Crafts Hosts Team Bonding Event in a COVID World!

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Company culture is hard to measure but it’s absolutely fundamental to running a successful business. With no team feeling, people tend to perform less well and feel less motivated by their tasks. It has been especially difficult to keep teams feeling strong during the pandemic. Most of the little rituals which keep us together have been disrupted. No more casual visits to people’s desks, no more gossip at the coffee machine or shared lunches. With many teams spending months apart, managers are having to think about alternative ways to keep teams together.

Now that people are going back to the shop, it’s important to make time to be together again as a team. Things will be different. We have all lived through big changes in the last months that have affected us on a personal level. For managers, many teams have been reshuffled, while new starters have arrived without meeting their colleagues in person.

So it’s an great idea to bring teams back together and organize a team-building event. Team-building activities are important for keeping a company cohesive and happy, by doing something out of the ordinary that also makes you smile. But team building in times of coronavirus brings up issues: How do you get together while keeping safe distance?

Crafts Technology decided to host a TEAM BAGS TOURNAMENT in their facility. There was only one basic rule: masks required, remember to keep a minimum distance from each other, use the hygiene products we provide for everyone, and HAVE FUN!

At Crafts Technology, all of our employee owners share our fundamental values, including transparency, innovation and integrity in all we do. Our shared commitment is seen in the quality of the parts we make, the advanced designs we conceive, and the way we interact with our clients and our community. We look to partner with organizations that possess similar values. Through relationships that benefit all concerned, we aim to push the boundaries of what is possible in the performance and productivity of industrial equipment.

“Learn More about Careers at Crafts”

Women in Manufacturing Hosts a Virtual Tour of Crafts Technology

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Please join us for a free Virtual Tour of Crafts Technology on Thursday February 25th at 8:30am CT. This special event is being hosted by WiM IL (Women in Manufacturing) along with SME Chicagoland and IMEC.

Women in Manufacturing® (WiM) is the only national trade association dedicated to providing year-round support to women who have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry. At present, more than 5,800 individual members representing nearly 1,000 manufacturing companies have joined our growing ranks of industry professionals. WiM encompasses manufacturers of all types and welcomes individuals from every job function – from production to the C-Suite. Membership is available to women and men working within the manufacturing sector.

Some highlights of this Virtual Tour of Crafts Technology will include the following:

  • Micro Manufacturing – Producing features below .001″
  • Skills Matrix – Visual Representation of Cross Training and Addressing the Skills Gap
  • KPI Management – See how KPI’s throughout the operation help promote efficiency and company success. 
  • CNC Precision Grinding – see the evolution of manual to CNC while holding tolerances below .0001″
  • Ownership – See how Equity for all translates to success for the company. 

Crafts Technology is a leader in manufacturing precision parts from superhard materials that deliver optimum life and corrosion resistance for the most demanding applications. Our expertise includes micro-manufacturing, composite fabrication, and new product development that benefits the entire value stream. Products range from tungsten carbide core pins for injection molding to nozzles and needles, cutting tools, modular composite countersink drilling, AFP blades, and wear parts. Crafts harnesses a 4 pillar approach to provide significant value to the industrial marketplace including:

  1. Culture of Ownership
  2. Materials Engineering
  3. State of the Art Manufacturing
  4. Engineering Innovation
Sign Up Here

* Registration is free and open until 2/24/21 at 4:00 PM (EST)

How Manufacturers Respond to a Pandemic

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Mr. David Boulay, The President of Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) highlights in this video how manufacturers have come together as one unit to help the community. Over the past few months, Crafts Technology – the same makers who power electronics, aerospace and medical products companies around the world – have pivoted their business to help other manufacturers and their community by:

  • Developing and sharing a COVID Response Plan 
  • Helping the city identify manufacturers that may be able to produce PPE
  • Working directly with the city to develop the Elk Grove COVID-19 response site
  • Producing 3D printed mask adjusters for employees and donating them to Mariano’s Food Store to help prevent damage to the back of the ear from wearing a mask all day at work.

“Illinois has been an early leader on building out testing capacity – just recently reaching the 5 million test mark – thanks in part to local companies like Crafts and the ‘makers’ they employ who are making a difference,” according to the governor’s office.

