HAGERSTOWN, MD – Junior and senior students from Washington County Public Schools last week learned about the technology, science and careers that power modern manufacturing during a half-day event SGI facilitated in partnership with Hub Labels Inc.
The event, meant to educate students about local manufacturing companies and the career opportunities available in modern manufacturing, concluded SGI’s celebration of Manufacturing Month.
“Manufacturing powers our world and is essential for many of the items you use daily,” said SGI President Justin P. Dunlap. “SGI was happy to partner with Hub Labels for this event and share about our business, our manufacturing process, and our opportunities with students.”
SGI is a leading mining and mineral processing company that specializes in the development of roofing products, building materials, and soil amendments for agriculture. With headquarters and a fully equipped research and development facility in Hagerstown, SGI also has a pelletization plant for agricultural products and toll manufacturing in Waynesboro and four nationwide surface mines where it sources highly specific rock for its products.
SGI is a Standard Industries company. Students on the tour learned about SGI’s manufacturing process – from mining the rock, crushing it to the proper size, and firing water-based pigment onto roofing granules, to the rock that is used in building materials. They also learned about the research-and-development process, and protocols that keep team members, community members, and the environment safe.
At Hub Labels, students learned about early printing processes and how the processes have evolved over the years from Hub Labels President Thomas Dahbura. They toured the Hagerstown facility and received an in-depth look at the manufacturing lifecycle of a printed label – from manipulating customer artwork in preparation for print to seeing the printing presses in action as they work with other important pieces of machinery to bring colorful art to life on label. While there, students also learned about how they can join a niche manufacturing industry like Hub Labels through apprenticeships and internship opportunities.
“It was awesome to set aside a month to recognize manufacturing and partnering with SGI to do an event,” said Dahbura. “There are so many great things that come out of manufacturing, so many opportunities to do so many different things and to be excited to go to work every day. That is the message I wanted to send. I’m excited to come to work every day because I know what we do makes a difference with someone. We create things using imagination and discipline to get results with awesome people.”
Hub Labels, Inc., is a manufacturer of pressure-sensitive and linerless labels. Hub is able to provide superior quality and service with its robust and modern fleet of flexographic printing presses, and a flexographic-digital hybrid Heidelburg/Gallus Labelfire press with expanded color gamut that is unmatched in the industry for image resolution and color. Hub is dedicated to staying abreast of the latest packaging trends and building long-term relationships with customers, vendors, and suppliers.
