Hutchinson Manufacturing has announced that its President Tom Daggett is being honored with the 2018 Made in Minnesota Manufacturing Awards Lifetime Achievement Award from Minnesota Business magazine. Daggett will be recognized during a September 20th ceremony at the Machine Shop in Minneapolis.
"I am very honored and humbled to accept this tremendous award," said Daggett. "I have literally spent my entire life in Minnesota's manufacturing industry so this honor is especially meaningful. I accept it on behalf of the hundreds of dedicated Hutchinson Manufacturing and Pride Solutions employees past and present who have helped our family build several successful businesses, and also on behalf of my parents whose legacy we continue to honor."
Tom Daggett was born into the manufacturing business. His parents "Bud" and Doris Daggett started Hutchinson Manufacturing and Sales Inc. the year he was born - 1953. The company is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2018.
By the age of 12, Daggett's father was finding work for him to do around the family's Hutchinson metal fabricating plant. By 16, he had first-hand experience running many of the processes in the plant from shearing, saw, press brake and welding. Following high school, a degree from the University of Minnesota and a short stint in other employment, he came back to work in the family business as general manager in 1978, taking over as president in 1991.
Under his leadership, Hutchinson Manufacturing has grown to a multi-million company with global sales primarily in the defense, nuclear and industrial sectors. HMI has weathered multiple recessions by being cautious with debt and by becoming a full-service manufacturer offering fabrication, welding, machining and painting in one facility. What started as a mom and pop shop making clothesline poles and picnic table frames in a 2,400-sq. ft. shop now occupies 100,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and has 150+ employees.
In 2002, Daggett was asked to manage a local business, May Wes, through bankruptcy. He ended up buying the aftermarket agricultural product company, recalling its grateful employees just in time for the busy harvest season. That same year, he formed Pride Solutions LLC as an umbrella company for four companies specializing in UHMW poly material: May Wes, C&A Pro performance snowmobile skis, Pride Engineered Plastics and Pride Assembly. These four collaborative businesses share a 25,000-sq. ft. manufacturing facility and common business administration functions.
In 2010, the Daggett Companies opened NuCrane Manufacturing in Hutchinson with partner PaR Nuclear, a subsidiary of Westinghouse Electric Company. The company manufactures the operating cranes for the Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power plant.
Continuing his father's tradition of giving back to the community, Daggett has been active in the Hutchinson community serving as Chairman of the Hutchinson Area Health Care Board, Chairman of the ISD #425 Hutchinson School District and serving on numerous task forces for local and regional development.
For more information contact:
Hutchinson Manufacturing LLC
720 MN-7
Hutchinson, MN 55350
320-587-4653
www.hutchmfg.com/about/60th-anniversary