Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association (MPMA)

09/04/2026

T -24 Hours until Minnesota Manufactured is Sponsor of the Day at the Minnesota State Fair! Bringing awareness to thousands of career opportunities in manufacturing in MINNESOTA!

Come build and launch a rocket!

Hands on activities for people of all ages.

Saturday September 5
9:00 am - 9:00 pm
At the corner Wright & Underwood

Come Launch Your Future!



Steve Kalina

09/01/2026

Do you know a Minnesota manufacturer that is innovative, adapting new technologies? Do you know a manufacturer that has a great culture and develops and supports their employees? You should nominate them for Manufacturer of the year!

Nominations are now open for MPMA's Manufacturer of the Year.
https://e2777.share.hsforms.com/2pkW2Qv_kT--OvNeM4MoqzA

We will announce the winner and celebrate all nominees on Thursday October 29, at the Celebration of Manufacturing.
https://www.mpma.com/events-calendar/2026-mpma-celebration-of-manufacturing

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

What are you doing over lunch on Friday 8/28? Did you miss the yard sign pick-up on Tuesday?

You are in luck. Team MPMA will be at Mate Precision Technologies on Friday, August 28, from 11:00 am -1:00 pm. Drive up, grab your sign and a cup of coffee and learn about MPMA's apprenticeship sponsorship program coming SOON!

8/28 – 11am-1pm - MATE Precision Technologies
1295 Lund Blvd, Anoka, MN 55303

If you can't make on Friday there are other dates and times....even a couple of outstate options!

October is Manufacturing Month, and MPMA is working to raise awareness of manufacturing career opportunities. Through the Minnesota Manufactured brand, we will produce hundreds of yard signs for distribution across the state.

Put one in your yard at home. Place one in front of your business. Give one to a school that has manufacturing career pathways. Let's blitz the state with awareness. We have created Minnesota Manufactured Drive-Up Days for you to swing by to grab a sign, a cup of coffee, and say hi!

All pick-up locations will be outside, rain or shine! Look for the Minnesota Manufactured tent. If the exact time/location doesn’t work for you, reach out!

Dates Times and Locations to grab your sign!

8/28 – MATE Precision Technologies, Anoka 11am-1pm
1295 Lund Blvd, Anoka, MN 55303
9/9 - Frandsen Bank & Trust, Pine City 11am – 1pm
560 3rd Ave SE, Pine City, MN 55063
9/10 – Frandsen Bank & Trust, Vadnais Heights 10-12pm
3585 Hwy 61 N, Vadnais Heights, MN 55110
9/24 – Frandsen Bank & Trust, Lakeville 11am – 1pm
20280 Iberia Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044
9/25 - Frandsen Bank & Trust, Baxter 11am – 1pm
7429 Excelsior Rd, Baxter, MN 56425

Let the community around you know that you are proud to be a manufacturer with a “We Are Minnesota Manufactured” yard sign. Display it at your shop, your school, or even your house. Take a few signs for employees and watch for ways to share pictures of your sign!

Here are some folks who already grabbed their sign(s)! Thank you!
EDM TECH CENTER - Jerry Dillonillon
ICA Corporation - Steve Hoaglund
Brenk Brothers Inc.
Design Ready Fabrication
Bell Bankank - Julie L.

Steve Kalinaina
Myrika Schneider

08/25/2026

Our first Drive-Up is Happening TODAY!
Tuesday, August 25 - 8:00 -10:00 am
Morris Midwest (9495 Winnetka Ave. N #100, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445)
(See below for additional dates and times)

Minnesota Manufactured Drive-Up Days
Fueling excitement for Manufacturing Month

October is Manufacturing Month, and MPMA is working to raise awareness of manufacturing career opportunities. Through the Minnesota Manufactured brand, we produced hundreds of yard signs for distribution across the state.

Put one in your yard at home. Place one in front of your business. Give one to a school that has manufacturing career pathways. Let's blitz the state with awareness. We have created Minnesota Manufactured Drive-Up Days for you to swing by to grab a sign, a cup of coffee, and say hi!

All pick-up locations will be outside, rain or shine! Look for the Minnesota Manufactured tent. If the exact time/location doesn’t work for you, reach out!

Dates Times and Locations to grab your sign!

