CREATING THE CRANES THAT CLIENTS HAVE ALWAYS WANTED G.W. Becker, Inc. SUSTAINABILITY BACKED BY 75 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Albany Packaging, Inc. THE STORY BEHIND THE STORIES Focus Media Group Celebrates 10 Years MANUFACTURINGINFOCUS.COM A PR IL 2 02 2EDITOR’S CORNER 3 A dozen years after our first meeting, I vividly recall my first encounter with Publisher Jeff Hocken and his business partner at the time – both young, enthusiastic, and looking for someone to help struc- ture magazines on – of all things – construction and mining in Australia, an unusual request of a Canadian. During our conversation, it was clear they had done their homework about advertising but needed assistance with the editorial side. Over the course of a few days, the structure of Australian Construction Focus magazine was born. The first six months of the magazine were a challenge, espe- cially interviews, which were sometimes conducted at two or three in the morning Toronto-time to accommodate clients in Australia. Soon, more writers were hired, and the magazine kept growing, adding more stories and gaining additional readers. In time, FMG expanded its vision and markets and added more magazines to cover more sectors. Working with FMG has been a rewarding experience, both pro- fessionally and personally. In the past decade, I’ve interviewed countless business owners, experts in every discipline imag- inable, and manufacturers of all kinds. From companies who build massive stadiums seating 100,000 to off-the-grid mini homes powered by solar and wind, FMG has covered it all. If there is one thing all of these featured organizations have in common it is that they are all passionate about what they do, and want to share their stories. I look forward to future adven- tures with FMG, and learning something new with every story. Our editors Jaime McKee and Tim Hocken have put together a deeper look into FMG for its 10th anniversary in this issue’s feature, The Story Behind the Stories – Focus Media Group Celebrates 10 Years. Robert Hoshowsky Guest Editor Suite 300, 7071 Bayers Rd. | Halifax, NS | B3L 2C2 | Canada P: 1-647-479-2163 | E: EDITOR Tim Hocken DEPUTY EDITOR Jaime McKee COPY EDITORS Thora Smith | Allister Havercroft CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Pauline Müller | Margaret Eaton | Allison Dempsey David Caldwell | Karen Hawthorne | Jen Hocken William Young | Robert Hoshowsky SENIOR CONTENT MANAGER Brad Mike TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER James Corbett CONTENT MANAGERS Erika Arenas | Jamal Francis-Anderson Aaron Ferguson | Coleman Merry | Dean Lucas SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Luke Simms SALES TEAM Pamela Taylor | Kayla Brown | Morgan Culpepper PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Chantal De Brouwer OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Julia MacQueen GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGER Severina Gachparova GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Laura Pratt | Ashley Dowling Ebic Tristary | Yoana Ilcheva REGIONAL DIRECTOR Adam Cameron CONTROLLER Jen Hamilton PUBLISHER Jeff HockenINSIDE APRIL ECO-FRIENDLY METHODS & MATERIALS FABRICATION & MACHINING AUTOMATION 4 Ecological Alternatives of the Future As countless global initiatives attempt to combat the environmental impacts of waste and intro- duce more eco-friendly ways of life, sustainable manufacturing is an emerging practice that is quickly becoming recognized by global organiza- tions as a new method of production. 5 MANUFACTURING IN FOCUS SUPPLYSIDE EAST 12 – 13 April, Secaucus, NJ Fuel your product innovation at SupplySide East, the East Coast’s leading ingredient and solutions trade show. Join more than 175 exhibitors featuring the most innovative ingredients and formulation techniques to drive your brand forward. Gain insight and network with the leading health and nutrition industry professionals from across the globe. For more information PLASTEC WEST, WESTPACK, ATX WEST, D&M WEST, MD&M WEST 12 – 14 April, Anaheim, CA Sharing the expo floor at the Anaheim Convention Center are Plastec West, the largest annual plastics event in North America; WestPack, bringing together the entire packaging community from design engineers to distribution leaders; ATX West – the epicenter of automation, robotics, and smart manufacturing; D&M West, the most expansive annual design and manufacturing event in the U.S.; and MD&M West, bringing together medtech engineers, business leaders, disruptive companies, and innovative thinkers to create powerful solutions