On October 1, 2021, Kemco Systems and Pinellas Technical College celebrated National Manufacturing Day in a partnership with Pinellas County School System and Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce. For the event, Kemco hosted 8th grade students from Largo Middle School, introducing them to the possibilities of a career in manufacturing.
Kemco CEO Tom Vanden Heuvel commented on the event:
“Kemco is pleased to support National Manufacturing Day as an opportunity to help kids better understand the universe of career choices in front of them. Obviously, as a manufacturer, it would be our preference to pique their interest to a career centered on manufacturing, but I feel it is equally as important for them to articulate what careers they do not want to pursue. In my eyes, it’s the exposure to various careers that makes the difference and sets them on a career path that is a labor of love, regardless of the field they choose.”
The event was held at Kemco’s 60,000 square foot facility in Clearwater, FL, providing students with a glimpse of what their career could entail at a manufacturing company. Kemco embodies the critical role of manufacturing in today’s essential markets by providing the equipment needed to keep food supplies safe, linens clean and hygienic, and more, having provided over 7,000 systems worldwide to the food, laundry, concrete, institutional and general industries.
Following the introduction, students were split into groups to begin tours guided by Kemco’s leadership team members, which allowed for ample information from seasoned professionals. Students were taken around various areas of the facility, including the stockroom, the ironworker machine, the testing area, the panel shop, a welding station and the plasma burn table, showcasing an in-depth glimpse into the day-to-day life of a manufacturer.
The students will ultimately have the option to pursue a technical-based program in high school. Kemco’s National Manufacturing Day event provided students with the real-world, behind the scenes exposure needed to make their decision a bit easier. The students were able to connect and interact with manufacturing professionals to receive in-depth insights about the many career choices within manufacturing.
