LINCOLN – Lincoln Premium Poultry (LPP) and Aulick Industries have been named Nebraska Manufacturers of the Year. Aulick received the award for small-sized manufacturers, while LPP received the award for large manufacturers.
 
The award recognizes Nebraska manufacturers that implement innovative ways to conduct business using products, processes, technologies and other strategies. The companies were honored today at the annual NE Chamber Manufacturing Summit, with top sponsor RSM US LLP, a leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services to manufacturing and wholesale distribution industries. More event sponsors are recognized at nechamber.com
 
“This year’s honorees are helping equip and feed the world,” said Bryan Slone, NE Chamber president. “Their hard work, innovation, and commitment to building strong futures for Nebraska families are admirable and appreciated. Our goal is to make Nebraska the best place for companies like Aulick and Lincoln Premium Poultry to operate and expand for decades to come."
 
Small Manufacturer of the Year - Headquartered in Scottsbluff, Aulick is a manufacturer of agricultural transportation equipment. Its Belt Trailers and silage boxes are designed for easy loading, hauling and unloading of any farm commodity. Aulick has also expanded into construction, landscaping, and dump boxes, and most recently, goose neck trailers. 
  
The operation traces its beginnings to a gas station opened in 1952 by Harry Aulick. In Harry’s downtime, he began rewinding alternators and starters. When demand for the business took off, he sold the gas station and moved into a shop down the street where he began working on truck frame modifications, leading to the innovative design of the silage box in the 1970s. By the early 2000s, Aulick officially grew into manufacturing various trailers and boxes. Operations are currently in transition from the second to the third generation of Aulick’s. Now occupying four buildings along the South Beltline in Scottsbluff, the company has more than 130 employees in 12 locations, across the U.S., including Grand Island and Benkelman. This year marks Aulick Industries’ 70th year of business.
  
“Nebraska’s largest industry is ag. The fastest growing industry in Nebraska is manufacturing. We cater to both of those,” said Austin Aulick. “Our work impacts the state, not just through the initial sale of our products, but through every load that’s hauled by our customers.” 
 
A long-time corporate citizen, Aulick has recently been recognized for its innovative approach to reinvesting in workforce development, including offering high school internships, helping start up a high school diesel technicians’ experiential learning program (housed onsite at Aulick’s), and creating college apprenticeships. In 2009, Aulick received the Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerce Trail Blazer Award.
 
Large Manufacturer of the Year - Lincoln Premium Poultry is a Nebraska company established in 2016 for Costco to serve as the poultry management company in its new poultry complex in Fremont. The state-of-the-art processing facility, hatchery and feed mill represents a $500 million investment in the region, with an additional $400 million investment by local grower partners. The facility employs 1,200 Nebraskans and delivers an estimated total economic impact of $1.2 billion annually, approximately 1% of Nebraska’s gross domestic product.

“Before we opened this facility, we traveled the world, literally. We looked at technology in many other countries. We toured both manufacturing and poultry facilities with a couple of goals in mind – automation and safety,” said Walt Shafer, chief operating officer of Lincoln Premium Poultry. “We wanted to take care of all our team members before we even hired them.”

LPP is involved in numerous state and local organizations including the Greater Fremont Development Council, the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce, the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska, and the NE Chamber, in addition to engaging nationally in the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association and the National Chicken Council.

NE Manufacturing

Nebraska is home to more than 1,500 manufacturers employing 101,000 workers. One in 10 jobs is in manufacturing. The industry contributes more than $14.1 billion annually to Nebraska’s gross state product. Average annual wages in manufacturing exceeded $67,000 in 2019, the most recent year data is available.

The NE Chamber is the largest, statewide business association and Nebraska’s affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. It has proudly served as an advocate for Nebraska’s business and industry since 1912.

###Award videos available at https://www.nechamber.com/ne-manufacturers-of-the-year.html

The New York City Transit Authority’s modern R211 rail car, manufactured by Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp. in Lincoln, Nebraska, has been named the “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” for 2022.

Manufacturers, students, and all Nebraskans were invited to vote in a head-to-head, bracket-style matchup of 16 finalists to determine the 2022 winner. Learn about each of the finalists at nemanufacturingalliance.com. In total, the four rounds of voting drew more than 20,500 votes total.

“This was an exciting contest for Nebraska’s manufacturing community. We saw friendly face-offs on social media and employees seeking votes from family, friends and communities,” said Mike Johnson, chief operations officer and vice president of manufacturing for the NE Chamber. “But in the end, we’re all aligned in highlighting the global problem-solving and world-class, high-tech products coming out of our hometowns across Nebraska every day.”

The champion was announced October 11 at the NE Chamber’s Manufacturing Summit in La Vista, where the 16 products featured in the tournament were also invited to display their products.

The contest, hosted by the NE Manufacturing Alliance and powered by the NE Chamber, celebrates the state’s thriving manufacturing industry with Nebraska residents, students, educators, community leaders, manufacturers and especially, the vast number of Nebraskans working in manufacturing every day.

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About NE Manufacturing Alliance
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Five statewide manufacturing groups have pledged to coordinate efforts to grow manufacturing and STEM workforce in Nebraska over the next decade. Learn more at nemanufacturingalliance.com.

LINCOLN – Two Nebraska-made products are in a head-to-head race to claim the championship title in Nebraska’s first ever “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” tournament. Manufacturers, students, and all Nebraskans are invited to vote for their favorite product now through October 9. Online voting is available at nemanufacturingalliance.com.

The following Nebraska manufacturers and their featured products are finalists:

• Pivot Walker, Chief Fabrication, Grand Island
• New York City Transit Authority R211 Rail Car, Kawasaki, Lincoln
  
  

The first three rounds drew more than 17,500 votes total. Each contestant has submitted a photo and description to aid in voting. Only one vote per person will be allowed.

The champion will be announced October 11 at the NE Chamber’s Manufacturing Summit in La Vista, where the 16 products featured in the tournament are also invited to display their products.

The contest, hosted by the NE Manufacturing Alliance and powered by the NE Chamber, celebrates the state’s thriving manufacturing industry with Nebraska residents, students, educators, community leaders, manufacturers and especially, the vast number of Nebraskans working in manufacturing every day.

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About NE Manufacturing Alliance
Five statewide manufacturing groups have pledged to coordinate efforts to grow manufacturing and STEM workforce in Nebraska over the next decade. Learn more at nemanufacturingalliance.com.