PMT News/November 2017

November 30, 2017

NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. (Nov. 30, 2017) – Precision Medical Technologies, a contract manufacturer of orthopedic implants and instruments, announced plans today to expand its operations to Wabash County, creating up to 60 new jobs by 2022.

“Indiana’s reputation as the orthopedics capital of the world is made possible because of growing companies like Precision Medical Technologies,” said Elaine Bedel, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). “By leveraging our sound fiscal policies and pro-growth business environment, Indiana delivers the resources and the people that companies need. We look forward to witnessing Precision Medical Technologies’ success.”

The company, which already has facilities in Kosciusko and Noble counties, will invest nearly $5 million to expand its operations, purchasing and renovating a 9,000-square-foot manufacturing space at 400 Beckley St. in North Manchester. The site will house CNC machinery and related equipment to support the company’s new operations for disposable surgical instruments, and the company’s current manufacturing implants and reusable instruments operations will continue at its existing sites in Warsaw and Rome City, Indiana. Renovations are underway, allowing the company to be fully operational in the new facility and to launch into the disposable instrument market at the beginning of 2018.

Precision Medical Technologies currently employs more than 140 associates at its two locations in Indiana. The company plans to begin hiring for engineering, quality assurance, finishing, scheduling and CNC machinists positions for the North Manchester facility at the beginning of 2018. These new positions are expected to offer average salaries 24 percent higher than the Wabash County average wage. Interested applicants may apply online.

“We at Precision Medical Technologies are looking forward to establishing our third manufacturing facility in Wabash County and are excited to take advantage of a competent and available workforce, proximity to our supply base and significant opportunities for ongoing technical training,” said Kurt Kamholz, president of Precision Medical Technologies. “The community of North Manchester has been instrumental in assisting us in finding a location to meet both our current and future expectations for a successful operations facility. We look forward to continuing to operate in Indiana – a location that continues to provide manufacturers with a well-trained and stable workforce to support business growth.”

Since 2003, Precision Medical Technologies has been manufacturing orthopedic implants and instruments with a strong focus on the spine, extremities, and trauma markets. Currently, the company is divided into two separate operating divisions, implant and instrument manufacturing, with both segments having their own quality engineering, production engineering and operating management. The instrument division is located in Rome City, Indiana, while the implant facility is located in Warsaw, Indiana. The company manufacturers surgical instruments and implants for original equipment manufacturers nationwide in the orthopedic industry.

The IEDC offered Precision Medical Technologies up to $430,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $45,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The town of North Manchester will consider additional incentives during the town council meeting on Dec. 6 at the request of Grow Wabash County.

“We are thrilled that Precision Medical Technologies has chosen to locate their newest facility here in North Manchester,” said Jim Smith, president of the North Manchester Town Council. “They have been a great partner to work with and we look forward to building upon our already strong relationship to help them grow in our community.”

Innovative medical device companies like Precision Medical Technologies continue to grow in Indiana – a global leader in the life sciences industry. According to BioCrossroads and the Indiana Business Research Center, Indiana is the second largest exporter of life sciences products in the U.S., totaling nearly $10 billion and accounting for nearly one-third of Indiana’s total exports. More than 1,600 life science companies operate in Indiana, supporting more than 56,000 Hoosier jobs with average wages of nearly $99,000 annually.

About Precision Medical Technologies
Precision Medical Technologies is a contract manufacturer of orthopedic implants and instruments with a focus on spine, extremities, trauma and sports medicine. The business is divided into two separate operating Divisions; Implant Manufacturing and Instrument Manufacturing with both segments being staffed with their own Quality Engineering, Production Engineering, and Operating Management. The Instrument Division operates out of the Warsaw and Rome City facilities, while the Implant Division is only located at the Warsaw facility.

About IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state. Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

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The Indiana Department of Workforce Development and OrthoWorx are planning a digital job fair for the Warsaw area on Thursday, November 16 from 2-3 p.m. EST. As one of three trial programs, it will give selected local orthopedic manufacturing employers the opportunity to virtually present information about their businesses and share brief job descriptions and job application instructions.

Participating employers include Zimmer Biomet, Paragon Medical and Precision Medical Technology. Ivy Tech Orthopedic and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center will also participate to discuss the training programs it offers to help individuals qualify for manufacturing openings.

