Over the past decade, the EDC has helped more than 90 companies like yours make a smooth, successful, profitable move to Ocala/Marion County. EDC would welcome the opportunity to do the same for you! EDC will assist in every step of your relocation or expansion process from site selection to zoning to permitting and more.
MRMA News
Marion Regional Manufacturers Association Tours Golden Flake in Ocala
MRMA had the opportunity to tour Golden Flake during its monthly meeting in August. This commodity based company’s corporate office is located in Birmingham, Alabama where the company began as Magic City Foods in the basement of Hill’s grocery in 1923. In 1977, Golden Flake Snack Foods became a wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Enterprises, Incorporated. Today, they serve a 12 state market with an extensive product line.
The Ocala plant manufactures potato chips from potatoes grown specifically for chipping and corn tortilla chips from whole corn. The tour began in the potato washing room where over a million pounds of potatoes are washed each week. From there the potatoes are peeled, inspected, sliced, and then produced into chips in a cooker. They are inspected once again by a computer controlled chip sorter for color, salt, blisters, spice coverage and more before being packaged using high speed machines and shipped out the door using their own fleet of trucks. We also viewed their corn tortilla chip line where whole corn is washed and then precooked and soaked for 18 hours to soften the kernels. The corn is then stone ground and rolled out into tortilla chips on a "sheeter." Golden Flake uses lean manufacturing to make a quality product the public enjoys. Jon Wagner, Plant Manager, stated "it takes everyone as a team to make it at Golden Flake."
The public is invited to tour the facility. For more information, please go to their website at www.goldenflake.com.
Executive Director of the Manufacturers Association of Florida (MAF) Updates Members on Legislative Initiatives
Nancy Stephens, Executive Director of MAF spoke to nearly 40 members of the Marion Regional Manufacturers Association (MRMA) at the monthly membership meeting hosted by Cheney Brothers, Inc. (CBI) at their distribution center in Ocala on June 12. MAF is an advocacy organization that serves to improve the business climate for manufacturers in Florida. Ms. Stephens is also a lobbyist in Tallahassee. During the meeting, she advised members regarding several exciting developments in the manufacturing arena including an update on the machinery and equipment sales tax refunds and unemployed tax credit program. Information on the manufacturer of the year award application process, training grants, and the statewide septic tank inspection program were also discussed. Members were encouraged to participate in the 7th Annual Manufacturers Summit and Global Marketplace which will be held in Orlando on November 3 and 4. For more information on these and other developments and programs visit the MAF website at www.mafmfg.com.
Keith Davis, MRMA Board President, also announced that MRMA will be providing a $1500 scholarship to the ARC Marion this year. The scholarship monies will be used to educate someone in the community at the ARC’s Opportunity Center so he/she can achieve work skills needed for the manufacturing industry thus helping him/her to become a more productive member of society.
The general meeting was followed by a tour CBI’s Ocala facility. Cheney Brothers began as a family affair in 1925 and has become one of the largest food service distributors in the South by always treating customers like family. They are a broad line distributor supplying Southern Hospitality 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information please visit their website at www.cheneybrothers.com.
Annual MRMA GOLF Tournament a Huge Success!
MRMA held its annual golf tournament on Thursday, May 13, 2010. 112 golfers participated in this highly anticipated event which took place at the Ocala Municipal Golf Course. The weather was absolutely perfect this year and everyone had a phenomenal time. Proceeds from the annual golf tournament benefit the Marion Technical Institute Industrial Engineering Academy.
Winners in the tournament include:
1st place gross score: Brown & Brown Insurance team
1st place net score: Phoenix Wood Products team
2nd place net score: Alan Millet & the Eagle Ridge team
3rd place net score: Pratt Industries team
Closet to the pin: Mike Tomasetti, Jeff Tackett, Randy Brummel, Scott Kaylor
Men’s longest drive: Christopher Bullock
Ladies longest drive: Cristen Stengel
MRMA would like to extend a very special thank you to all the event sponsors, donators, golfers, and volunteers for making the tournament such a success.
The event is scheduled for May 2011. Mark your calendars and be on the look out for the event announcement!
Golf Tournament Photo Gallery
Golf Tournament Sponsors
Marion Regional Manufacturers Association (MRMA) Tours American Panel Corporation
On April 8, 2010 MRMA toured American Panel Corporation (APC), a leading manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment and walk in cold rooms for the food service industry. Established in 1963, and presently housed in a 100,000 square foot facility in Ocala, APC custom manufactures walk-in coolers and freezers, refrigeration systems, and blast chillers which are sold through equipment dealers, consultants and end users through a rep network.
Utilizing state of the art metal fabrication equipment, metal is cut to length, then to width, and then the edges are folded according to specifications. The panels for the walk ins are foamed in place utilizing a 245FA rigid urethane blended system. This ensures that the panels are of the highest degree of quality and reliability. All walk ins are assembled, inspected, and disassembled prior to shipment.
The refrigeration systems are assembled on site using basic compressors and evaporators and then built to customer specifications. The blast chiller, a refrigeration system that takes food from a high temperature to a low temperature in a short period of time preventing growth of bacteria, is a relatively new product line and the large blast chillers are also built on site.
In compliance with green initiatives, all of APC’s product meets or exceeds federal legislation related to insulation factors and energy consumption.
Guests were treated to a stainless steel desktop placard on which the MRMA logo was fabricated and engraved utilizing APC’s 20 ton Trumpf CNC punch press. APC has the capacity to perform metal fabrication work for other entities whether it is a single part or multiple parts. If interested, please contact Chris Fritz, Director of Manufacturing at 352-245-7055.
Marion Regional Manufacturers Association (MRMA) Tours Pro Poly® of America, Inc.
MRMA toured Pro Poly® of America on Thursday, March 11, 2010. Established in 1991 Pro Poly® is a leading manufacturer of poly water and foam tanks and truck bodies for the fire service. The tanks are made from a material called Polyprene®, a specially formulated copolymer plastic that will not rust, crack or corrode.
Pro Poly’s® state of the art technology of using plastic fabrication in place of metal fabrication and fiberglass molding is very innovative. Tim Dean, President, explained that they have no impact issues with plastic as one would with fiberglass and metal. Plastic takes the energy at the point of contact and retains it. The damaged part is merely cut out and a new piece is welded in seamlessly. Plastic is lighter than fiberglass and stainless steel in specific applications. It is also odorless and clean for the environment. All manufacturing waste is collected and sent to J R Plastics to be converted back into finished products. Pro Poly® is a leader in zero waste.
The manufacturing group learned that Pro Poly® has a commitment to its customer and to its product. Tim stated we keep our higher calling in mind at all times as these fire trucks are being sent to save someone’s life potentially. Pro Poly® has two state of the art facilities, one in Ocala, Florida, the other in Augusta, Wisconsin and is ISO 9001 certified. For more information, please visit their website at www.propolyamerica.com.
MRMA Helps ARC MARION Connect with Local Manufacturers
MRMA toured the Opportunity Center at the ARC Marion on February 11, 2010. ARC stands for Advocacy Resource Center and it provides services for the develop of mentally disabled. The Opportunity Center houses the ARC’s vocational training programs in which the clients are taught how to use computers, tools, assembly and various other tasks. Because of this training, the clients are able to get jobs, which is one of their primary goals. Many do work for several companies in Marion County including Signature Brands, Pratt Industries, USA Scientific, and Class One. The ARC is very proud of their client’s 100% quality work which is done at a very low affordable price. If you are interested in learning how you can help a valuable community partner and enhance your bottom line at the same time, please contact:
Troy Strawder, CEO, at 352-387-2210.
   |