Manufacturing in North Dakota: The Outlook is Bright

Steffes’s Paul Eidenschink Interviewed in Grand Forks Herald about Manufacturing Industry

The article “Making it: Manufacturers confident about the future of the industry” published in the Grand Forks Herald reported that manufacturing is on an upward trend in North Dakota and Minnesota. Paul Eidenschink, Chief Operations Officer at Steffes, was interviewed as part of the story and gave his insights on the topic.

“For the most part, the outlook is bright,” said Eidenschink in the article. “I think there are lots of opportunities.”

The manufacturing industry has faced challenges in the past including the recession and companies have had to adjust. Manufacturing is also an industry that is dependent on the markets they serve.

The article credited Steffes’s ability to constantly innovate and reinvent ourselves with types of products we manufacture and the industries we serve as the main reason behind our ability to survive downturns in markets.

“We think of ourselves as an innovation company,” said Eidenschink. “Our goal, of course, is to meet the needs of our customers, to solve problems for them, and to make them more successful.”

Although there have been some slow months as a result of the recession and the slump in the oil and gas market, Steffes is reporting strong numbers and is ready to continue expanding. Steffes is looking to hire 35 to 40 people this year to meet growing demands.

Eidenschink says the reason for a lot of unfilled manufacturing jobs is “There is a shift in the educational system away from industrial arts programs. There is a great unmet need for technical skills in manufacturing.”

Manufacturing makes up about 5.8 percent of North Dakota’s GDP. Other top contributors in the state include the oil and gas industry, agriculture, and tourism.

Read the full article here!