IMEC’s First Manufacturing Matchmaking Event Gaining Momentum, Support

PEORIA, Ill. - Dec. 18, 2013 - PRLog -- The first annual Manufacturing Matchmaking event hosted by the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) (http://www.imec.org/) continues to gain support from manufacturing firms from across the state. The February 5th event is scheduled to take place at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 201 Broadway Street in Normal, Illinois, giving manufacturers the opportunity to network with potential customers and suppliers for their manufacturing process.

More than fifty manufacturing firms representing ten different industry clusters have already signed up for the matchmaking event and registration will remain open until December 31st. The meetings are open to manufacturers from across the state, however, they are strictly limited to companies of which we can verify a manufacturing industry code. Representatives from the registered companies are eager to explore new opportunities and potential supply chain partners at the event.

“I am excited to see IMEC organizing an industrial matchmaking event in central-downstate Illinois,” said Jim Mechowski, Sales Manager of IVP Plastics in Washington, Illinois. “I’ve participated in other northern Illinois events previously and have found new potential suppliers, as well as customers at these conferences. My customers are always challenging us with new processes and looking to see us manage their costs along with providing innovation. Knowing what support exists, in a reasonable geographic range is key to us accomplishing those goals. Manufacturers know that business is full of challenges and knowing who your regional partners may be and working together allows a fast track to success.”

Jim was also candid about the types of companies that should feel encouraged to attend. The more potential syngery the attendees have, the more likely it will result in successful opportunities. “Our current objective will be finding high tolerance machining suppliers as well as a source for painting,” Mechowski said. “It is invaluable to find a supplier that our engineering can deal with in a 50 mile radius to get the easiest communication, have face to face contact during product startups, and reduce the increasing freight costs of product transfer. I recommend this event to all manufacturers and this morning of networking is the cheapest investment you’ll have this year.”

The deadline to register is December 31, 2013 to accommodate the match facilitation process. All appointments are addressed on a first come, first served registration basis; organizers will try to accommodate all priority requests. For additional information, please visit http://www.imec.org/Manufacturing-Matchmaking.cfm. Registration access is also available through the site.

The inaugural Manufacturing Matchmaking event is sponsored by Busey Bank. Additional support is provided by the Made in Illinois program – highlighting the diversity of products made in the state and celebrating the companies that manufacture them - http://www.imec.org/Made-In-Illinois.cfm.

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About IMEC
IMEC was established in 1996 with the goal of improving the productivity and competitiveness of Illinois’ small and mid-sized manufacturing firms. A non-profit economic development organization, IMEC is funded in part by the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and through fees paid by Illinois manufacturers for IMEC’s services. IMEC has 11 offices statewide and 40 full-time manufacturing improvement specialists.

About Busey
First Busey Corporation  was selected from over 8,000 U.S. companies for Forbes’ list of America’s 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in 2013. We are honored that our dedication to transparent and conservative accounting practices and solid corporate governance has been recognized—a further tribute to our success over the past 145 years. We look forward to building upon our traditions—with continued openness and integrity—in 2013 and beyond. For the full article, visit Forbes.com (http://www.forbes.com/).

First Busey Corporation is a $3.5 billion financial holding company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Busey Bank, First Busey Corporation’s wholly-owned bank subsidiary is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois and has twenty-eight banking centers serving Illinois, a banking center in Indianapolis, Indiana, and seven banking centers serving southwest Florida. Busey Bank delivers financial services through busey.com (http://www.busey.com/).