Friday will be a big day for materials firm Techmer PM, as the company's manufacturing plant in Clinton, Tenn., will be visited by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
Biden's wife, Jill Biden, also will be on hand for the visit, which will take place after the group visits Pellissippi State Community College in nearby Knoxville. Obama and the Bidens will be at Techmer to highlight the administration's efforts to create new, good-paying manufacturing jobs.
“We're very excited and honored to be hosting the president, the vice president and the second lady,” Techmer President Ryan Howley said in a Jan. 7 phone interview.
Techmer — a maker of color and additive concentrates — is based in Clinton and employs more than 250 at its 200,000-square-foot plant there. The plant opened in 1988 and was expanded by 40,000 square feet in 2005.
On April 25, Techmer marked one year without a lost-time injury in Clinton. The plant was recognized by the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. for its reduction in injuries. A few weeks later on May 12, Techmer raised the starting pay for its Clinton manufacturing employees to $11 an hour as part of a companywide value system that ensures workers receive a compensation package that rewards effort, commitment and results.
Techmer ranks as one of North America's 30 largest compounders and concentrate makers. The firm has seven manufacturing plants in North America and has annual sales of more than $200 million.
Markets for Techmer's products include packaging, medical and automotive. In March, Techmer ranked third on Plastics News' Best Places to Work list.