CHILLICOTHE –– In 2020, Advantage Tent Fittings, Inc. announced plans to expand its operations in Chillicothe. The company invested his $80,000 to purchase a new state-of-the-art high-frequency vinyl sealing machine and modernize its manufacturing process.
This purchase was supported by a $20,000 JobsOhio Inclusion Grant and a $20,000 Flour BWXT Opportunity Fund grant through JEDISCO (Southern Ohio Cooperative Economic Development Initiative).
Family-owned and operated for generations, Advantage Tent Fittings manufactures and sells commercial and military tent components, event rental products, and custom sewn/heat-sealed products.
“JobsOhio Inclusion Grant funds were used to purchase a 20kw radio frequency (RF) vinyl welder. RF welding uses high frequency electromagnetic energy to fuse thermoplastic materials at the molecular level to create a permanent Create a seam,” said Ben Hall, president of Advantage Tent Fitting.
This machine is used to manufacture a wide range of products, including commercial tent walls, tarps, privacy partitions, and vinyl equipment used by emergency responders. “Our old 'hot wedge' style machines operated only on heat and compression, not RF, and could only do straight welds, as opposed to the specific patterns such as radial, square, and rectangular welds that can be accommodated today. Could not execute. ” he said.
The new machine was installed in late 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. While Hall did not anticipate installing the machine during a global pandemic when he first planned the investment, he is able to take advantage of the added functionality and use the machine during a time of great uncertainty. He said the company was able to pivot production to make vinyl privacy partitions for use in places such as vaccination sites. Medical settings.
“The new machinery significantly expands our manufacturing capacity and allows us to diversify into new markets that we were not previously able to serve,” said Hall. “This includes manufacturing equipment used by emergency responders, the military and medical settings. We also recently launched a new business unit that provides cut, seal and sew manufacturing services to other companies. ”
Hall said the company is grateful for the support it received from JobsOhio and JEDISCO through the Flour-BWXT Opportunity Fund to make the project possible and for what these partners do every day for Ohio's small businesses. He said he is doing so.
The JobsOhio Inclusion Grant exists to provide financial assistance to eligible projects in designated needy communities and/or businesses owned by underrepresented people across the state. Hall believes this grant is a valuable tool for businesses in Southeast Ohio.
“Programs like the JobsOhio Inclusion Grant help Ohio's small businesses respond to rapidly changing market conditions, including investments in new technology and production capacity that allow local businesses to compete on a national level. “It's essential for us to do that,” Hall said.
“Significant capital investment in new equipment and infrastructure is often out of reach for many small businesses, and bridging this gap enables them to optimize existing operations and pursue new markets. This program, in turn, will benefit the local economy,” he said. . “These investments will also upskill existing jobs, making the manufacturing sector a more attractive and viable employment option for candidates entering the workforce or looking for new career paths. Masu.”
