-strength grades helping automakers build lighter and safer vehicles. The plant was one of 10 manufacturing companies hosting 12 schools and over 500 students around the area in collaboration with the Workforce Partnership of Putnam County.
Kim Schroeder, of the Workforce Partnership of Putnam County, broadly discussed what she hoped the students took away from the day.
“The goal is to show kids how manufacturing jobs are safe and offer well-paying jobs,” she said.
Manufacturing remains a powerhouse in Ohio, as the state ranks third in the nation in manufacturing jobs. The state also ranks first in the nation for glass, plastics and rubber product manufacturing employment and ranks second in the nation for paper manufacturing, primary metal manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing employment, according to a press release from the office of Governor DeWine.
Endera, Whirlpool, Siligen Plastics, B&K Tooling, Nelson, Unverferth, Miller Precision Industry, Remingler Manufacturing, and Advanced Drainage Systems also played host to students to celebrate Manufacturing Day.
Shartell emphasized the importance of the youth.
“Getting at kids when they’re young is important. Students are our future workforce, and we need to invest in them,” she said.
Shartell said the environment within the plant is what leads to success.
“This isn’t just a job. It’s a team environment. While working with others, you’re making a difference,” she said.
Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351
