Collaborating to move manufacturing forward

BY DWAINE CHAPEL

Manufacturing businesses have been the anchor of driving growth in the region for decades. The current strength of the economy has reversed the trend of manufacturing facilities dow nsizing or relocating offshore, replaced instead w ith discussions of how to enhance manufacturing to assist in diversifying and further strenthening local economies

Enhanced manufacturing can be achieved by looking at existing products within a mature sector and applying innovative thought processes to enhance the product or process Communities within the region are focused on workforce. However, a result of having a workforce shortfall will lead to an opportunity for communities to assisting in enhancing its manufacturing sectors

There are two ideas that we should embrace within our region The first is to assist in facilitating collaboration between university researchers and industry by establishing a model to provide for the transfer of knowledge between university faculty and manufacturers The company would be able to contract for services provided by a group of professional researchers, which would offer the opportunity to solve an issue or to enhance a product more quickly This model would also encourage collaboration across industry sectors. The uniqueness of these conversations may include the exchange of a process in one sector that would enhance another sector

The second notion to embrace in our region is to provide opportunity for entrepreneurs and industry to develop collaborative efforts This could be accomplished through the establishment of facilities that would provide access to development software and a variety of hand and fabrication tools These types of lab spaces would allow the entrepreneur to develop an idea into a prototype Facilities would be staffed with qualified machine and tool operators to assist the entrepreneurs

Communities can provide these types of spaces separately, however, it would be beneficial to have one location that offered space for both models, allowing researchers, industry and entrepreneurs to access a plethora of tools all under one roof

Manufacturing businesses are strong anchors to our community heritage and future growth It is important to develop solutions to enhancing our manufacturing sectors. The models discussed would lead to emerging technology and innovative collaborative thinking PB

Dwaine Chapel Executive Director Research Park at SDSU dwaine@researchparkatsdstate com

The Arc of Dreams is expected to be installed between 6th Street and 8th Street in downtown Sioux Falls, S D IMAGE: CONFLUENCE/ SCULPTUREWALK

Unique sculpture planned for downtown Sioux Falls

SculptureWalk, a sculpture program dedicated to providing exhibits of outdoor sculptures in downtown Sioux Falls, S.D., recently announced plans for a massive stainless steel art installation that will span the Big Sioux River in the heart of the city’s downtown The Arc of Dreams will stretch the length of a football field and will feature a 15-foot gap 70 feet above the river to signify the leap of faith dreamers take to achieve their dreams Sturgis, S D -based sculptor Dale Lamphere will design and create the arc. The project’s estimated cost is $950,000. Construction is expected to take a year to complete and will begin when funds have been raised The estimated final installation is set for spring 2016

Spectrum Aeromed equipment used in Ebola victim transport

Aid workers stricken by the Ebola virus in Africa recently were transported back to the U.S. for treatment in aircraft equipped with Fargobased Spectrum Aeromed’s advanced life-support stretcher systems.

Georgia-based Phoenix Air Group Inc has been a Spectrum customer for about 12 years, according to Matthew Christensen, Spectrum vice president and account executive. Upon learning that its equipment was used in the mission, Christensen says Spectrum’s staff was excited, but not surprised. “Our mission is to save lives,” he says

H2M joins international advertising agency network

Fargo-based advertising agency H2M has been accepted as a partner with Worldwide Partners Inc , one of the world’s largest networks of independent advertising agencies H2M is the only North Dakota ad agency in the network, according to the company H2M successfully completed an application and approval process to become a member of Worldwide Partners.

David Hanson, president and CEO of H2M, says the partnership will allow his company to better handle client work in Europe and around the world. Likewise, he says Worldwide

Partners will gain access to the North Dakota market through H2M.

Sanford expands AirMed program to Dickinson

Sanford Health announced recently it expects to expand its air ambulance service, Sanford AirMed, to Dickinson, N D , this fall The health care organization made the announcement following the closure of Spirit Lifeline, a Texas-based air ambulance that had been providing service to western North Dakota Sanford currently provides helicopter service for patients in western and central North Dakota from its base in Bismarck The expansion of services to Dickinson will add a King Air B200 fixed-wing aircraft and a team of flight paramedics, flight nurses, pilots and mechanics.

Sanford AirMed’s entire fleet includes four helicopters and four airplanes from bases in Bismarck, Fargo, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Bemidji, Minn.

LATI receives national workforce training recognition

Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, S.D., received recognition in a report by policy think tank group ThirdWay for its hands-on approach to workforce development The report, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Workforce Programs,” was presented to Vice President Joe

Biden and U S Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez and stemmed from a policy forum on the future of the American workforce of which former LATI President Deb Shephard was a participant

LRH, Barnesville clinics merge

The Barnesville (Minn.) Area Clinic and Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls, Minn , announced July 15 plans to merge effective Sept 1 Dr Owen Thompson, owner of the Barnesville clinic since 1992, says the merger will allow the clinic to continue to succeed as a viable primary care facility for its community

LRH’s other outreach locations include Battle Lake, Ashby and Elbow Lake, Minn , as well as the Fergus Falls Walk-in Clinic

CPA firm HLB Tautges Redpath changes name

Twin Cities-based public accounting firm HLB Tautges Redpath Ltd has changed its name to Redpath and Co Mark Gibbs, partner and client manager, is transitioning into the role of managing partner Jim Redpath, who was performing in the role of managing partner, is now a full-time partner and client manager. Additionally, the firm relocated its headquarters to St Paul The employee-owned firm has about 125 employees Additional offices are located in White Bear Lake, Minn., and Fargo, N.D.

New Leaf Hospitality opens New Town hotel

New Leaf Hospitality has opened the Little Missouri Inn & Suites in New Town, N.D. The three-story, 90-room hotel includes a fitness center, business center, indoor pool, hot tub, complimentary breakfast for guests and meeting space Construction of the all-suite, extended-stay hotel, Teddy’s Residential Suites, is expected to be complete in October, according to the company. That facility, which is adjacent to the Little Missouri Inn, will include 103 rooms Together, both hotels are expected to employ about 60 people

Construction begins on Watford City hospital

McKenzie County Healthcare Systems has begun building a 120,000square-foot medical campus in Watford City, N.D. The building will combine the hospital, clinic and long-term care facility into one location and will allow for expanded outpatient capacity Additionally, the number of emergency room bays will be expanded from one to eight.

The USDA approved a $39 2 million loan for the project, which will finance about 70 percent of the project Additional financing will be provided through the Medical Infrastructure Loan program administered by the Bank of North Dakota and from McKenzie County Healthcare Systems through the MCHS Benefit Fund ONEOK Partners donated $1 million to the fund in June Hiland Partners, BakkenLink LLC and Halcon Resources also donated a total of $695,000 to the project, according to the North Dakota Petroleum Council