Local students join politicians, DTNA executives to deepen knowledge of careers in manufacturing

Contact: Nicholas.Smith@Daimler.com

CLEVELAND, N.C. – Oct. 2, 2015 – More than 100 students today saw that modern truck manufacturing is thriving in North Carolina when they visited the Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) Cleveland (N.C.) Truck Manufacturing Plant to explore career opportunities. The event was part of Manufacturing Day 2015, a national program designed to encourage students to consider careers in manufacturing.

Students from West Rowan High School in Mt. Ulla, N.C., and West Iredell High School in Statesville, N.C. and its Career Academy & Technical School (CATS) Troutman, N.C., joined DTNA officials and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), where they spent a day immersed in the facility, which manufactures Freightliner and Western Star industry-leading class 8 truck models.

In addition to touring the Cleveland facility, the students were able to tour facilities and hear special presentations from some of DTNA’s key local industry partners, including Tube Specialties Company, located in Statesville, and Continental Structural Plastics (CSP), based in Salisbury, N.C.

“Modern manufacturing is highly sophisticated with many opportunities for advancement, yet there is often a misconception that these jobs are undesirable,” said Roger Nielsen, chief operating officer for Daimler Trucks North America. “By participating in Manufacturing Day, we are able to directly connect with students and start to shift the perception about manufacturing today.”

According to the 2015 Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte Skills Gap study, there is a significant shortage of workers in U.S. manufacturing that is projected to grow over the next decade.

Henning Bruns, general manager for the DTNA Cleveland Truck Manufacturing Plant, noted that “it’s exciting to introduce so many high school students to our facility and to our industry. We hope that Manufacturing Day has helped to raise awareness of the many different types of opportunities in the field, and in the region.”

In addition to the Cleveland plant, DTNA has manufacturing facilities in Gastonia, N.C., High Point, N.C., Mt. Holly, N.C., and Gaffney, S.C., which together employ almost 10,000 people in the region. DTNA also has manufacturing facilities in Portland, Ore. and Detroit, Mich.

“A strong manufacturing base means a strong American economy,” noted Congresswoman Foxx. “It’s a pleasure to participate in Manufacturing Day and help educate local students about the wonderful opportunities available in high-tech manufacturing in North Carolina.”

Manufacturing Day is an annual national event executed at the local level and supported by thousands of manufacturers that host students, teachers, parents, job seekers and other community members at open houses, plant tours and presentations. It is co-produced by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Manufacturing Institute (MI), the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partner (MEP), and guest producer Industrial Strength Marketing (ISM).

For more information about Daimler Trucks North America, go to www.daimler-trucksnorthamerica.com.

About Daimler Trucks North America Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company, the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.