PMA's Metalforming Advocate
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Past Events

Padnos Recycling Plant Tour & Seminar

Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Location: Florentines, 3245 28th St. SW, Grandville, MI
Schedule: 12:00 – Lunch/Seminar; 1:45 – Tour of Padnos Recycling at 3485 Viaduct, Grandville, MI 49418

Join PMA’s West Michigan District for an informative presentation on recycling and a tour of Padnos Recycling. Since the turn of the 20th century, the Padnos name has become synonymous with dedication, hard work and fair dealing. This realization of the American dream began in 1905 when Louis Padnos, a young Russian emigrant, settled in Holland, MI. What began as a simple, service-orientated, scrap-peddling business built from scratch by Louis and Helen Padnos, has since grown into a sophisticated, environmentally aware institution with worldwide influence.

At Padnos, they are able to manage scrap for the industrial account base not only in Michigan, but throughout the United States. From Arizona to the far Northeast, the vast network and relationships with scrap consumers, logistics providers and dealers across the country allow Padnos to provide hands-on scrap management and expertise for industrial account scrap, wherever it may be generated.

How Washington Works & How You Can Change It

Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Location: Crowne Plaza 5700 East 28th St., SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Phone: 866-505-9099
Schedule: 5:00 – Meeting; 7:00 – Social Hour, Heavy Hors d’ourves

Join PMA’s West Michigan District for an informative presentation on the latest happenings in Washington, D.C., as they relate to the metalforming industry. PMA’s lobbyist, Omar Nashashibi of The Franklin Partnership, will provide an update on PMA’s efforts on Capitol Hill.

Key topics that will be discussed include:

Omar also will offer insight into the 2008 elections.

Omar Nashashibi is a founding partner of The Franklin Partnership with 10 years of Capitol Hill experience. He has represented clients before the previous and current administrations, and the U.S. Congress, particularly the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance, Appropriations and Transportation committees. Prior to entering the private sector, Omar worked for the Office of Management and Budget and the Institute for Public Accuracy, a nationwide consortium of public policy researchers and analysts. He has been representing PMA’s interests in Washington, D.C., since 2004.

Drawing and Stretching Advanced High Strength Steel
With Art Hedrick

Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Location: Elks Lodge, 2715 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 Phone: 616-453-2451
Schedule: 12:30 p.m. - Arrival and Networking; 1:00 p.m. - Program; 5:00 p.m. - Meeting; 6:00 p.m. - Dinner; 7:00 p.m. - Presentation

Art Hedrick is the owner of the training and consulting firm Dieology, located in Greenville, Michigan U.S.A. He is journeyman tool and die maker with over 27 years of metalworking experience. Art is the author of the Die Science column in Stamping Journal as well as The Fabricator.com, He has also written numerous technical articles on stamping die design and build for a number of trade publications. Art, an instructor at General Motors University, has been the recipient of many training awards. He has held Chairmen positions of stamping councils with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers as well as Fabricators and Manufactures Association. Art is active in metal stamping training and consulting world wide.

Course description:
This four hour course will focus on processing and trouble-shooting methods and techniques used when forming and cutting high strength materials. Materials such as A.H.H.S. will be the topic of choice.

Topics:

There will be a short session after dinner, focusing on the human side of consulting and training- tool room psychology. The session will cover such areas as dealing with others, leadership rules and getting cooperation.

Executive Roundtable

Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Location: The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI
Schedule: 8:00 a.m. - Arrival (coffee, juices); 8:30 a.m. - Facilitated discussion; 10:00 a.m. - Brief break; 10:30 a.m. - Facilitated discussion; 12:00 p.m. - Lunch; 1:00 p.m. - Departure

Join the West Michigan District of PMA for its CEO Roundtable as industry leaders gather to discuss the current environment of the metalforming industry. This is an excellent opportunity for executives to spend a morning with fellow leaders of metalforming companies based in western Michigan.

This event will be facilitated by Richard Antonini of Plante & Moran, PLLC.

