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BARAGA COUNTY -- Two Baraga County manufacturers gave Upper Peninsula students a firsthand look at modern manufacturing and potential skilled-trade careers during a recent tour organized as part of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Upper Peninsula Community Tour.
Representatives from the SBA and the Baraga County Chamber of Commerce joined students from L'Anse and Baraga school districts and the Calumet homeschool district for tours of Massie Manufacturing and Peninsula Powder Coating.
The students are enrolled in the Copper Country Intermediate School District's Career and Technical Education Business/Entrepreneurship course and earn dual credit through Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College and Copper Country ISD.
At Massie Manufacturing, owner Karl Niemela walked the group through the company's metal fabrication and computer numerical control machining operations. Students saw how raw materials are transformed into precision components shipped to customers throughout the region and across the United States.
Niemela said Massie Manufacturing's ability to compete from its rural location is tied to several advantages, including lower property costs, dedicated employees and a workforce known for its work ethic and integrity.
The rural location also presents challenges, particularly the distance from larger population centers, but Niemela said the company has been able to overcome those obstacles by building a dependable workforce and maintaining competitive operating costs.
Massie employs experienced welders and CNC operators, but the company also provides opportunities for workers with no previous manufacturing experience.
General laborers can receive on-the-job training and develop the skills needed to pursue careers in skilled trades.
The tour continued at Peninsula Powder Coating, where Bill Raymond showed visitors the company’s finishing operations, including some of the largest finishing ovens in the Midwest.
Participants learned about the powder-coating process, from sandblasting and surface preparation to powder application and heat curing. The process produces a durable finish for a wide range of industrial and commercial products.
Brian Baccus later answered questions about Peninsula Powder Coating and its operations. The company serves customers throughout the region and across the country.
Baccus said one of the company’s competitive advantages is its ability to provide quick turnaround. Finished products can often be delivered to Wisconsin within five to six hours using the company’s own fleet of delivery trucks.
Rising energy costs remain one of the company’s largest operational challenges, Baccus said.
Like Massie Manufacturing, Peninsula Powder Coating also places an emphasis on developing its workforce. The company is willing to train entry-level employees, giving people without manufacturing experience an opportunity to enter the industry and develop skilled-trade careers.
For the students taking part, the tours provided more than a look inside local businesses. They offered a firsthand view of career opportunities available close to home.
"This was a valuable experience for our students, allowing them to see modern manufacturing in action while learning about career opportunities and the qualities that contribute to business success in our region," said Rhonda Nachtigall, instructor for the Copper Country ISD CTE Business/Entrepreneurship course.
The visits highlighted the role manufacturing plays in the Baraga County economy and demonstrated how local companies are using skilled workers, training opportunities, technology and adaptability to compete in markets extending well beyond the Upper Peninsula.