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MEP Success Stories from Iowa

New Market Entry – Meat Aging Cabinets

Reported Year
2022
Percival Scientific is exploring the feasibility of adapting its current product line to include cabinets for aging and fermenting meat. The idea was suggested to the company by Paul Gormley, a CIRAS project manager. "I'd been working with meat processors and noticed that one trend in the industry was aged meats," said Gormley. "I'd also done

Marketing Diversification Pays Off

Reported Year
2022
In 2018, their DeWitt, Iowa, location identified a market that would allow them to grow using existing assets. “There were several OEM producers of snow removal equipment in the Midwest region,” said Josh Daniel, plant manager at Black Cat Wear Parts. “So, while our location was originally established to better serve our single largest customer in

American Soy Organics Embraces Marketing Development

Reported Year
2022
American Soy Products needed assistance with both marketing strategy development and tactical execution for a new product line. For help they turned to CIRAS, part of the MEP National Network™.

ISO Helps M3 Boost Business

Reported Year
2021
M3 Fabrication needed help preparing for ISO 9001:2015 certification. Sam McClure, co-owner of M3 Fabrication, said his company initially sought ISO certification both to improve its overall quality and to set the company apart when trying to recruit new customers. “The main thing we were looking for was someone to help guide us through the ISO

Iowa Manufacturers Find Immediate Value in Wearable Tech

Reported Year
2021
It started as a single question in a loud, pandemic-influenced Sioux City popcorn factory: How do we meet our obligation to monitor employee hearing if COVID-19 social distancing requirements are blocking us from running hearing tests in the usual way? The answer, which American Pop Corn Company discovered with help from CIRAS, part of the MEP

Decker Finds Peace of Mind through CIRAS Technology Assistance

Reported Year
2021
Decker wanted to acquire a new injection molding machine and while they had conducted preliminary diligence, they reached out to CIRAS, part of the MEP National Network™, to assist in helping identify sources, various options to consider (hydraulic vs. electrical), and costs.

Fox River Mills Partners with CIRAS to Develop a TCO Model

Reported Year
2021
Sales were negatively impacted due to the COVID pandemic and leadership requested assistance developing a total cost of ownership (TCO) model specific to their business that would help support their efforts to grow revenue. Specific efforts were aimed at showing the value of domestic, more reliable supply chains with shorter lead times.

New Normal: Dickson Industries Growing with Gowns

Reported Year
2021
Dickson Industries made its name making medical fabrics and garments before venturing into various lines of food-industry clothing and pre-consumer products, such as specialized netting used to enhance the flavor of meat during smoking. When the coronavirus decimated demand for food-industry products, Dickson officials realized that they were

Capstone Helps Life Line Open New Door

Reported Year
2020
To help Life Line grow, Folience reached out to CIRAS, part of the MEP National Network™, and Iowa State University for assistance. Specifically, the company needed assistance in designing an ambulance with a motorized sliding side door— a new feature that’s expected to make it safer and more convenient for emergency medical crews to operate in
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