Spotlight on 2010 Manufacturers of the Year (Part II)

As mentioned last month, the Manufacturers Association of Florida announced the 2010 Manufacturers of the Year at their annual November meeting in Orlando. Each company was rated on nine various business parameters, an onsite tour and interview by a panel of 26 judges. Following are the winners in the larger employee categories.

Danfoss Turbocor Compressors, Inc., Tallahassee (126-400 Employees Category)

Turbocor Compressors started in Australia, moved to Montreal and finally relocated its headquarters and manufacturing facilities to Tallahassee in 2007 as a joint venture and became Danfoss Turbocor Compressors. This ISO 9001:2000 certified plant of 176 employees, produces the world’s first highly energy efficient refrigeration compressor utilizing magnetic bearings and variable frequency motor controls.

Using a combination of aerospace, magnetic bearing, and digital electronic technologies, its compressors are used in air- and water-cooled chillers and rooftop units. These oil free compressors are roughly 33% more energy efficient than conventional units and are used worldwide in the commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industry. With its breakthrough combination of patented technologies largely sourced from the aerospace industry, Turbocor's employees promise new horizons in energy efficiency and lifetime operating costs for mid-range chiller and rooftop HVACR applications.

Swisher International, Inc., Jacksonville (Over 400 Employees Category)

Swisher International, Inc. began in 1861 when David Swisher received the business through a debt settlement and by 1924, he was operating in Jacksonville. The plants here produced the first individually wrapped cigar in cellophane along with a simple device for removing the cellophane by pulling on the cigar band. Swisher’s King Edward brand became the world’s number one selling cigar in the 1940’s and by 1965, the Swisher Sweet brand was being shipped to all 50 states and 70 countries around the world.

Throughout the years, Swisher continued to prosper through the continuous upgrading of machinery and the constant pursuit of Continuous Improvement techniques in both Product Quality and Productivity processes. In 2004, Swisher adopted the Lean and Green Principles as its journey which encompasses all the past and current manufacturing principles/techniques under one umbrella.

Since Swisher is a private, family owned operation which allows for great flexibility and can react quickly to marketplace opportunities and developing trends. This, along with constant improvements, has made it a formidable force in the tobacco business now and in the future.

For more information visit www.mafmfg.com