Today’s New Jersey Manufacturing Awards: Innovation Revealed

By George N. Saliba, Managing Editor On Oct 7, 2016

Against the backdrop of National Manufacturing Day, 22 New Jersey manufacturing companies were honored today for pursuing innovation in research, design and production within our state. Additionally, nine individuals were recognized for their contributions to New Jersey manufacturing.

Held at The Palace at Somerset Park, Somerset, the seven-hour event – which also featured 13 educational breakout sessions for the benefit of manufacturing attendees – was a collaborative effort among the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP), the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), NEW JERSEY BUSINESS magazine, and sponsor CohnReznick.

Addressing the main audience, Frank Robinson, vice president of government affairs at NJBIA, said, “We have recognized for many, many years, the importance that manufacturing has in the state of New Jersey, in terms of our economy, jobs, and just – overall – making the state of New Jersey a better place.” New Jersey has approximately 250,000 manufacturing jobs and nearly 11,000 manufacturing companies.

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, who gave a keynote address and accepted a “Made in New Jersey Honor Roll for Manufacturing & STEM Award,” said, “The people who work in manufacturing in New Jersey get paid $98,000 a year.  That compares to the rest of the country; roughly $70,000 and change.  So, we are doing really well, here in New Jersey, and we have a good story to tell.  Now, we have to do better.”

More broadly, Guadagno added that bringing companies into New Jersey will be achieved “by continuing to advocate for lower taxes for a freer economic environment, for all of you. Because if you stay in New Jersey, and grow in New Jersey, then, as you know: The whole community is better – our whole life is better.”

John Kennedy, CEO of the New Jersey Manufacturers Extension Program, said, “Our whole goal, today, is to bring as many manufacturers together as possible, and to enjoy the day.”

Additional speakers addressed an array of New Jersey manufacturing triumphs and challenges, ranging from workforce development and taxation, to the state’s industry competitiveness.

Award winners, finalists and Made in New Jersey Honor Roll for Manufacturing and STEM honorees are listed below:

Raymond Hopp Award

WINNER

Mitch Cahn
President, Unionwear

FINALIST

Clifford F. Lindholm III
President & CEO, Falstrom Company

FINALIST

Karen Primak
President & CEO, IPAK, Inc.

Innovator of the Year Finalists

WINNER

GD, or General Devices (as it was formally known)

FINALIST

Alliance Sensors Group

FINALIST

Sam Thevanayagam, Founder, Parts Life, Inc.

FINALIST

Woodstock Farms

Manufacturer of the Year Finalists – Best Start-up/Young Manufacturing Company

WINNER

Cape May Brewing Company

FINALIST

Premier Compaction Systems, LLC

FINALIST

PYCO, LLC

Manufacturer of the Year Finalists – Small Business
(50 employees or less)

WINNER

Falstrom Company

FINALIST

Imperial Machine & Tool Co.

FINALIST

PNC, Inc.

FINALIST

Royce Emporium Leather

Manufacturer of the Year Finalists – Mid-sized
(50–125 employees)

WINNER

Magna-Power

FINALIST

Davion, Inc.

FINALIST

Gambert Shirts

FINALIST

Weiss-Aug

Manufacturer of the Year Finalists – Large
(125 employees or more)

WINNER

HUBER+SUHNER Astrolab

FINALIST

IDL TechniEdge

FINALIST

LPS Industries

FINALIST

Sea Box

Made in New Jersey Honor Roll for Manufacturing and STEM

• Cory Booker, United States Senator
• Kim Guadagno, Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey
• Dr. Donald H. Sebastian, president and CEO of the New Jersey Innovation Institute
• Anthony Bucco, New Jersey State Senator
• Chris Molloy, senior vice president, Office of Research and Economic Development at Rutgers University
• Troy Singleton, New Jersey State Assemblyman
• Rodney Frelinghuysen, United States Congressman
• Gary Schaer, New Jersey State Assemblyman
• Harold Wirths, former New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner

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