Volume 27 | Issue 4
Click here to read the complete illustrated article or continue below to read the text article.
This summer, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) embarked on a monumental journey with the launch of the **AEM Manufacturing Express**, a nationwide tour designed to shine a spotlight on the U.S. equipment manufacturing industry and the 2.3 million workers who drive it. Over the course of 18 weeks, the Express crisscrossed 13,500 miles, stopping at over 80 manufacturing facilities across 20 states. The tour concluded in October with a celebratory finale at AEM’s headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The initiative, the largest in AEM’s 100-year history, celebrated the industry’s crucial role in building modern infrastructure, fueling the economy, and putting food on the table.
“Behind every piece of equipment is a story,” said AEM President Megan Tanel. “We’re thrilled to tell the stories of grit, determination, and ingenuity that define the men and women of our industry.”
Each stop featured the “Manufacturing Challenge” game, an interactive experience showcasing cutting-edge technologies that power the industry. Events also included food, entertainment, and thought leadership to connect communities with the innovations shaping America’s future.
Notably, the tour was also an advocacy platform. AEM leveraged its fiercely bipartisan approach to highlight the industry’s policy priorities during this critical election year. “The Express gave us a chance to engage workers in the political process, connect with elected officials, and advance policies that will strengthen our economy,” said Kip Eideberg, AEM’s Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations.
The tour kicked off its historic bus tour with a stop at Weiler in Knoxville, Iowa on July 1. On a hot summer day, the might of American manufacturing was on full display, the facility courtyard, complete with skydivers, big iron, and a Weiler community nearly a thousand strong.
Weiler employees wait for their turn to play the Manufacturing Challenge.
The opening ceremony was held out in the open, and for good reason: out in the open is how Weiler does things. Pat Weiler, founder and CEO at the company that bears his name, feels strongly about hard, honest work. “There’s a misconception people have,” he said. “Manufacturing isn’t dark, dirty, or dingy; it’s well-lit, safe, and fair to people.”
It’s true—equipment manufacturing has been good to the people of Knoxville. Founded less than 25 years ago, here at Weiler, prosperity has sprung up where factory floors have been laid. Weiler has since grown to one of the most iconic equipment manufacturers in Iowa. But Pat Weiler isn’t one to self-congratulate, and neither are the workers alongside him. Addressing the crowd, Pat summed up what it means to work at Weiler: “We don’t wait for a pat on the back; we roll up our sleeves and work hard—it’s who we are.”
The tour continued its journey through Iowa and up into Minnesota, before stopping in communities in South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. In early August, the bus stopped at six different locations in Oklahoma, including McElroy Manufacturing.
Ask the folks at McElroy Manufacturing about what it takes to build a global leader in fintube manufacturing and pipe fusion machinery, and they’ll tell you two words: Hard Work. Ask them to explain further, and they’ll tell you that their belief is a simple one: only through the hard work and the focused energy of their people can McElroy continue to build and maintain its reputation for decades to come. As the AEM Manufacturing Express visited McElroy’s Tulsa headquarters Thursday afternoon, generations of hard work were on display in the form of equipment—equipment handcrafted by men and women of this Tulsa manufacturing community.
The story of McElroy begins in 1954, when Arthur McElroy and his beloved wife, Panny, started up their family business in a tiny Tulsa garage. In the ‘60s, the company became a pioneer in the fintube machinery market, innovating state-of-the-art heat transfer technology that allowed for cheaper and easier refrigeration, among other applications.
Seventy years since its founding in that Tulsa garage, McElroy has grown into a manufacturing powerhouse with hundreds of employees and offices across six continents. Even still, McElroy remains a family-owned and operated business, managed by President & CEO Chip McElroy and his siblings. But this new generation of McElroys isn’t content to simply tread water; Chip remains dedicated to taking McElroy Manufacturing to new heights. In June, McElroy launched their brand-new facility in Broken Arrow, representing an investment in excess of $25 million in the northeast Oklahoma manufacturing community.
