Play the Manufacturing Challenge for Big Prizes

Jul 03, 2024

AEM Celebrates US Innovation with Nationwide Tour

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is taking its biggest road trip ever - the "Manufacturing Express" bus tour! This exciting journey across the country isn't just about sightseeing; it's a celebration of the vital role equipment manufacturing plays in our economy.

But wait, there's more! AEM has launched an online video game, the "Manufacturing Challenge," exclusively for the tour. Test your knowledge of the industry and compete for amazing prizes, including the grand prize: a brand-new Ford F-150! Anyone in the continental U.S. can join the fun by visiting www.manufacturingexpress.org.

The "Manufacturing Express" isn't just a party on wheels. It's also an opportunity to showcase the incredible work of equipment manufacturers and their employees.

The tour will visit 80 communities, stopping at manufacturing sites to highlight the industry's $316 billion contribution to the U.S. economy and the 2.3 million people it employs. AEM will also engage with policymakers to advocate for policies that support this crucial sector.

Mark your calendars! The "Manufacturing Express" kicks off on July 1st in Knoxville, Iowa, and wraps up in October at Komatsu in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Don't miss this chance to learn, play, and celebrate the power of American manufacturing!

Photo Credit: AEM

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.