8/25 – Morris Midwest Brooklyn Park, 8am-10am
9495 Winnetka Ave N #100, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445

8/28 – MATE Precision Technologies, Anoka 11am-1pm
1295 Lund Blvd, Anoka, MN 55303

9/9 - Frandsen Bank & Trust, Pine City 11am – 1pm
560 3rd Ave SE, Pine City, MN 55063

9/10 – Frandsen Bank & Trust, Vadnais Heights 10-12pm
3585 Hwy 61 N, Vadnais Heights, MN 55110

9/24 – Frandsen Bank & Trust, Lakeville 11am – 1pm
20280 Iberia Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044

9/25 - Frandsen Bank & Trust, Baxter 11am – 1pm
7429 Excelsior Rd, Baxter, MN 56425

Let the community around you know that you are proud to be a manufacturer with a “We Are Minnesota Manufactured” yard sign. Display it at your shop, your school, or even your house. Take a few signs for employees and watch for ways to share pictures of your sign!

08/14/2026

October is Manufacturing Month, and MPMA is working to raise awareness of manufacturing career opportunities. Through the Minnesota Manufactured brand, we will produce hundreds of yard signs for distribution across the state.

Put one in your yard at home. Place one in front of your business. Give one to a school that has manufacturing career pathways. Let's blitz the state with awareness. We have created Minnesota Manufactured Drive-Up Days for you to swing by to grab a sign, a cup of coffee, and say hi!

Dates Times and Locations to grab your sign!
8/25 – Morris Midwest Brooklyn Park, 8am-10am,
8/28 – Mate Precision Technologies, Anoka 11am-1pm,
9/10 – Frandsen Bank & Trust, Vadnais Heights 10-12pm,
9/24 – Franzen Bank and Trust, Lakeville 11am – 1pm

Let the community around you know that you are proud to be a manufacturer with a “We Are Minnesota Manufactured” yard sign. Display it at your shop, your school, or even your house. Take a few signs for employees and watch for ways to share pictures of your sign!

MN Manufactured Drive-Up Days – Fueling excitement for Manufacturing Month

More details: https://lnkd.in/gAaSea2i

08/14/2026

Join team MPMA at International Manufacturing Technology Show IMTS Miles for Manufacturing 5K! Steve Kalina, Brenda Nelson Hawley, and Myrika will be participating. We created a team under MPMA so others can join us.

The Miles for Manufacturing (M4M) 5K Run/Walk has become a beloved tradition at IMTS - International Manufacturing Technology Show, uniting the manufacturing community around two shared passions: staying active and giving back.

Launched at IMTS 2014, the event has raised more than $250,000 to date – all of which goes directly to STEM programs around the country that prepare the next generation of innovators, makers, and problem solvers; that 100% impact is possible because IMTS - International Manufacturing Technology Show covers every production expense – from shirts and timing gear to permits and signage. Thanks to this support, every sponsorship dollar and every runner's registration fee is invested in manufacturing education.

Here is the link to register. Use the name MPMA to join our team!

https://lnkd.in/gze-fBV3

08/13/2026

Recently the MPMA Communications Committee was talking about how AI is the buzz word, but what can small and medium manufacturers do with limited resources to use AI. We realized two committee members had done two small things that were very helpful to their shops. We also have a Notebook LM guru on the committee. What came from the conversation is below.

The MPMA Communications Committee walked through simple steps to help our members take advantage of simple things to use AI for in their small to medium precision manufacturing shops. Nothing fancy. We show what steps were taken in simple language. Creating a master machine user manual by combining paper and online manuals, to taking a PowerPoint presentation and making it a podcast. It is a short 40-minute video that will leave you with steps you can do NOW.

If you have questions about this video reach out to [email protected].

Thank you to the Communications Committee members:
Tobias Flood - Metal Trade Solutions LLC (MTS)
John Galich - Mate Precision Technologiesrecision Technologies
Charlie Hales - Absolute Machine Tools
John Madsen - Contract Manufacturing - Former BOD Chair
Dave Meyer - BizzyWeb - HubSpot Agency Minneapolis
Brenda Hawley - MPMA Marketing & Communications Manager

https://youtu.be/XJYVLuZ7oZc?si=L2gZ6307f-CcGjeZ

08/10/2026

Last week after our Board meeting we had a chance to stop by one of our newest members, Laser Flow Labs. Laser Flow Labs combines cutting-edge laser marking technology with advanced automation systems to deliver unparalleled precision and consistence in component identification.

They will be helping at our State Fair booth with laser markings on the build your own rocket project and more.

Welcome Laser Flow Labs!