Smeal Fire Apparatus Doubles Workforce at Neligh Plant; Now Hiring Skilled Workers

Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. is one of the Nebraska manufacturers we’ve been following closely for many years, watching proudly as in March of 2014, the company was chosen from a host of applicants to provide a new engine for the Lincoln Fire Department (you can see the full blog post here). In August of 2014, […]

3 Awesome Inventions Nebraskans Introduced to the World

If you’re a fan of the mouthwatering Reuben sandwich, a heaping helping of corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing on rye bread, you have a Nebraskan to thank. While stories differ, it’s widely believed to have been invented at Omaha’s Blackstone Hotel by Reuben Kulakofsky. Interestingly enough, Nebraska is also well-known for […]

Manufacturing Recalls 101

It seems as if every time you check the news, there’s a new recall of a product or food on the market. In mid-January, Trader Joe’s pulled one of its most popular snack foods, store-brand raw cashew pieces, off their shelf in response to reported salmonella concerns (although there have been no reported illnesses). Last […]

Celebrating Mentorship in Manufacturing

Did you know that January is National Mentoring Month? The designation was created back in 2002 by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, and since then has actively worked to focus national attention on the need for mentors. From raising awareness of mentoring in its various forms, […]

Ashland’s Strategic Air & Space Museum Expands Outreach

Located in Ashland, Nebraska, right between Lincoln and Omaha, the Strategic Air & Space Museum occupies 300,000 square feet worth of awesome STEM inspiration. Aeronauts, engineers, history buffs, scientists, aerospace manufacturers, and mathematicians will find educational heaven as they wander through exhibits showcasing the aircraft of the Strategic Air Command, the very same planes that […]

How Drones Could Change the Future of Education

Humans have always been compelled by flying objects. Ever since Orville and Wilbur Wright took the first aircraft up into the skies over Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, some of the most extraordinary human inventions have utilized the air above us. Orville’s first flight was in the gasoline-powered, propeller-driven biplane, which remained aloft for approximately 12 […]

Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit Celebrates Nebraska’s History of Work

“How frequently do you get the Smithsonian in your town?” asks Ryan Leichenauer, executive director of the Elkhorn Valley Museum. “It’s a very special moment that I think we can all be honored by…it’s not that many communities in the entire country are getting the chance to see this traveling exhibit.” Leichenauer is referring to […]

Nebraska: Home to Innovation In Medical Device Manufacturing

Chances are that unless you’re a doctor, nurse, or health-care professional, you can’t rattle off the brand or manufacturer of your favorite medical device like you could for laundry detergent or food products. According to the FDA, medical devices can range from simple wooden tongue depressors to incredibly complex technology, like laser surgical devices or […]

Nebraska DED: Funding Manufacturing and Innovation

One of the best testimonials to the advantages of Nebraska’s business climate is from the “Oracle of Omaha,” the most successful investor in the world. “For the last many decades, I could have lived any place in the country I’d wanted to and conducted my business from there, and I’ve never given a thought to […]