Photo courtesy of Rotochopper Inc.
With a coalition of organizations and trade groups having dubbed October as Manufacturing Month, Minnesota-based recycling equipment maker Rotochopper Inc. decided it was time to shine a spotlight on the innovations, processes and stories that make Rotochopper "a standout in the world of manufacturing.”
In Minnesota specifically, Rotochopper cooperated with the Central Minnesota Manufacturers Association (CMMA) by offering a virtual tour to explore the latest advancements in manufacturing technology.
That virtual tour gave attendees an inside look into the rise of automation and robotics in Rotochopper’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and the equipment built there.
Additionally, several area student groups were invited to tour Rotochopper’s manufacturing plant in St. Martin, Minnesota. Those groups included the West Stearns CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) group, based in Sauk Centre, Minnesota; the Belgrade, Minnesota-based Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (BBE) high school welding class; and the Kimball [Minnesota] High School small engines class.
The West Stearns CEO class visited as part of its yearlong course designed to engage in partnerships that provide an overview of business development and processes. Two of the students involved in that program have parents who work at Rotochopper.
The BBE welding expressed curiosity about employment opportunities with Rotochopper, the company says, with one student saying, “It was very interesting learning about how each and every machine is designed and manufactured right in their shop.”
The Kimball small engines class learned it takes 30 hours to put a panel together for one Rotochopper machine, and they also had questions about the telematics used on Rotochopper equipment and how it is used to check settings and monitor the performance of a horizontal grinder.
At the end of October, Rotochopper participated in EPIC (Exploring Potential Interest & Careers), with Rotochopper employees Keith Burg, Wyatt Ritter, Alex Bromenschenkel and Vickie Zierden having the opportunity to meet with other students to talk to them about careers in welding and manufacturing.
“As we wrap up Manufacturing Month, it’s clear that this industry is a dynamic and ever-evolving force,” Rotochopper says.