and life-changing medical devices. From packaging to plastics to robotics, this five-in-one design and manufacturing event connects you across multiple verticals and industries. For more information AVIATION WEEK’S A&D MANUFACTURING CONFERENCE 17 – 18 May, Greensboro, NC Aviation Week’s A&D Manufacturing Conference, formerly SpeedNews’ Aerospace Manufacturing Conference, will bring together leading man- ufacturers and suppliers in the aerospace industry for a two-day senior level conference. Designed for leaders and decision-makers in the aero- space manufacturing industry, from OEMs to suppliers, the agenda will cover manufacturing operations, capabilities and processes, innovation within manufacturing, modern machining technologies, and industry automation. For more information TEXPROCESS AMERICAS 2022 17 – 19 May, Atlanta, GA Texprocess Americas, formerly SPESA EXPO, is the largest North American trade show displaying equipment and technology for the development, sourcing and production of sewn products. Texprocess Americas provides a platform for leading international manufacturers to present their latest machines, plant, processing, IT systems and services for developing textiles and other flexible materials. Co-located with Techtextil North America, this promises to be the most comprehensive technical textile, nonwoven, machinery, sewn products and equipment trade show in the Americas. For more information INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CYBER MANUFACTURING 23 – 24 May, Vancouver, BC The International Conference on Cyber Manufacturing brings together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and results on all aspects of Cyber Manufacturing. It also provides a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of Cyber Manufacturing. For more information visit: INDUSTRY EVENTS 6 Are you planning an event relating to North America’s growing Manufacturing Industry? To get your event listed in Manufacturing in Focus, please contact us at least six to eight weeks before the event takes place at or call 1-647-479-2163INDUSTRY NEWS EV BATTERY MAKER LG ADDING 1,200 JOBS IN MICHIGAN The top-rated global leader in the electrical vehicle battery sector, LG Energy Solution is entering a joint venture partner- ship with automobile maker General Motors on a planned $1.7 billion expansion. It is expected LG’s site in Western Michigan’s Holland will see an additional 1,200 jobs created by 2025. Located approximately 155 miles (250 km) from Detroit, the site of the expansion has been approved for $56.5 million in grants from the state and a 20-year-long tax break estimated to be worth $132.6 million. It is believed the expansion will quin- tuple LG’s battery component production and offer good jobs paying approximately $65,000 annually plus benefits. Headquartered in South Korea, LG makes lithium-ion polymer batteries and packs used in electric vehicles (EVs) and other applications. With clients including GM, Ford and Volkswagen, there were over 4.5 million EVs powered by LG Energy Solution batteries as of 2020. TESLA OPENS GERMAN ‘GIGAFACTORY’ Entrepreneur Elon Musk was on hand for the grand opening of his company’s newest plant in Germany. Dubbed the ‘Gigafactory,’ the Giga Berlin plant in Grünheide represents the largest investment in an automobile manufacturer in the country in decades, at more than five billion Euros. The opening of the facility is not without controversy. It was delayed for about eight months due to licensing issues with local authorities, and environmentalists were outside during the ribbon cutting. With signs reading “Water is for life – not for corporations,” masked protestors stated they opposed trees being cut down in the area and water use in the facility. The automobile maker finally received approval in early March, stating it would meet environmental conditions governing air pollution, water consumption, and other potential issues. Although Volkswagen still hold the majority share in Europe’s electric vehicle (EV) market – 25 percent compared to Tesla’s 13 percent – Tesla has stated that once its plant reaches full capacity, it will produce 500,000 EVs vehicles annually, 50,000 more battery-electric than rival Volkswagen sold worldwide in 2021. 