State leaders kick off Manufacturing Month at Crafts Technology

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The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity joined manufacturing industry leaders and members of the community at Crafts Technology to proclaim October as Manufacturing Month in Illinois. “Kicking off October’s National Manufacturing Month, the event recognized the contributions by Crafts Technology as one several Illinois companies that have stepped up and joined the statewide response to the pandemic,” according to the governor’s office. The kick-off took place on Friday, Oct. 2 at 10 a.m. at Crafts Technology at 91 Joey Dr. in Elk Grove Village.

Since COVID-19 hit, more than 1,000 Illinois manufacturers and distributors shifted operations to manufacture and deploy personal protective equipment. Crafts Technology – the same makers who power electronics, aerospace and medical products companies around the world – have pivoted their business to produce a tool for COVID-19 test equipment. “Illinois has been an early leader on building out testing capacity – just recently reaching the 5 million test mark – thanks in part to local companies like Crafts and the ‘makers’ they employ who are making a difference,” according to the governor’s office.

DCEO will host a number of virtual events throughout the month of October to recognize the essential role in Illinois communities, and to highlight its growing role in the economy. For more on these events, visit DCEO’s website or follow us on social @IllinoisDCEO.

Governor JB Pritzker Gives Special Thanks to Manufacturers in Illinois

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“Illinois manufacturers have a proud history of ingenuity, innovation and resilience. And, despite the extraordinary challenges presented by COVID-19, they continue to persevere by adapting operations and offering life-saving solutions to this crisis,” said Governor JB Pritzker.  “During this year’s National Manufacturing Month, we must give special thanks to the hardworking men and women who have gone above and beyond to create new products and devices and to put their communities first so that we can deploy the level of health response that this crisis has demanded from all of us. With the industry on pace to grow and to become even more critical in the years ahead, I encourage Illinoisans to join us this month to honor the role of our manufacturers.”
 
Each year, National Manufacturing Month represents an opportunity to recognize the essential economic contributions manufacturers provide and to call attention to the importance of this growing industry and the 21st century job opportunities it can provide to Illinois residents. Over the next eight years, it’s estimated that 4.6 million new manufacturing jobs will need to be filled nationwide.
  
Crafts Technology, an employee owned company, designs and produces advanced systems and tooling supporting some of the largest electronics, aerospace and medical manufacturers in the world. The company history of producing critical tooling paved the way for it to ramp up production of COVID-19 test equipment earlier this year. Its production scale-up has been central in the efforts of global medical diagnostics companies as testing capacity emerged and remains a critical need in the fight against COVID-19. These products are essential to the mass production of medical products such as vials, syringes, blood tubes and medical electronics, specifically helping frontline healthcare workers battle the virus. 
  
Under the leadership of Governor Pritzker, the state of Illinois has made continued investments to bolster the manufacturing industry and to prepare communities for the future growth of the industry – with extensive investments in workforce training programs, transportation infrastructure, and with an expansion of economic development tools, like the apprenticeship tax credit to expand the manufacturing pipeline of talent and extension of the research and development tax credit to ensure cutting-edge products are developed here in Illinois.

Governor JB Pritzker gives thanks for Manufacturers in Illinois

“As home to more than 400 manufacturers that employ 15,000 Illinoisans, Elk Grove Village salutes innovators like Crafts Technology and all the companies that have answered the call to produce goods and materials that are helping the overall effort to mitigate this global health crisis,” said Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson.  “Because Elk Grove Village is home to the nation’s largest industrial park, we are keenly aware of the vital role our manufacturers play in helping communities and families thrive and in keeping the Illinois economy moving forward especially during these very challenged times.”
   
For more information on webinars and manufacturing resources offered by the state of Illinois, visit DCEO’s website. Additionally, DCEO encourages you to join the conversation on manufacturing by following us on social @IllinoisDCEO and signing up to participate in free virtual events held all month long.

State of Illinois Proclaims October Manufacturing Month

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​The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is joining manufacturing industry leaders and members of the community at Crafts Technology to proclaim October as Manufacturing Month in Illinois.  

