Clemson Professor of Manufacturing to Speak at Annual Salute
June 22, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – June 22, 2009 – The Silver Crescent Foundation announced today that Dr. Thomas R. Kurfess, the BMW Endowed Chair of Manufacturing at Clemson University, will provide the keynote address at the Salute to Manufacturing awards luncheon on Tuesday, September 22. The event, which is co-hosted with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, will take place in Florence at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology.
According to Dr. Kurfess, who also serves as Director of Automotive Engineering at the Clemson University – International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), manufacturing is a critical part of the United States and its economy. “South Carolina is playing an ever-increasing role in manufacturing and the outlook for high-tech and very profitable manufacturing here is quite positive, as long as we continue to stay at the forefront of training and education,” Kurfess explained. “With a well-equipped workforce, we are poised to make great advances both technically and economically. It is a great time to be in manufacturing here in South Carolina.”
Dr. Kurfess’ research focuses on precision systems, controls, automation and robotics, and the results of his work are being used in a variety of manufacturing environments, helping U.S. companies compete in the global economy. As a director of Automotive Engineering, he is also preparing the next generation of engineers to work in the complex systems and global environment of today’s automotive industry.
The Salute to Manufacturing is an annual recognition event in which members of the business and education community pause to celebrate the valuable contributions manufacturing provides the Palmetto State. As part of the yearly ceremony, the state’s leading manufacturers will be recognized with the prestigious Silver Crescent Manufacturer of the Year Award. This year marks the first time the Silver Crescent Foundation and South Carolina Chamber have joined forces to honor the state’s manufacturers, and past winners of the organizations’ annual awards include Roche Carolina, Bridgestone-Firestone, Milliken & Company, Honda of South Carolina, and Sonoco.
“The Salute is like the Oscars for our state’s manufacturing sector and we take pride in showcasing these companies’ achievements and reminding the citizens of South Carolina what a powerful economic punch this sector packs for our state,” said Silver Crescent President Karen Owens. “Despite these economic times, manufacturing still makes substantial contributions to our quality of life, from creating higher paying jobs to developing innovative products that enhance our everyday lives. And as Dr. Kurfess suggests, we must continue to support our manufacturing companies by providing them with the highly-skilled and educated workforce they need to remain competitive in the global marketplace.”
Ogletree Deakins and Santee Cooper are platinum sponsors of the Salute and additional sponsorship opportunities along with registration information are available on the web at www.SCChamber.net.
The Silver Crescent Foundation
The Silver Crescent Foundation is a 501 (C)3 educational non-profit that promotes manufacturing vitality and career opportunities in South Carolina. The Foundation is committed to helping people of all ages and backgrounds Discover Manufacturing as it works to build the workforce pipeline of the future. To learn more, visit www.silvercrescentsc.org.