“DWD and its local partners in Warsaw are accomplishing two goals with the launch of digital job fairs – meeting the needs of sophisticated job seekers and helping area employers find workers. We selected the communities of Warsaw, Jasper and Elkhart for the trial job fairs because they are three areas with significant, immediate workforce needs,” said DWD Chief Communications Officer Bob Birge. “With the emergence of online communications, we wanted to make this as easy as possible for everyone involved.”

Job openings presented during the digital job fair will be high demand, high wage opportunities. Interested participants may register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1990268165352576001. The job fair will be recorded, so those who register but aren’t able to participate live will still be able to view the discussion and apply for those jobs presented by each employer. They will receive a follow up email with a link to the recording.

“Many businesses in the Warsaw region have more advanced manufacturing vacancies than they are able to fill,” said OrthoWorx Executive Director Brad Bishop. “Traditional job fairs may not work for a variety of reasons including schedule conflicts, family commitments and transportation issues. We hope this digital job fair brings Warsaw area employers and job seekers together in an effective format that saves everyone time.”

WARSAW — College isn’t for everyone, and OrthoWorx hoped that it could show Kosciusko County eighth graders that it is “possible to have a good job” without the degree.

Local eighth graders took tours of Ivy Tech Orthopedic and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, Warsaw Area Career Center and Precision Medical Technologies throughout the day Thursday, Oct. 5.

Students learned about the various career opportunities available in the orthopedic manufacturing industry in the area. While at Precision Medical Technologies, Edgewood students were informed that starting paying at the company with no prior experience would be $12 in the quality department with the possibility of advancement with pay up to $26.

“If you direct your students to this type of career, it doesn’t mean they’re going to be an entry level machinist for the rest of their lives. Once they get their foot in the door, that’s really where they determine what they want to do,” Tom Till, director of advanced manufacturing at Ivy Tech, stated earlier this year when faculty and staff toured.

Along with learning about salary and what the various positions might entail, students watched employees performing jobs throughout the tours, experiencing first hand what a career at Precision Medical Technologies would entail.

“Hand-eye coordination,” one employee answered when asked what were some skills need for polishing. “You have to be able to not alter the plates. You’re just cleaning them up. Any alterations result in a trashing the product.”

Students were also handed an overview sheet of what Precision Medical Technologies looks for in applicants as well as a pay scale and current job openings.

WARSAW — OrthoWorx announced the upcoming Think Ortho Tour, a program for eighth-grade students of area schools and their parents/guardians that encourages students to pursue technical careers in the growing orthopedic industry. The event will be held on Oct. 5 and will include tours of Ivy Tech’s Orthopedic and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, the Warsaw Area Career Center and a local orthopedic company, Precision Medical Technologies.

Students and parents on this tour will learn about the orthopedic industry, advanced manufacturing career opportunities available in the Warsaw region and the skills needed to pursue those exciting careers. Tour times are 9 a.m. – noon and 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Registration is required for this event. To register as a parent or student, please contact your school’s guidance counselor.

The Think Ortho Tour is part of OrthoWorx’s Talent Development Initiative to address the skills gap in the orthopedic industry, particularly in advanced manufacturing fields. The program started as a bus tour for local teachers, administrators and guidance counselors, but has now grown to include students and their parents.

“Ivy Tech Community College aims to generate awareness around the various career options available in orthopedic manufacturing here in Kosciusko County,” stated Tom Till, Director of Advanced Manufacturing at the Orthopedic and Advanced Manufacturing Center at Ivy Tech Warsaw. “There is a critical need for people to fill these positions that come with good wages. Many require postsecondary education but not always a traditional four-year college degree. The Think Ortho Tour will provide individuals a chance to see these high-level careers first-hand as well as the local educational resources that can prepare them for these positions.”

This program is open to students from Warsaw Community, Tippecanoe Valley and Whitko Community Schools whose students feed into the Warsaw Area Career Center. The tour is also open to eighth-grade students from Wawasee Community Schools.

Tom Edington, Superintendent of Wawasee Community Schools, stated, “Though our students take advantage of the vocational training and courses of the Wawasee Area Career and Technical Cooperative, I recognize that the skills students learn at our facility can prove useful for careers in the burgeoning orthopedic industry in Kosciusko County. We are excited to partner with other school systems within the county to provide students and parents with this experience.”

Selected eighth-grade students and their parents/guardians will be receiving communications from their respective schools throughout the weeks leading up to the Think Ortho Tour. If you or your student are interested in learning more about how you can participate, please contact the guidance counselor at your middle school.