Manufacturer of the Year Finalists – Mid-sized

(50–125 employees)

On Sep 29, 2016

Davion, Inc.

Davion, Inc. is one of the largest private-label and contract manufacturers of personal care products in the United States. The company develops, manufactures and distributes hundreds of unique product formulations to clients in both domestic and international markets. Currently, Davion manufactures and distributes its products through two facilities in New Jersey: North Brunswick and Newark. The company has also expanded its operations to Canada through an acquisition of another company. These facilities have the capability of manufacturing shampoos, body washes, bubble baths, lotions, creams, nail polish remover, oils and soaps as well as topical OTC and non-medicated powder products, among other items. In addition, Davion markets an entire line of personal care products under the internationally-recognized “Perfect Purity,” “Select Spa,” and “Take It Off” brand names. The company has 70 full-time employees. In 2015, the company spent more than $129,000 on employee training.

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Magna-Power 

Flemington-based Magna-Power traces its roots to 1981 when Ira J. Pitel, PhD, started a contract research and development company in the fields of power electronics and magnetics. The business grew over the years, with Pitel focusing on engineering and manufacturing while private labeling products to larger companies. When one private-label partner, which comprised 50 percent of Magna-Power’s sales, was on the verge of being sold to a competitor, the Pitel family decided to establish its own brand, with son, Adam Pitel, developing direct sales and marketing channels and Ira continuing developing new products. Also on board is Adam’s brother Grant Pitel, PhD, vice president of engineering. Today, Magna-Power’s products are used by thousands of customers worldwide, aiding in the manufacture of electric vehicles, steering magnets for particle accelerators and proton beam therapy, powering radar systems for national defense, driving traction controllers for locomotive development and a wide range of cutting-edge research at various universities. The company employs 90 full-time workers at its 73,500-square-foot Flemington headquarters.

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Gambert Shirts

Gambert Shirts is a Newark-based shirt manufacturer specializing in the made-to-measure trade. Founder Mel Gambert learned the business from his father and, working in the factory throughout high school, began to improve on sizing techniques for made-to-measure shirts. Today, the company, with 85 employees, is run by three principles, Mel, his wife Lorraine, and their son Mitch. Gambert shirts satisfy thousands of customers. The company offers the finest selection of fabrics, interlinings and trims, selling its products to individuals and taking orders from ready-to-wear designers such as Perry Ellis and Donna Karan. Approximately 65 percent of orders that flow through the factory are repeat business. The company operates a small batch production line, but it has implemented the best components of lean manufacturing wherever possible.

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Weiss-Aug

Weiss-Aug, based in East Hanover, provides customer insert molding, precision metal stamping, and assembly solutions to its customers. With 40-plus years of experience in serving the automotive, medical, electronic and semiconductor industries, skilled staff experienced in design, engineering, tooling and manufacturing excel at providing precision manufacturing. Through rapid low-level prototyping, the company also provides quick customer engineering. Through an independent development group, product design verification is also quickly achieved. Weiss-Aug understands that recognizing potential issues early on are key to successful and timely product launches. Additionally, sophisticated modern machining methods, such as WEDM and high-speed machining, are critical to achieving accuracy necessary to tooling. Weiss-Aug offers its 106 employees an apprenticeship program to help them advance in various departments. The US Department of Labor ranked this program as one of the top apprentice programs in the country.

 

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