Cavalier Tool Bringing Sexy Back to Manufacturing Industry in hotbed of Moldmaking

Published Oct 31, 2022 | Posted in Cavalier, Industry, News, Technology

Manufacturing CAN Be Sexy.  

It just needs to have the right spin and the right approach to letting more people know what happens behind many doors of shops in Windsor-Essex County and the world! 

Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing President Brian Bendig, told the Windsor Star that Manufacturing Day is an opportunity to open eyes to experiences they’ve (students) never seen.

“Can manufacturing be sexy? I think it can. They’re working on $1-million pieces of equipment doing pretty interesting things.”

 

 

 

He said the stakes are high for local manufacturers in their bid to recruit employees.

Bendig had 300 students visit Cavalier’s expanding Windsor headquarters on Manufacturing Day.

“I think one of the reasons we (manufacturing sector) have a shortage is no one really knows what we do,” Bendig said.

Manufacturing (MFG) Day was October 7, 2022, but at Cavalier Tool it is celebrated year-round with tours, support to local community events and outreach to suppliers and organizations like CAMM, Automate Canada and CTMA.

At Cavalier, T-shirts were handed out, every youth received a backpack and there were suppliers on-hand to talk about opportunities in the manufacturing supply chain. 

 

 

“I worked as a skilled tradesman in Windsor manufacturing for more than 25 years. It’s a great field to get into, especially if you like making things & working with your hands & mind.”,  says Eric M., in response to the Windsor Star Article by Dave Waddell

More than 700 students from local school boards and women from WEST (Women’s Enterprise Skills Training)  were scheduled to visit 17 manufacturers as part of the day set aside to showcase skilled trades careers, engage with future workers and to illustrate what it’s really like in the local economy’s largest sector.

According to Workforce Windsor-Essex, this area was the first community in Canada to participate in MFG Day in 2013 with six companies hosting 150 students.

Manufacturing is the region’s largest sector, employing 36,536 workers locally in 2021.

Wendy Stark, Director, Business Retention & Expansion of Invest WindsorEssex, says they were so pleased to be able to partner again with Workforce WindsorEssex on Manufacturing Day. 

“The student group was a little smaller than in 2019, but having close to 700 students was still very positive, especially considering the challenges of schools returning to fully in-person learning. 

I think the biggest win was in the number of companies participating. We had 17 companies offering 21 facilities for tours, which was the largest number since we began partnering on this event.” 

Stark says it is so important for progressive, high-tech companies like Cavalier Tool and others to show young students what a career in a modern manufacturing facility would look like, so that they can make informed decisions about their futures.

“Windsor-Essex companies are truly at the cutting-edge of new technologies with bright, clean, organized facilities offering the latest in machinery, equipment and computer systems. Manufacturing Day offers the chance to showcase these companies to the next generation of the workforce. For next year we hope to be able to return to having participation by closer to 1000 students.”

Participating employers included:

Cavalier Tool 

Anchor Danly

AIS Technologies Group

South Essex Fabricating

AAR Aircraft Services Windsor ULC

Angela Ciarlariello-Bondy, Co-operative Education Teacher at Belle River District High School and an OYAP Coordinator, says Manufacturing Day 2022 was well-organized and it was great to see companies like Cavalier participating.

“Students were very impressed and interested. They commented on how clean facilities were. They really liked seeing what a mold actually does. The example of the patio chair and how it is made from the mould really hit home for many students. Our tour guides, Brian Bendig, Brian Remillong and Tal Czudner were so engaging, energetic and informative. It was also great to see the suppliers that work with Cavalier.”

 

She said students need to be exposed to experiences like Manufacturing Day so they can see the opportunities for future employment. They also get to see how companies in Windsor/Essex contribute to so many things made around the world.

“On a side note, we had our Pathway Night here at Belle River DHS and when I was setting up the booths for the organizations coming that evening, there were a few students that commented when they saw the Cavalier name on the table. That constant exposure is what students need. In the evening when a student was here with their parents, they let them know that Cavalier was one of the stops on their tour for Manufacturing Day.”

Isaac Adisho at CST Studio had this to say about Cavalier’s Manufacturing Day Event:

“Our Team at CST Studio had the privilege to attend Cavalier Tool & Manufacturing Ltd’s Manufacturing Day Event on October 7th and what an experience it was! 

“Many young people were in attendance and they were able to learn what we do at CST Studio, as well as other exhibitors.  There were some great questions – we were able to show the value and beauty that texture brings to everyday household items and vehicles.” 

 

Adisho says it also shows the value of industry collaboration.

“It was an opportunity to not only shine a light on what we do, but it also showcased how interesting moldmaking is as part of an overall manufacturing industry.” 

And best of all – it is about educating youth on the value of moldmaking and manufacturing as an industry and how it positively impacts our local and global economy.  

There are a lot of amazing opportunities in our industry to grow and have a successful career, and they need to be informed of that,” says Adisho. “If these types of tours can help even one student decide to pursue a career in MFG, then this is a success. 

