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McLanahan Corporation, bus tour celebrate manufacturing in Hollidaysburg

McLanahan Corp. welcomes AEM Manufacturing Express bus

By Colette Costlow 3 min read

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- The McLanahan Corporation and its employees gathered on Lowe Street Wednesday afternoon to welcome the AEM Manufacturing Express tour bus making a pit stop in Hollidaysburg.

Being the Association of Equipment Manufacturer's first time swinging by Hollidaysburg since McLanahan became a member a few years ago, McLanahan President and CEO Sean McLanahan stuck the company's logo on the side of the Manufacturing Express.

After opening remarks, employees were also treated to ice cream and snow cones while interacting with the "I Make America" and the "AEM Manufacturing Express" booths.

"It's a quick way to say thank you to the efforts that are put in by our men and women who are world-class in what they do," McLanahan said.

Celebrating 192 years of operation, he represents the sixth generation in his family, and the seventh recently finished a summer internship at McLanahan.

"We're extremely proud of that," he said during opening remarks. "We plan to be here to continue making investments, new facilities and jobs right here in Hollidaysburg."

A company acquired by McLanahan was an AEM member, he said after the event, which is how McLanahan originally heard of the company. They decided to become a member about five years ago.

Other than attending the company's CONEXPO-CON/AGG event held every three years in Las Vegas, McLanahan said membership advantages include advocacy in government and policy and resource building and designing equipment while navigating regulations.

Rep. John Joyce, R-Blair, said it's an exciting time to be a manufacturer in America, as he credited President Donald Trump and Congress with ensuring trading relationships are fair for American producers while investing in bringing manufacturing and supply chains to America.

"That's all about making sure that America has the ability to build what we need and when we need it," he said.

AEM swung by Hollidaysburg in the tour bus Wednesday on its New England tour, highlighting more than 2.2 million manufacturing workers in the country.

"They wanted to come and include us in the campaign just to raise awareness of how critical it is for the manufacturing sector, the jobs that are here in these small towns and how critical they are for our country," McLanahan said.

AEM President and CEO Megan Tanel said it was important to stop in Hollidaysburg and celebrate McLanahan's membership.

"The whole point of an association is that you represent the voice of an industry, and so you want to have the industry involved and McLanahan is a big voice within the industry," she said.

Employees were seen grabbing ice cream and snow cones from the food trucks parked outside on Lowe Street before interacting with the games and tables set up by AEM.

While playing with a set of tablets set up underneath the AEM Manufacturing Express tent, Vice President of Human Resources Andrea Muth said it's nice to work for a company that recognizes what employees do for the organization.

"It's really cool to see the impact that manufacturing has locally and globally," she said.

Fabricating welder Chris Perez agreed with her statement, adding that he came for graham cracker cheesecake ice cream.

Certified welding inspector Tristen Conrad said it was nice breaking up the workday with an employee event after leaving the "I Make America" tent.

"It's important to represent the industry," he said. "It's important to be aware of laws that are made and discussions that are had that can impact companies and manufacturers within the United States."

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.

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