Manufacturing is alive and well in Wilmington, as evidenced by events today at two local companies. Friday, in celebration of National Manufacturing Day, two local shops opened their doors to the public.
 
The two were Marpac, a producer of sound conditioning equipment and The Wilmington Grill Co., which makes grills that range from commercial-size whole-hog cookers to trim little models that can hook up to a trailer hitch and travel.
 
By noon, six busloads of high school students from the region had visited Wilmington Grill’s plant. Some came from as far away as Columbus County and Clinton.
 
“It’s great to have kids come and see that manufacturing is not a bad thing,” said Dave Barber, the company’s president.
 
Randy Johnson, chair of Cape Fear Community College’s engineering technology department, was on site at Wilmington Grill to talk with prospective students about CFCC programs that can teach them the skills that companies like Wilmington Grill and Marfac need.
 
“We love Cape Fear manufacturing curriculum grads,” Barber (at left) said. “They know how to use computer-controlled equipment, to develop a blueprint and to program the machines to make parts. They make wonderful employees.”
 
Barber said that there are currently 600,000 manufacturing jobs available in the U.S.
 
“[Companies] can’t find people with the skills,” he said. “That’s what Manufacturing Day is set up to do – to showcase the opportunities.”
 
Johnson said he was happy with the student turnout and the opportunity to talk with students about programs at CFCC.
 
“We’ve never had anybody from Clinton or Columbus County come to Cape Fear before, and now they know about us,” he said. “All of the 20 students we graduated last May got jobs; half of them now work for GE Aircraft. Others start out in smaller shops and often times end up working for GE. There is demand for our graduates.”
 
In addition to running tours through its Northchase area plant, Wilmington Grill had several of its products in action during the open house, adding aroma and taste to the sights and sounds of a manufacturing facility.
 
“Our research and development here is awesome,” said Barber, with a smile.
 
National Manufacturing Day started three years ago with the goal of promoting manufacturing careers to future workers, Barber said. This was the first year that his company has participated.
 
He purchased the company a little over three years ago, having “retired too soon” from his manufacturing-related career. It’s a small company with 12 employees, but it is expanding and hopes to penetrate the outdoor grilling market east of the Mississippi, Barber said. Even with a small staff, the facility can turn out as many as 100 grills per week, thanks to sophisticated programmable machines and lean manufacturing methods.
 
When it began three years ago, only about 200 companies nationwide participated. This year, according to officials at CFCC, 1500 manufacturing companies hosted events, hoping not just to attract future workers but to showcase the importance of manufacturing to society as a whole.