Industry News

Value Stream Mapping Prepares Rural Business for Sale

Businesses change to meet consumer needs, and none more so than a business located in a rural community, where residents depend on one another for essential services. Thirty-four-year-old Larry’s Tire and Power Saw Shop at 6340 US Highway 550 in Cuba, New Mexico is a prime example. When Larry Moreland purchased the business in 1990,…

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ETV’s KeenAI™ Military Application Aims to Protect Deployed Troops

Deborah and Eugene “Cliff” Hudson envisioned safeguarding troops in military operations when they founded Emerging Technology Ventures (ETV) in 2014. Cliff had worked in autonomous systems development before retiring as a civilian engineer at the Department of Defense and Navy Reserve where he saw firsthand how robotics and sensing analytics could improve and support infrastructure…

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Community Enrichment Starts on the Factory Floor at Largo Tank

When Adam Wagoner talks about community, he’s probably referring to rapidly suiting up to fight a fire, leading a Cub Scout troop, or coaching a sports team. Wagoner, a volunteer firefighter, joins his business partners in supporting community groups in all these ways. Wagoner is an owner and vice president of Largo Tank and Equipment,…

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Work with Aztec Company Shows Power of Relationships

Chris Jaquez, president of Industrial Cooling Exchangers Ltd. (ICE) knew little about New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership  before 2017, when Four Corners innovation director Denise Williams met him at a local economic development function. Then “she kind of popped in (to ICE’s Aztec facility) and said she was aware of us and gave us the…

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Salsa business expands with help from New Mexico MEP

Rachel Schneider had limited experience in the food industry when her father purchased Ol’ Gringo Chile Company from its original owners in 2014 and began training her to take over the 22-year-old Las Cruces salsa and jarring business. Within 6 months, her father had died of cancer. “Dad had the vision, but he was gone…

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Growth Unlimited for Production Sewing Company

Veronica Fuller has been sewing for more than 40 years. It’s what she loves to do. The owner of Sandia Pet Products migrated from Juarez, Mexico, 32 years ago and began working in sewing production facilities around Albuquerque, lending her expertise to manufacturing companies like Southwest Creations Collaborative, Marpac, and Sierra Peaks Corporation. In her…

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Adaptation and Skills Sustain Farmington Business

Founded in 1980 by Ivan Clay and Ellis Groomer, Clay Groomer Machine Shop (CGMS) has fulfilled the San Juan Basin’s machining needs by producing quality work in a safe and timely manner. Their success has been a result of always going above and beyond customers’ expectations. Clay Groomer historically provided on-site and mobile machining, mechanical…

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New Owners Put Silver City Tile Company on Path To Growth

Within two years of purchasing Syzygy Tile Works in Silver City, Josh and Carolyn White knew they needed to expand the business to meet national and international demand for their high-end, handcrafted ceramic tiles. Josh had worked for the company for 16 years before the previous owner retired, and he quickly made improvements to shorten…

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Farmington company finds growth through expert advice

When Cody Waldroup purchased ABC Canvas in 2016 from the company’s founders, the serial entrepreneur thought the business would fit nicely into his portfolio of revenue-producing investments because the 35-year-old business was well known in Farmington for quality custom canvas, including marine products, commercial and industrial covers, and shade products. What Waldroup did not realize…

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Pandemic offered Velarde winery time to improve

When the coronavirus pandemic temporarily halted tourist traffic and shuttered restaurants and bars throughout New Mexico, Black Mesa Winery in Velarde had an inventory of wine and hard cider worth $100,000 and fewer avenues to deliver its products to customers. Winery owners Jerry and Lynda Burd were able to keep products moving out the door…

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Pet accessory company scales up with help from New Mexico MEP

For nearly 15 years, Amanda and Dan Jackson-Miller created custom-made designer dog collars, leashes and other pet accessories from a 5,000-square-foot building in downtown Albuquerque. With demand outpacing their building’s storage capacity, the couple moved in early 2022 into a 9,000-square-foot building near the Albuquerque Sunport. They did so with the help of experts from…

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Theta Plate gains new markets with help from New Mexico MEP

Aaron Velasquez, co-owner of Theta Plate Inc., wanted to ensure the future of his Albuquerque electroplating company. The third-generation family business started by his parents in 1976 performs Military Specification and decorative electroplating on precious and other metals that range from platinum to tin. Velasquez saw opportunity beyond the company’s small aerospace jobs and jewelry…

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Farmington Engraving Business Grows

Bonnie Cummings sees similarities in the health care she provides as a registered nurse and the customer care she offers as the owner of Third Axis Custom Engraving. The Farmington business owner shares knowledge and creativity to help customers — and patients — achieve their goals. Cummings spent 13 years working full time at a…

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New Mexico MEP helps startup pitch technology to potential clients

Working with New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (New Mexico MEP) shaved at least a year off the time RingIR president Dr. Charles Harb expected to spend getting his company’s portable gas-detecting product ready for market. And given the disruption and delay caused by the state’s protracted coronavirus-related shutdown, the value of that time is hard…

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New Mexico MEP helps high-tech startup in journey ‘from lab to market’

Microscopic examination of metals can help airplane manufacturers know that the planes they build can withstand the forces involved in flight and could assure airlines that jet engine maintenance would detect problems before takeoff. A small woman-owned business based in Albuquerque is commercializing a laser optical technology that has the potential to revolutionize this “failure…