When the Manufacturing Express came to McElroy, we were greeted like family. Family is the focus at McElroy—and here, family means much more than the name on the door. As Chip McElroy tells, these 455 men and women don’t just work for the company; they are the company, and they’re part of the McElroy family. They’re proud of it, too: this community has given much to McElroy, and through decades of high-volume production and global distribution, McElroy’s worldwide presence is evidence of the power of Tulsa, Oklahoma manufacturing. “We’re showing what USA-based manufacturing means to us, and to the world,” Chip McElroy said. That’s the ethos present in every piece of kelly green equipment.
You don’t get to be an industry leader overnight; at McElroy, success is measured in years, not days, and that’s how McElroy has reached seventy years of success. Here in Tulsa, there’s a feeling that the next seventy years begin today. Each morning, the men and women of McElroy show up to manufacture something that they can be proud of. To Chip McElroy, the philosophy is simple: “Underground, in the building, and around the world, we’re making the world a better place with better infrastructure— one project at a time.”
The final stretch of the tour was dedicated to Wisconsin, a state with a rich manufacturing legacy. Highlights included:
The final celebration at AEM’s Milwaukee headquarters was a fitting tribute, featuring a taco truck, raffles, and heartfelt reflections on the Express’s success.
The AEM Manufacturing Express achieved more than just miles on the road. It connected nearly 100 elected officials with the manufacturing sector, engaged over 9,000 employees, and amplified the voices of industry leaders. From small towns to big cities, the tour celebrated the backbone of America’s economy: its equipment manufacturers.
While the bus has parked for now, the mission continues. AEM and its members remain steadfast in their efforts to advocate for the industry and support the hardworking people who build, power, and feed the world. For more about the Manufacturing Express and its journey, visit www.manufacturingexpress.org.
Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) President Megan Tanel joined AEM in 1995, becoming Senior Vice President of Exhibitions and Events in 2016, Senior Vice President of Construction Equipment and Utility Sector in 2020, and her current role in 2022.
In her Exhibitions and Events Role, Tanel helped launch World of Asphalt in 2001, served as Show Director for The Utility Expo (formerly ICUEE), and served as Show Director of North America’s largest trade show, CONEXPOCON/ AGG, growing overall trade show revenue by 80% over 12 years.
As President of AEM, Tanel sets the strategic direction and operation of all AEM programs, focusing on core service areas of market information, public policy advocacy, and exhibitions.
Tanel is a member of the select Ag CEO Council. She served as a member of the Milwaukee Women’s Leadership Group, previously served as Chair, and Education Committee Chair, of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), and served on customer advisory boards for the cities of Las Vegas, Louisville, Ky., and Orlando, Fla.
The IAEE recognized Tanel with both their Woman of Achievement Awards and Distinguished Service Award in 2017.
Tanel holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, PR, speech, and German from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and a Certificate in Exhibition Management from IAEE.
Spotlighting Equipment Manufacturing: Advocate for the People Who Build, Power, and Feed the World
Tune in to hear from Chris Brown, Vice President of Sales at CADDi, a leading manufacturing solutions provider. We delve into Chris’ role of expanding the reach of CADDi Drawer which uses advanced AI to centralize and analyze essential production data to help manufacturers improve efficiency and quality.
Get In Touch
Google news and SEO compliant, Industry Today’s state-of-the-art digital media platform offers bespoke media campaigns that target key decision makers and buyers to achieve your marketing and promotional goals.
Contribute
Showcase your brand and promote your business to our highly targeted audience. We offer detailed Google Analytics with measurable ROI to assure success. Submit your content for review by our Editorial team who will contact you to discuss the project further.
About Us
Reach Your Targeted Audience and Grow Your Business. Learn more About Industry Today.
Contact Us
© 2025 Industry today. All Rights reserved.
