New Mexico MEP
May 21
Industry NewsWithin 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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Apr 25
Maker's MemoThe Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs award more than $2.5 billion in research & development investment dollars to businesses across the U.S. every year. The funds allow businesses to move their idea or innovation to commercial markets while retaining the rights to their product. Eleven federal agencies participate…
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Feb 21
Industry NewsWhen 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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Jan 15
Industry NewsWhen 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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Aug 14
Maker's Memo“The manufacturing community has long struggled with finding skilled workers, citing, among other things, the misperceptions that manufacturing jobs underpay, are monotonous and involve working in dirty factories,” said Scott Dietz in a recent article. Dietz, of Catalyst Connection, an MEP Center based in Pittsburgh, continued, “With the adoption of Industry 4.0 — automation and…
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Jul 17
Maker's MemoNew Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (New Mexico MEP), in partnership with the Albuquerque chapter of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and the New Mexico Coalition of Sustainable Communities, is inviting students to offer solutions to sustainability challenges faced by the state’s manufacturers. Students will compete with one another by submitting a short video or…
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Jun 19
Maker's MemoMeet the Matterport camera. One of its superpowers is replicating your facility in digital form. By stitching together 3D scans of photos and line art, Matterport can enable you to take a virtual walk through your manufacturing space. Perhaps you’re creating a 3D demonstration of how you make your product but there is sensitive information…
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May 14
Maker's MemoStrap on a pair of augmented reality goggles and explore tech that can be applied to any manufacturing process. At New Mexico MEP’s Tech Demo Workshop, you can test new technology before investing in it. If you’re curious about implementing additive manufacturing, collaborative robots, optical sorting equipment and other tech in your facility, call us…
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Mar 13
Maker's MemoWould adding automation to your company improve your bottom line? What kind of tech would best boost your competitive edge? Before investing in it, explore new technology in New Mexico MEP’s Tech Demo room. NM MEP Automation Specialist Wesley Eccles can demonstrate the tech, from robotic arms and 3D printers, to quality control cameras, and…
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Feb 13
Maker's MemoHelp build excitement around New Mexico’s manufacturing careers. Submit your video! The education and workforce development nonprofit Bridge of Southern New Mexico, in partnership with the New Mexico Public Education Department, is requesting recorded personal interviews it can share with students to build awareness about manufacturing careers. The team is particularly interested in showcasing machinists,…
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Dec 13
Maker's MemoIt’s true, we’re back to making on-sight visits! Call us to discuss a challenge we could help you address, and we’ll schedule a time to visit your facility! And speaking of enriching in-person events, don’t miss the Fundamentals of Lean Manufacturing Public Workshop next month. Workshop participants will learn about reducing work in process, promoting quality…
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Aug 15
Maker's MemoIn response to New Mexico manufacturer feedback, New Mexico MEP is developing a new workshop designed to help workers become proficient in the use of tools and measurements used in manufacturing. Classes, which are expected to be offered beginning in the fall of 2021, will be hands-on and will impart the knowledge that manufacturers have…
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Jul 18
Maker's MemoWhen you want to know something, what do you do? You Google it, of course! But if you want to understand how the MEP National Network is approaching workforce development across the 50 States and Puerto Rico, what do you do? Well, you may not be able to just Google it yet – but we’re…
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Jun 14
Maker's MemoUsed in cyberattacks that can paralyze organizations, ransomware is malicious software that encrypts a computer system’s data and demands payment to restore access. To help organizations protect against ransomware attacks and recover from them if they happen, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published an infographic offering a series of simple tips…
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May 15
Maker's MemoWhen Dave Keicher, vice president of Integrated Deposition Solutions (IDS), requested marketing and sales growth assistance in early 2020, New Mexico MEP saw an opportunity to innovate by adding services not typically provided by the center. IDS (https://www.idsnm.com/) is an eight-year-old electronic-printer company that uses technology commercialized from Sandia National Laboratory to embed electronics into…
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Apr 19
Maker's MemoJack’s Plastic Welding enjoys a wide customer base that covers the gamut of human activity. From river rafting to the oil and gas, medical, and water industries, and everything in between, the Aztec manufacturer builds products for local customers first, and then adapts them to fit a wider market. “We often hear people comment ‘Isn’t…
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Feb 14