Potential discussion topics include:

Make sure your company is represented among West Michigan metalforming CEOs, presidents, vice presidents, general managers and others at this essential event. Attendees will benefit from:

Plant Tour of Tooling Systems Group

DATE: Wednesday, October 24, 2007
LOCATION: 1166 Seven Mile Rd., Comstock Park, MI 49321 616-784-2353
SCHEDULE: Group One: 3:00 p.m. - Plant Tour; 6:00 p.m. - Dinner/Q&A / Group Two: 4:45 p.m. - Plant Tour; 7:15 p.m. - Dinner/Q&A

Join the West Michigan District of PMA for an overview of Tooling Systems Group (TSG) and take plant tours of three of its ten companies: Advanced Tooling Systems (ATS), Specialty Tooling Systems (STS) and Steel Craft Technologies.

Hear the story of how TSG has taken an approach of innovation and investment to meet the challenges of the current global tooling economy. In less then 25 years, TSG has grown to 275 associates, operates at an annual sales rate of $60 million and continues to grow its customer base on a year-to-year basis.

Too many tooling companies in West Michigan and the entire Midwest have been forced to downsize and sometimes close their doors. Come see how TSG has managed to expand its business with tooling facilities covering three states, providing tooling for virtually all of North America.

The Tooling Systems Group has five companies focused on the production of tooling for industry. Three of TSG’s companies build progressive and transfer dies, one builds hydro form tooling and plastic injection molds and the last builds automation assembly equipment. The remaining five companies are considered support, providing die design, hot-rolled plate die shoes, EDM, etc. These companies not only support the five TSG core companies, but these services also are sold to outside tooling companies across all of West Michigan.

Louis Padnos Iron & Metal Plant Tour

DATE: Wednesday, May 16, 2007
LOCATION: Padnos Iron & Metal Co., 185 W. Eighth Street, Holland, MI 49423
SCHEDULE: 3:30 p.m. – Registration; 4:00 p.m. - Welcome and Comments; 4:15 p.m. - Plant Tour; 5:15 p.m. - Networking with hors d'oeuvres; 6:15 p.m. - Adjourn

Join PMA’s West Michigan District for a plant tour and networking event at Padnos.

The Padnos story begins at the turn of the century with Louis Padnos, formerly from Russia, who worked in the Netherlands during his teenage years to earn money for his passage to the United States. After saving enough money, he crossed the Atlantic and earned a living peddling and bartering household goods throughout the United States. Louis, being fluent in Dutch, found his way to Holland and began the company in 1905.

Louis’ sons, Seymour and Stuart, grew up working for their father at early ages and have been the backbone of the company for nearly 65 years. They are both very active today within the corporate walls. Both of them now share a passion for the goodwill of their employees and the prosperity of the communities in which the company operates.

Today, a third generation of Padnos family members (Shelley, Jeff, Mitch and Doug) works alongside the company’s 450 employees to operate 13 scrap-recycling facilities throughout Michigan. Padnos continually strives to be a leader in the industry with respect to scrap management, product offerings, service capabilities and integrity. The company is pleased to host the West Michigan District for a wonderful networking opportunity and an interesting tour of its Holland operations.

Note: A tour of the Padnos Grand Rapids Turner Ave. operation will be available for those interested from 12:30-1:30 p.m. This is the company’s newest expansion with a state-of-the-art Lindeman Shear and auto shredding production. Please e-mail Scott O’Neil at scotto@padnos.com if you would like to tour this facility prior to the meeting in Holland.

Safety and HR Roundtable

DATE: Thursday, April 19, 2007
LOCATION: Pridgeon & Clay, Learning Center, 1600 Buchanan, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
SCHEDULE: 8:00 a.m. – Safety Registration; 8:15 a.m. - Safety Roundtable; 11:00 a.m. - Plant Tour; 11:45 a.m. - HR Registration; Noon - Networking Lunch; 1:00 p.m. - HR Roundtable; 3:30 p.m. - Plant Tour; 4:30 p.m. Adjourn

Join the West Michigan District of PMA on April 19, 2007, for invaluable HR and safety roundtables. Trans-Matic will host this full-day educational offering at Pridgeon and Clay Learning Center. Joe Hartings, safety manager at Trans-Matic, and Karen Spaulding, sr. recruiter and trainer, serve as the day’s facilitators. Please dress appropriately for a plant tour.

Facilitator Joe Hartings will lead a discussion of important safety topics, such as:

Facilitator Karen Spaulding will lead a discussion of important human resource topics, such as:

VolunteerNet»Research program ideas, speakers, news, etc. (for district officers)

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