Manufacturing  is not talked about enough, especially considering it is in our backyard, so it is the duty of Cavalier, CST Studio and everyone else in our industry to enlighten not only the youth, but the entire workforce on the benefits of pursuing a career in our industry.”

Mike Hicks, Director of Sales with Die Mold Services (DMS), agrees about the value of the industry working together. 

“Manufacturing Day is the one day of the year that Cavalier goes into a neutral manufacturing gear, but into goodwill overdrive by making their facility open, accessible, inviting, informative to area students, educators and parents.

 

“Teaming up with their key industry suppliers and service companies, they not only talk about career opportunities at Cavalier Tool, but they also promote the entire mold industry as a great  opportunity to consider as a career option.

A best-in-class event by a best-in-class award-winning company!”

Tashlyn Teskey, Manager of Research Projects with Workforce Windsor-Essex, says demand was great as the first year back after the pandemic from both schools and industry. 

“We had the most participating employers this year. They were also more hands-on with students; understanding that the day is not just an awareness opportunity, but also a long-term recruitment tool as they get students excited about the industry and they remember who gave them those great learning opportunities.” 

The biggest win this year: 

“We had multiple students that were able to get co-op placements while on tours. To our knowledge this has not happened in the past, but it’s such a testament to the need for students to find connections with employers. The employers also get to see their interest in person, and can get a sense of how they interact in a workplace, with other staff, and also from their eagerness to participate in the tour activities.”

She said Manufacturing Day is important, since for many it is the only in-person view of what a manufacturing facility looks like. 

“It’s hard to envision a career in an industry that you have no exposure to, and getting to hear from those working within it, presents a rare opportunity for them to ask questions. Some companies are even able to have current or past OYAP (Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program) students lead tours; a chance for students to see themselves in the industry in the next few years, or even now for some, and learn from someone that may have been in a similar situation to them.”

She says it is vital that companies like Cavalier participate and engage as they did this year.

“Having industry-support for the day and opening up their doors to hundreds of students is really an opportunity to show those on tours that they want them to learn, they want them to be excited and then come back for a job when they are ready. 

It is eye-opening for students, and often rare, that they get to do hands-on activities with workers and learn from people outside of school that are excited to teach them.” 

“It is also key for students that haven’t felt like the traditional post-secondary path is for them, to get to see there is a path for them in the skilled trades.”, she says. 

“And for those with an interest in engineering or tech, there is a place for them in manufacturing that many often don’t know about.” 

Cavalier GM, Tim Galbraith, told Dave Waddell, of the Windsor Star (in an article covering Manufacturing Day 2022 in Windsor-Essex) that the company has had to turn down work due to the lack of employees. He admits companies can’t automate themselves out of the problem.

“You can build more buildings and buy more automated machines, but without people it won’t work,” Galbraith said. “We need smart people to run this automation.”

 

In an interview for this blog news story, he said that while they expected to be a bit rusty for the first manufacturing day post-COVID, the Cavalier Army pulled it together with their usual step-up-to-the-plate attitude! 

“It was an exciting time and we were able to pull off a spectacular event, which by all accounts, was positive with students, as well. The feeling that we had at the end of the day, after presenting our best and putting our best foot forward in front of potential workforce, was that we all went home and felt we’ve done a good thing for the community, too. 

It was all about raising awareness and I think we did a good job of that.”

Cavalier had the following suppliers on-site with staff and giveaways to further round out that sense of industry community too: 

CST Studio

Die Mold Services (DMS)

Megatel

Essex Metals

Netmon

Belmont

 

“Our next generation of employees are between the ages of 14 and 17, they don’t even know that yet,” says Tal Czudner, Manager of Employee Relations and Talent, a.k.a. the People guy’ from Cavalier.  

“It is our responsibility to provide simple pathways to rewarding careers that can provide for them and their families.There are so many options for the students in the world of manufacturing that are not the traditional teacher, nurse or engineer.”   

People.  Process. Equipment. The Cavalier Way.

Here’s to celebrating Manufacturing Day EVERYDAY in Plastic Injection Molding with the people who make things that make things! 

*Workforce WindsorEssex collects local job postings and apprenticeship postings from 55 job boards and employer websites to better understand employer demand for talent and to simplify job search via our innovative job finding tools: Job Board, Job Map, and Career Explorer.

**Invest WindsorEssex is a not-for-profit organization supported by the City of Windsor and County of Essex, responsible for advancing economic development to grow and sustain prosperity in the region.

 

 

               

       

 

Below is the original article from The Windsor Star by journalist Dave Waddell:

 

Manufacturing Day returns after a three-year pause

Author of the article:

Dave Waddell

The Windsor Star 

Publishing date: Oct 08, 2022 

Women from W.E.S.T (Women’s Enterprise Skills Training) get a tour of Anchor Danly during Manufacturing Day, organized by Workforce WindsorEssex and Invest WindsorEssex, on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.

Women from W.E.S.T (Women’s Enterprise Skills Training) get a tour of Anchor Danly during Manufacturing Day, organized by Workforce WindsorEssex and Invest WindsorEssex, on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.