Maker's MemoBy Finance New Mexico Before joining ACME Worldwide Enterprises 13 years ago, Managing Director Eugene Moya had worked for large companies that were registered with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). But he had never led a company through ISO registration and didn’t think ACME was big enough to warrant the investment of time and…
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Jan 17
Maker's MemoOSHA published a Final Rule to amend its recordkeeping regulation to remove the requirement to electronically submit to OSHA information from the OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and OSHA Form 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report) for establishments with 250 or more employees that are required to routinely keep injury and illness records.…
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Nov 15
Maker's MemoCarla Gallegos-Ortega’s homemade salsas were a hit with family and friends for as long as she can remember. In 2017, she entered the Salsa Festival in Albuquerque’s Old Town and enlisted her daughter and a few friends to help her produce 16 gallons of salsa in an outdoor tent. She left that festival with an…
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Oct 19
Maker's MemoAn October 2020 report released by the United States Patent and Trademark Office offers opinions by the business and manufacturing community about Artificial Intelligence. The report, Public Views on Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property Policy, is based on comments the USPTO received from 197 stakeholders, including individuals, associations, corporations and foreign IP offices in 2019…
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Sep 13
Maker's MemoJTIP funds classroom and on-the-job training for new jobs in expanding or relocating businesses for up to 6 months. The program reimburses 50-75% of employee wages. These trainees can be new employees, or those currently employed looking for higher-wage promotions. These funds are specifically set aside by the Legislature each year and can only be…
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Aug 16
Maker's MemoAs we travel about the state talking with manufacturers, we find there is an uneasiness about the requirements for safety. So we offer the following outline that introduces the major elements required for most companies, starting with employer responsibilities. Provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards, and comply with standards rules and regulations issued…
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Aug 16
Maker's MemoThe Delicious New Mexico local food e-commerce and distribution enterprise was developed by the Rio Grande Community Development Corporation at the South Valley Economic Development Center, in partnership with Agri-Cultura Network and the Hispanic-American Institute, under grant AM170100XXXXG102 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Delicious New Mexico helps local farmers, ranchers, and food producers conduct…
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Jun 14
Maker's MemoThe New Mexico COVID-19 Emergency Supply Collaborative‘s success in delivering much-needed supplies to medical facilities is a story worth sharing. During the collaborative’s inception, our office was closed but NM MEP’s work kept going. MEP’s Innovation Directors (IDs) met weekly with businesses or regional partners. For example, Denise Williams was part of the Farmington group, which…
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May 17
Maker's MemoAll of us at New Mexico MEP want to acknowledge the nimble and innovative contributions the following companies have made in the fight against COVID-19. A BIG THANK YOU TO: The manufacturers that have uploaded their capabilities to the NM Emergency Supply Sourcing and Manufacturing website https://www.nmcovid19.org/. That information has resulted in PPE and other…
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Apr 15
Maker's MemoA website dedicated to recruiting New Mexico suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, makers and testing-centers in the fight against COVID-19 has been launched by several of the state’s universities, research institutions and manufacturing support organizations. The website aims to quickly source, produce and test needed medical and other supplies that will bolster on-the-ground efforts to stop the…
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Apr 06
Maker's MemoManufacturers and Innovators Encouraged to Upload Capabilities to website at https://nmcovid19.org. A website dedicated to recruiting New Mexico suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, makers and testing-centers in the fight against COVID-19 has been launched by several of the state’s universities, research institutions and manufacturing support organizations. The website aims to quickly source, produce and test needed medical and…
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Feb 17
Maker's MemoSince 1984, Navajo Spirit Southwestern Wear has been creating and selling Native American-inspired clothing and craft items through retailers, gift catalogs, online sales and Indian art fairs. Today, eighty percent of revenue is generated from its retail shop in historic downtown Gallup, where eight employees cut and sew garments designed by artist Virginia Yazzie Ballenger.…
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Jan 24
Maker's MemoProcess Equipment and Service Company Inc. (PESCO) has been sending its new-hire employees to lean manufacturing workshops for years. The practice has paid off, according to Craig Mayberry, PESCO’s Manager of Manufacturing Excellence. The 50-year-old engineering, design and manufacturing company that serves the on-shore oil and natural gas industries from its Farmington headquarters is one…
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Nov 17
