For the second consecutive year, Nordson has been named one of the top manufacturing plants in the nation by Industry Week magazine.
In 2008, Nordson was ranked in the top 20.
This year the Dawsonville manufacturer moved up to the top 10 in the annual competition that salutes plants on the leading edge of manufacturing and encourages managers and work teams to emulate the honorees by adopting world-class practices, technologies and improvement strategies.
Industry giants like General Electric and Boeing have also received the award in the past.
“We’re in the same presence as them,” factory manager Jeff Skimel told the plant’s more than 60 employees last Friday. “Stuff like this doesn’t happen on its own. It’s because of you.”
The Dawsonville plant produces products used in the manufacturing of adhesives for baby diapers, disposable hygiene products and in food, beverage and consumer product labeling.
Jim DeVries, vice president of Nordson’s North America adhesive dispensing system, described the recognition as a “fantastic accomplishment and a commitment from everyone in the company for continued improvement.”
The award, he said, came in the company’s toughest year.
“In spite of 2009, we learned a lot of valuable lessons,” he said.
Nordson Corporation is one of the world’s leading producers of precision dispensing equipment that applies adhesives, sealants and coatings to a broad range of consumer and industrial products during manufacturing operations.
Development Authority of Dawson County Executive Director Charlie Auvermann said that residents need to remember that Nordson adds to the national effort to promote products “Built in America,” and provides jobs for Dawson County and helps keep resident’s property taxes lower than they might otherwise be.
“The development authority ... is very pleased that Nordson continues to call Dawson County home,” said Auvermann.
Headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, Nordson has more than 4,100 employees worldwide, and direct operations and sales support offices in 32 countries.