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MEP Success Stories from Iowa

Revolutionizing Custom Quartz Designs with CIRAS Expertise

Reported Year
2024
Their existing process for creating custom inlays, such as company logos or detailed fonts within a quartz slab, was rather laborious. They wanted to find a way to reduce manufacturing time and improve the cost with a level of detail that no other custom quartz supplier has been able to achieve. “We want to further refine and improve a product

CIRAS Partner Provides Industry Access to Premier Packaging Expertise

Reported Year
2024
Multi Packaging and Printing, Inc. was having trouble with bags of cheese bursting after being filled with cheese, sealed and dropped 20 feet into a tote. When the Newton-based company turned to CIRAS, part of the MEP National Network™, they had the perfect resource to address the problem-- a collaboration with the Polymer and Food Protection

Working at the Speed of the Customer Drove Putco’s Million-dollar Deal

Reported Year
2024
Putco needed to evaluate the porosity of an aluminum vehicle part in a matter of days to secure a large contract. Putco had put out inquiries to private contractors to do industrial X-rays of cast aluminum units that it had purchased. They wanted to make sure these items met quality standards. All metal castings have some degree of imperfection

Dickson Turns to CIRAS for Automation Support

Reported Year
2024
Dickson had the potential to increase its sales. However, like other Iowa businesses, it grappled with a challenging workforce environment that posed difficulties for its expansion. Dickson turned to CIRAS, part of the MEP National Network™, for help.

Team Effort Yields Big Savings

Reported Year
2023
"Our injection molding partner has had some challenges with the quality of a part they make for us,” said Bruce Beguhn, whoowns the Polk City-based Lakeside Products. “They suggested a design change to improve the quality and reduce scrap and secondarylabor, but we needed to know if it was truly going to be better than what we already have.”

Candymaker Finds Sweet Success through assistance from CIRAS

Reported Year
2023
In 2002, Steve and Meg Shearer bought Chocolate Storybook, a well-established Des Moines candy retailer. The pair collaborated with a vendor that supplied wrapped caramels, one of Chocolate Storybook’s most popular items. When the vendor went out of business, the Shearers bought all the assets with plans to open a facility to produce caramels

Making Safety a Priority

Reported Year
2023
Jack knew that updating and customizing the company’s existing safety program was the surest way to reduce workplace injuries and accidents. He also knew that CIRAS, part of the MEP National Network™, could connect him with an expert to help him meet his goal.

Partnerships Help Plas-Tech Grow

Reported Year
2023
Over the last several years Plas-Tech engaged with CIRAS, part of the MEP National Network™, on several projects to build upon their capabilities and capacities in order to position themselves for growth opportunities. With that foundation they were in need of developing a stronger digital presence.

Deco Products Uses CIRAS Team to Tackle Internet Marketing

Reported Year
2022
Deco Products Company first turned to CIRAS, part of the MEP National Network™, for advice on internet marketing in advance of a long-needed update to the company’s website. That work uncovered the need for a digital marketing strategy.
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