Maker's MemoUniversity High and Early College High students at AerSale in Roswell Drawing some 150 signups, the Advanced Manufacturing Summit marked the conclusion of New Mexico’s 7th annual Manufacturing Day. Topping the list of favorite events was the summit’s “Live White Hat Hack,” a real-time IT hacking demo that clearly illustrated vulnerabilities inherent in manufacturing processes…
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Aug 10
Maker's MemoInsight Lighting of Rio Rancho has been a Manufacturing Day participant since 2014. The maker of exterior and interior lighting products for high-end architectural projects has conducted tours of its facility for students, prospective buyers and community groups. Glenn Wright, vice president of operations, said the tours have been beneficial. “The majority of our products…
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Jul 15
Maker's MemoMEP clients who need help resolving issues with products and processes in areas such as but not limited to additive manufacturing, robotics, biosciences, calibrations, and laboratory accreditations can leverage the MEP-Assisted Technology and Technical Resource (MATTR) program. The program offers access to wide-ranging, world-class technical expertise available at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) research labs,…
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Jun 16
Maker's MemoValley Mills has been in LaPlata, New Mexico since the owner purchased the packager of corn products from a vendor distributor in 2006. The company has been roasting yellow, white and blue corn products and delivering them ground and whole to customers via distributor. Owner Teresa Lackey later added two more distributors and expanded into…
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Mar 10
Maker's MemoAlbuquerque’s Build With Robots LLC (BWR) sees automation and human labor existing side by side, even in small and medium-sized businesses. The New Mexico company works with manufacturers and other businesses to enhance their productivity and competitive advantage by incorporating “collaborative robots,” or CoBots, into the labor force to perform the more monotonous tasks so…
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Feb 13
Maker's MemoA second generation family-owned Albuquerque company specializing in precious metal plating, Theta Plate Inc. serves customers from all over the world. In order to access higher margin business and DoD markets, the company obtained ITAR registration and later, at the prompting of company president C. Aaron Velasquez, decided to further its defense qualifications, to include…
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Jan 14
Maker's MemoPESCO has been producing natural gas and oil production equipment in Farmington, New Mexico since 1970. In December, 2018, the manufacturer announced that it will expand its main facility by 20,000 square feet and create up to 180 new jobs. Over the years, the company has been steadily building a reputation for quality and service,…
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Nov 08
Maker's MemoNew Mexico MEP’s annual summit is a networking and think-tank opportunity for manufacturers, economic developers and thought leaders to discuss current issues affecting manufacturers in New Mexico. Typically held the last week of October, the event serves as the celebratory culmination of Manufacturing Day activities that take place throughout the month. Advanced Manufacturing Summit 2019…
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Oct 14
Maker's MemoBy Jason Gibbs, Finance New Mexico With a history of agricultural experimentation dating back to the 1930s and a storied tradition reaching into the depths of New Mexico’s territorial history, Los Poblanos has bridged the centuries and now, with the assistance of New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NM MEP), continues to preserve the past and…
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Sep 17
Maker's MemoMore than a third of young people studying for vocational and technical careers have no contact with potential future employers before they graduate, and only 12 percent have seen the inside of a manufacturing facility. That conclusion, from a 2016 study by the Manufacturing Institute, lends urgency to Manufacturing Day, an annual event designed to…
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Aug 15
Maker's MemoTo encourage small businesses with 250 or fewer employees to take a proactive approach to workplace safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides 90 percent of the funds necessary to run the free and confidential New Mexico State Occupational Health and Safety Bureau Consultation Program. The point is to help employers find workable…
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Jul 23
Maker's MemoCooper Fire Protection Services (CFPS) is a 40-year old company serving the Four Corners area from its base in Farmington. The company, which employs about 40 workers, designs, fabricates, installs and maintains fire protection systems in New Mexico and Colorado. Owners Ireke and Shantel Cooper — and Ireke’s parents, who previously owned the company —…
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Jun 11
Maker's MemoPamela Gathings has several businesses: Tethering Ideas, which provides consulting, prototyping, and research and development (R&D); Quick Carriers dba Hauling Accessories, which develops and produces items to expand vehicle storage; and Solar Lights, which provides solar power to the arts industries. Gathings’ businesses fit a niche and solve a community challenge by creating employer diversification…
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May 25
Maker's MemoA scientist with experience in education, healthcare, and technology transfer, Julia Wise joins our team to create, support, and lead programs that further technology-based economic and community development. She has an undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry, and a master’s and doctorate in geology. Prior to moving back to Santa Fe, she worked for The…
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