Since COVID-19 hit, manufacturers have played an increasingly important role in protecting and powering Illinois communities. It’s estimated that over 1,000 Illinois manufacturers and distributors stepped up to support Illinois and the broader community by shifting operations to manufacture and deploy the life-saving personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to fight the pandemic.

“Stepping up to the needs of medical product manufacturers was no different than stepping up to a war effort, however, this time, the threat was a virus,” said CEO and President of Crafts Technology, Jeffrey Taylor. “Manufacturing is a central part of Illinois and for any healthy economy, and the pandemic actually reinforced our team’s resolve to expand our operations, increase employee training and to expand investments in equipment and technology to meet the ever-evolving needs of the medical products companies.  Crafts Technology has been producing high performance engineered wear solutions for critical and essential industries for more than 100 years in Illinois and we look forward to our next 100 years in the great state of Illinois.” 

DCEO was joined at Crafts Technology by industry organizations including the Illinois Manufacturing Association (IMA) and Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC). Manufacturing is the number one contributor to our economy, employing more than 550,000 Illinoisans and producing $108 billion in total output.  

“Illinois’ manufacturing industry is one of our state’s greatest prides. Not only do our manufacturers create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, but they also keep the rest of our economy moving, providing the supplies our essential workers need to continue serving our communities,” said Deputy Majority Leader Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “We are grateful for Illinois manufacturers year-round, but Manufacturing Month is a great opportunity to celebrate their contributions to our state’s growth.”

     Click to view a video on how Crafts Technology helped with a COVID-19 testing solution.

For more information on webinars and manufacturing resources offered by the state of Illinois, visit DCEO’s website. Additionally, DCEO encourages you to join the conversation on manufacturing by following us on social @IllinoisDCEO and signing up to participate in free virtual events held all month long.

Crafts Technology Wins the Daily Herald Business Ledger’s C-Suite Award

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Every year the Daily Herald solicits applications from all local businesses outside of Chicago to participate in the “Daily Herald Business Ledger’s C-Suite of the Year Award”.

The mission of the C-Suite Awards is to honor suburban executives who contribute to the success of the region’s economic growth and stability. Consideration is given to the C-Suite’s contributions to their company/organization’s overall growth, commitment to good ethics, and involvement in the community. Candidates must work for a business or organization with a presence in the suburban Chicago region.

The mission at Crafts Technology is to foster synergies between engineering, manufacturing, and material science to produce solutions that significantly enhance the overall performance & productivity of industrial equipment at the OEM and End-User level.  This new culture of innovation is showing positive returns. Crafts has filed several patents, doubled its sales in the last five years, and best of all, everyone in the company has benefited.

Crafts is partnering with firms to help other companies be successful as demonstrated in their latest webinar, “Shifting thinking to respond to needs of the COVID-19 Pandemic” partnering with Enclave for Entrepreneurs. In addition, Crafts has been instrumental in helping the COVID-19 fight, the Crafts Technology team stepped up to produce critical tungsten carbide tooling in order for a Tier 1 Supplier to support a medical diagnostic OEM in significantly increasing the quantity of COVID-19 test kits available.

According to Andy Zielonka, Manager of Sales & Operations for the Daily Herald, “The mission statement provides a guideline to the criteria that we review in the selection process. The submission materials provided by the nominator and the nominee are reviewed by the staff of the Business Ledger. Ultimately, honorees are selected based on the strength of the materials provided that support our mission statement”.

Based on the submission by Crafts Technology, it is our honor to advise you that the president of Crafts Technology, Jeff Taylor, has been selected as a 2020 Honoree of the Daily Herald Business Ledger’s C-Suite of the Year Awards.  He will be honored with eighteen other local executives in the C-Suite Awards hosted by the Daily Herald Business Ledger and sponsored by Republic Bank of Chicago. The awards will be presented at a virtual reception webcast held on Thursday, July 23 at 4 p.m. Guests can register for free at DHBusinessLedger.com. The honorees will also be profiled in the August 17 issue of the Business Ledger.

Crafts Technology, Inc. manufactures machinery and components. The Company offers rings, core pins, fluid dispensing components, tungsten carbide, advanced ceramics, and precision knives. Crafts Technology conducts its business in the State of Illinois.