Fall 2026

Featured Articles

How Clyde Machines Stays Airborne

The Glenwood manufacturer of airline ground equipment uses innovation to stay on top of its market.

Chad Barsness, president of Clyde Machines, standing beside an airline passenger boarding stairway at the company's facility.

Building Second Chances

At MINNCOR, advanced practices and continuous improvement contribute to better products and processes — and help prepare future employees for a brighter post-incarceration future.

High-visibility MnDOT safety vests and hats manufactured by MINNCOR workers, displayed on a workbench.

Taking the Initiative

As they mark 40 years since their founding, the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations remain hyperfocused on building thriving communities in Greater Minnesota.

Northwest Minnesota Foundation staff and partners holding a ceremonial $2 million check from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

ESOP Fable

The story of employee ownership at Douglas Machine holds lessons for manufacturers considering exit options.

Watercolor illustration of workers in hard hats standing on a multi-colored pie chart, representing employee ownership.

Head of the Class

More high schools opt for programs that lead to manufacturing careers.

Student wearing welding gloves and face shield grinding metal in a high school shop class, sparks flying.

Innovations

Leaning on Lean

Partnership enables central Minnesota manufacturers to learn and practice key principles at Lean workshops.

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Esteemed Colleague

Business growth consultant Amy Thimmesh, described as ‘high-impact, low-ego,’ wins Enterprise Minnesota’s top award for 2026.

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Aagard’s Best Creation? Its Workforce

The greatest competitive advantage for a manufacturer of customized equipment for the consumer-packaged goods market lies close to home.

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Cash Advance

Foreign Trade Zones help Minnesota manufacturers manage cash flow and boost growth.

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Moving Forward

Innovation and customer service keep food conveyance manufacturer InLine Motion growing.

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Rapat Transit

Business has never been better for a small-town Minnesota manufacturer that has spent 50 years designing and building equipment to move massive volumes of material.

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Four Questions: John Bolanda

John Bolanda, training specialist, Metal Craft & Riverside

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Editorial

The Work Behind the Numbers

Manufacturing matters.

The Final Word

Model City

Alexandria shows what happens when a community and its manufacturers invest in each other for the long haul.