7INDUSTRY NEWS MDA UNVEILS NEW HQ, SPACE ROBOTICS CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE With a long history as an innovator in advanced technolo- gies for the space industry, MDA Ltd. remains a pioneer in satellite systems, geointelligence and robotics. The company recently took another bold step with the announcement of a new, purpose-built global headquarters and Space Robotics Centre of Excellence. To be constructed in Brampton, Ontario, the 200,000 square foot structure will house state-of-the-art laboratories along with test facilities, research and development, assembly and integration. The Centre of Excellence will also be home to the Space Robotics Mission Control Centre, which will enable the company to provide “critical on-orbit operations capabili- ties to commercial and government customers worldwide,” according to MDA. “This new facility will be home to our growing team and will further unlock the potential of our world-class engineering and space mission expertise, while allowing us to bring to market a full suite of innovative commercial space robotics products that leverage Canadarm3 technology,” said MDA’s Chief Executive Officer Mike Greenley in a media statement. Under construction and with the lab scheduled to be in opera- tion by the end of this year, the MDA Centre of Excellence for Space Robotics will receive a $25 million grant from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Additionally, the initiative is receiving support from the City of Brampton Economic Development Office and the Brampton- based Kaneff Group of Companies, a respected real estate developer, builder and property management company. “Ontario is home to the brightest talent and a thriving inno- vation ecosystem that make projects with incredible com- panies like MDA, a global leader in the space robotics industry, possible,” said the province’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Vic Fedeli. “Today’s investment will strengthen Ontario’s vibrant advanced tech- nology sector, create exciting new jobs and ensure that scien- tific breakthroughs will continue to be made in our province.” 8INDUSTRY NEWS CAF PARTNERS WITH SKILLS/COMPÉTENCES CANADA ON SKILLED TRADES Not-for-profit Skills/Compétences Canada (SCC) – which promotes careers in skilled trades – recently returned as a Premier Partner with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for events, including the 2022 Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC). The flagship SCNC will be held May 26-27 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. By working together, the SCC and CAF aim to promote career opportunities in the skilled trades to a broad, national audience, with the objective of creating a stronger workforce in Canada in sectors including manufacturing and engineer- ing, transportation and services, construction, employment, and information technology. Along with welcoming guests of all ages, there will be repre- sentatives on hand from the Canadian Armed Forces, industry, labour, and government. Approximately 300 students and apprentices will vie for the title of national champion in over 35 skilled trade and technology Skill Areas, and more than 40 interactive Try-A-Trade® and Technology activities will provide students with information on careers in skilled trades and technology. “Skills/Compétences Canada in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces will continue to promote the importance of careers in the skilled trades and technologies to our future workforce,” said Skills/Compétences Canada’s Chief Executive Officer Shaun Thorson in a media release. “Thanks to partners like the Canadian Armed Forces we can host events that highlight the diverse education and career pathways in these sectors.” A recent RBC report stated about 700,000 skilled tradespeople are expected to retire by 2028. SMARTER MANUFACTURING ON THE HORIZON A recent global survey of over 300 manufacturers revealed prom- ising details as the world emerges from the shadow of COVID-19. The seventh annual study from Rockwell Automation com- pany’s Plex Systems, The State of Smart Manufacturing saw over 300 global manufacturing leaders in fields from aerospace to automotive, food and beverage to electronics, interviewed for their thoughts on the future of the industry. While many of those participating in the survey said the pandemic worsened “pre-existing conditions in manufactur- ing” such as a lack of skilled workers, 83 percent of respon- dents believe smart manufacturing will be the key to their success moving forward. Highlights in the study reveal a 50 percent increase in adoption rates of smart manufacturing over 12 months, 38 percent of respondents stating they will be investing in supply chain planning, and more than 80 percent of those surveyed stressing “the importance of attracting and retain- ing a quality workforce.” The full report can be downloaded 9Next >