PHOTO BY DAX MELMER /Windsor Star

 

There was no hesitation for Udayasree Kurapatt when the invitation was issued to try operating a metal cutting machine or pick up a welder’s torch during her tour of Windsor’s Anchor Danly plant during Manufacturing Day.

This felt a bit like home for the native of India, where her family owns a wood-cutting business.

“I know how to operate machinery that cuts,” Kurapatt said. “I like manufacturing, trying to cut the perfect piece. I get a sense of real satisfaction from doing that

Kurapatt was particularly interested in how the company is using technology across their operations.

She admitted Anchor Danly is much more advanced technologically than her family’s business.

“We did a lot more manual things, but here everything is set up from a computer,” Kurapatt said. “It’s more interesting and it makes work easier.

“I like that because my education is a bachelor’s of computer science.”

Women from W.E.S.T (Women’s Enterprise Skills Training) get a tour of Anchor Danly during Manufacturing Day, organized by Workforce WindsorEssex and Invest WindsorEssex, on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. PHOTO BY DAX MELMER /Windsor Star

Kurapatt was part of a group from Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor that toured the plant.

Women from W.E.S.T (Women’s Enterprise Skills Training) get a tour of Anchor Danly during Manufacturing Day, organized by Workforce WindsorEssex and Invest WindsorEssex, on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.

A target group that will become increasingly important to a local manufacturing sector that is expected to see a rapid increase in demand for talent with the volume of investment now flowing into the Windsor region.

“We’re creating awareness for our future generations,” said Anchor Danly’s director of human resources Janette Emerson.

“We’d like to make sure they understand there are a lot of rewarding careers in manufacturing.

“It’s an industry that’s booming with electric vehicles. There are opportunities from entry level and, if you’re motivated, you can move up in the company.

“For example, our president started as a blanchard grinder.”

Women from W.E.S.T (Women’s Enterprise Skills Training) get a tour of Anchor Danly during Manufacturing Day, organized by Workforce WindsorEssex and Invest WindsorEssex, on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. PHOTO BY DAX MELMER /Windsor Star

More than 700 students and women were scheduled to visit 17 manufacturers as part of the day set aside to address the skilled labour shortage, engage with future workers and to illustrate what it’s really like in the local economy’s largest sector.

Women from W.E.S.T (Women’s Enterprise Skills Training) get a tour of Anchor Danly during Manufacturing Day, organized by Workforce WindsorEssex and Invest WindsorEssex, on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.

According to Statistics Canada, the region had 33,500 people employed in manufacturing or 20.3 per cent of the workforce of 165,300 as of August 2022.

Another member of the WEST group, Deepthy Prakash, illustrated the depth of talent to be tapped into among women and immigrants.

A recent immigrant to Windsor, Prakash is an electric and bio-medical engineer.

“I really liked the welding part,” Prakash said. “I tried it and they said I was pretty good.”

Prakash said she found the plant tour interesting. The many different aspects of manufacturing made her curious enough to consider working in the sector in fields related to her training.

Women from W.E.S.T (Women’s Enterprise Skills Training) get a tour of Anchor Danly during Manufacturing Day, organized by Workforce WindsorEssex and Invest WindsorEssex, on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. PHOTO BY DAX MELMER /Windsor Star

Prakash said manufacturing also runs in the family with her husband now working for Chrysler.

Women from W.E.S.T (Women’s Enterprise Skills Training) get a tour of Anchor Danly during Manufacturing Day, organized by Workforce WindsorEssex and Invest WindsorEssex, on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.

Ross Rawlings, right, president and founder of Radix Inc., gives a tour of his manufacturing facility to a group of Massey Secondary School students as part of Manufacturing Day on Friday.  (DAX MELMER / The Windsor Star)

Radix Inc., above, Reko International Group Inc., and Platinum Tool Technologies are holding opening houses on Oct. 4 for students who are considering careers in manufacturing. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)

Cavalier Tool and Manufacturing Ltd. workers Jeremy Mateciuk, left, and Tony Copetrone are shown Sept. 26, 2018, mounting a mold cavity onto a Hermle 5-axis CNC high-speed machining centre.  Cavalier Tool and other companies open their doors to hundreds of local students on Oct. 5, 2018, for Manufacturing Day.

“I think I would,” said Prakash about working in manufacturing. “I’m looking for a job having only been here six months.”

Cavalier Tool and Manufacturing president Brian Bendig said the stakes are high for local manufacturers in their bid to recruit employees.

 

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Hundreds of local students to flock to factories for Manufacturing Day

Bendig had 300 students visit Cavalier’s expanding Windsor headquarters Friday.

“I think one of the reasons we (manufacturing sector) have a shortage is no one really knows what we do,” Bendig said.

“Manufacturing Day is an opportunity to open eyes to experiences they’ve never seen.

“Can manufacturing be sexy? I think it can. They’re working on $1-million pieces of equipment doing pretty interesting things.”

Cavalier’s sales manager Tim Galbraith said the company has had to turn down work due to the lack of employees. He admits companies can’t automate themselves out of the problem.

“You can build more buildings and buy more automated machines, but without people it won’t work,” Galbraith said.

“We need smart people to run this automation.”

dwaddell@postmedia.com

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