MECO CORPORATION VISITS THE WHITE HOUSE, RECEIVES $125K VOUCHER FOR INNOVATION

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Greeneville, Tennessee Manufacturing Company Selected for Pilot Program with UT and ORNL

 

Greeneville, Tenn. Nov. 23, 2015 — Greeneville’s MECO Corporation was invited to the White House after being awarded a $125,000 voucher for innovation and product development as part of a new program, RevV!.

 

RevV! was created by the State of Tennessee in partnership with the University of Tennessee and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The state-funded $2.5 million pilot program assists Tennessee manufacturers by providing access to ORNL researchers and facilities, with the ultimate goal of producing jobs in Tennessee.

 

MECO’s project was one of just 13 selected in the first year and the only project selected from Greene County. The proposal fell under RevV!’s Tier 2 group, which will allow the 56-year-old manufacturing company to enter into a long-term R&D partnership with ORNL.

 

By gaining access to the world-class researchers and facilities of ORNL, MECO and other Tennessee manufacturers are able to meet the challenges of product development and enhance their processes for a competitive advantage in the global marketplace.

 

“We found out about this program from the Tech 2020 Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership and wanted to take advantage of it,” said MECO President Mark Proffitt. “We defined our project, submitted it to UT-Battelle and after a careful review process, were selected to receive the $125k

 

voucher.”

 

MECO was invited to the White House for the “Forum on Connecting Regional Innovation Ecosystems to Federal and National Labs” as part of this project as well. Guests included lab directors, university leaders, agency admins and other business executives, who were able to engage in frank discussions to share their experiences, perspectives and ideas about how federal labs can add to regional economies.

 

Because a main focus of this project is economic development, MECO’s proposal had to include how many jobs the project would generate. At this time, Proffitt estimates that number is between three and six.

 

Over the next 6-9 months, MECO will redeem the $125,000 voucher to fulfill their project. Details are not being disclosed at this time for proprietary reasons.

 

“We’re excited about the RevV! project because we think it will help us move from a commodity-based business to one that makes value-added products,” said Proffitt. “There is a wealth of knowledge and resources in our National Labs, and the voucher program is an important step in helping to transfer that expertise into industry, through the development of projects and jobs.”

 

ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. About MECO Corp.

For more than five decades, Greeneville, Tennessee’s MECO Corp. has specialized in metal design, manufacturing, fabrication, finishing, distribution, and warehousing. MECO has built a reputation on providing great service, quality work, and professionalism. To learn more about MECO, visit WWW.MECOCORP.COM

GREENEVILLE, TENN – BASED MECO EXPANDS ROLE IN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

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Contract manufacturing company brings 50+ years of success all under one roof to tier 1, 2 & 3 automotive suppliers

Sept. 11, 2015 — Greeneville, Tenn. For more than 50 years, Greeneville, Tennessee-based MECO Corp. has been providing contract manufacturing solutions in the southeast. During that time MECO has upheld a commitment to its mission of honoring customers’ needs through an emphasis on service, as well as offering the highest quality products.

Because of its unique position and capabilities, MECO seeks to expand its business in the automotive industry. The company aims to become a solution partner for automotive suppliers across all tier levels.

Tennessee Automotive Industry

Tennessee was recently named the top state for automotive manufacturing strength. Nissan has operated in Tennessee for 30 years and the state is also home to operations for General Motors and Volkswagen.

With 1,000 auto manufacturers and suppliers statewide, there are more than 115,000 Tennesseans employed in auto manufacturing jobs. What’s more, Tennessee has invested over $80 million in the last decade for automotive industry training.

In the automotive manufacturing supply chain, various manufacturers often refer to companies as tier one, two and three suppliers. These terms indicate the commercial distance in the relationship between the manufacturer and the supplier.

What is an OEM?

OEM refers to an original equipment manufacturer. This is a company that makes a final product for the consumer marketplace. Tiers 1, 2, & 3

Tier one companies supply directly to OEMs. Tier two companies are the chief suppliers to tier ones, without supplying a product directly to an OEM.

However these classifications are fluid as some companies act as a tier one to a particular OEM while also serving as a tier two supplier to a tier one as well.

 

Tier three companies supply to tier two companies, and so forth. Why Choose MECO?

MECO is within 4 hours or less from Tennessee’s major automotive operations, including Nashville, Winchester, Spring Hill and Chattanooga.

Additionally, its central southeastern location puts it in close proximity to automotive leaders in North & South Carolina, as well Kentucky, and Alabama. MECO is within a day’s drive of 75% of all U.S. markets.

MECO has a core strength in forming of metals including deep draw, stampings, Welding and CNC machining. MECO also specializes in application of

powder coat paints for Area industries including automotive customers.

The company also employs vertical integration allowing metal forming, powder coat, assembly, logistics and distribution.

This means automotive suppliers working with MECO enjoy improved supply chain coordination as well as greater opportunities of differentiation with increased control inputs.

For an automotive supplier, choosing the right contract manufacturer (CM) means it can operate as an extension of the business, including personnel that interact with the company across various functions.

Other factors an automotive supplier should consider when choosing a CM are its size, technical expertise, and financial strength as well as its reputation in the industry.

While MECO might be newer to the automotive realm, its long, successful history in the contract manufacturing industry is evidence that tier one, two, and three suppliers will be in good hands.