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Twentyfold sales growth

Doctor of Oriental Medicine Janine Mahon originally formulated a healing oil to treat her own postpartum mastitis pain. Having refined it and shared it with clients at her Albuquerque clinic, demand grew, and she wondered if there might be a larger market beyond her regular clients. That’s when she launched Dr. Janine Mahon’s Rejuvenating Breast…

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Strategic transformation

“The temptation is to do things the way they’ve always been done,” says Jessica Velasquez, co-owner of Albuquerque electroplating business Theta Plate Inc. By resisting that temptation, and with New Mexico MEP’s guidance, the third-generation family business is growing on multiple levels. Improved customer relations, streamlined operations, and an expanded client base are the results…

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Collaboration Has Benefits

Rio Rancho-based Mezel Mods is an example of a company that benefits when local resource providers collaborate. In 2019, company co-owner Kristin Browning-Mezel worked with New Mexico MEP Innovation Director Scott Bryant on a project to improve company workflow, line balancing, inventory, quality, and profitability. That project increased capacity by 21% annually, shortened lead times…

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A spirited partnership

 Navajo Spirit, a producer of Navajo traditional-inspired clothes with a modern twist in Gallup, NM, evolved out of co-owner Virginia Yazzie Ballenger’s passion for design. During the course of the company’s over-14-year partnership with NM MEP, hobby-level production evolved into a streamlined business. Working with MEP brought “a huge raise in our income as…

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National Manufacturing Day: Table of Experts

Albuquerque Business First and New Mexico M.E.P. host a virtual roundtable to kick off National Manufacturing Month (October 1-31, 2021), and share thoughts from local experts on how New Mexico M.E.P. has served as a resource for manufacturers in our state.  Albuquerque Business First sales manager Will Martinez moderates the panel, with speakers Brian Rashap,…

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Wicked Productivity

 Hear it from Clay Allison, founder and CEO of Wicked Edge, a manufacturer of precision knife-sharpening equipment with a wide range of clients — from law enforcement, to outdoor enthusiasts and the culinary market. The MEP-Wicked Edge partnership was originally forged with a marketing report, which helped the company “point their ship in the…

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Unprecedented Times

Dear Manufacturer, As you know, the country is currently taking measures to respond to COVID-19. During these unprecedented times, we appreciate your trust in us. All of this is new, and it is not normal!  Right now, businesses must focus on cost-saving methods as they remain competitive in a changing marketplace. Some businesses have been forced…

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Updates on the COVID-19 virus

A message from New Mexico MEP Chief Executive Officer Dear New Mexico manufacturing community, The COVID-19 virus and its economic implications are now starting to hit very close to home. I want to assure you that I am staying abreast of the situation as much as possible and from many different angles, working with and/or…

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Fighting for NMSBA

Enormous thanks to the dozens of business owners who demonstrated their support of the NMSBA program by providing public comment encouraging passage of House Bill 526. While the bill doesn’t increase total funding for the NMSBA program, it allows qualifying businesses to obtain additional or follow-on help: Up to $20,000 of assistance for businesses located…

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New OSHA requirement for New Mexico Manufacturers

As New Mexico MEP’s Jeff Abrams travels about New Mexico meeting with clients to plan the year’s goals and objectives, he is learning that New Mexico manufacturers are not aware of a new requirement initiated by OSHA: All manufacturers employing more than 20 employees must electronically submit the OSHA form 300A Summary of Work Related…

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Table of Experts: Manufacturing

From left: Sinsabaugh, Allison, Beeke and Mayberry discuss the future of manufacturing in New Mexico. Albuquerque Business First and New Mexico MEP sat down with two New Mexico companies and explored future opportunities for manufacturing in New Mexico.

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Let’s Build the Next Generation of Modern Manufacturers

Mfg Day 2017 students touring Old Wood in Las Vegas, New Mexico According to a recent report by the Manufacturing Institute, 35 percent of students engaged in career and technical education (CTE) have no contact with potential future employers. And only 12 percent have had the opportunity to walk through a manufacturing facility. Manufacturing Day aims…

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5th Annual Manufacturing Day preview

Marpac Custom – one of many tours this year! See a variety of textile products being cut and sewn with a state-of-the art computer fabric-cutting machine, computerized sewing machines, as well as industrial hand-operated sewing.

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Path to increased production

Sisneros Bros. Manufacturing was doing a great job filling orders for the custom duct work that goes in large commercial buildings and Navy ships. But when the next generation of family members joined the leadership team, they asked New Mexico MEP to help them plan for the future. MEP helped the company perform Value Stream…

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Manufacturing Day 2015

Glass Rite, OGB Architectural Millwork, Unirac, Urban Fresh Cosmetics, Insight Lighting, Aquila, Valencia Flour Mill, Jack’s Plastic Welding, Pesco, Mesa Photonics, Solaro Energy and Santa Fe Business Incubator companies were among the 33 businesses that hosted Manufacturing Day tours in New Mexico.

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The Impact of Manufacturing

The impact of manufacturing on America can be seen in the good jobs it provides, the strength of the economy, and the products built in communities around the nation that enable and enrich our everyday lives. We celebrate manufacturing’s impact and the MEP centers across the country working alongside small and medium-sized manufacturers to make…

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BE the IMPACT

 Edge Factor tells stories of extraordinary people. Impact is a collection of insights from the leaders we met along the way. Have you ever thought about what you can do in your company, in your town, in your school? Consider how YOU might participate in Manufacturing Day this year. Go to mfgday.com to see…

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