Midway’s extensive equipment and systems provide customers with precision stamping and assembly products. Skilled operators, along with teamwork concepts and the use of SPC data, combine to ensure consistency and optimum performance. We ensure productivity even further by making sure our facilities are equipped with the best machinery. Modern stamping presses, automated welding equipment and the use of robotics result in the highest levels of quality and efficiency.

Hydroforming
Midway Products has preform and hydroform capabilities, with a 5,500-ton hydroform press that operates with capacities using form pressure of 27,000 psi, 50F steel (50,000 psi minimum yield), and a die space of 3,800 mm left/right and 2,200 mm front/back (part size may vary depending on location of tube ends). Midway can produce a variety of products using hydroforming, including sub-frames, front-end structure modules, front body rails, roof rails, closures, d-pillars and trailer hitches.

Paint Line
As a premier coatings applicator, Midway Products provides the technology, leadership and ability to do both e-coat and powder coat in-house, serving a broad spectrum of the automotive industry. Electro-coating readily conforms to complex configurations and yet maintains engineered tolerances on parts, ensuring intended operating functions. Midway’s paint line coats internal surfaces, deep recesses, fasteners and all sizes of parts
with a uniform coating, with no sags or runs.

Ford Motor Company awarded 55 World Excellence Awards on April 17, 2007 at the ninth annual event held at The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn. These awards were presented to Ford’s global suppliers for their exemplary performance during 2006.

P & A was one of the 55 global suppliers honored with this Award. P & A received the Silver World Excellence Award. The award recognizes suppliers who not only achieve the highest levels of cost, quality and delivery, but recognize the diverse cultures, values, and ideas of the thousands of individuals they employ.

The keynote speaker Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Company President and Chief Executive Officer, told suppliers their efforts and teamwork are critical to the success of Ford Motor Company. He stated that “Together, we are one team working on one plan with one goal in mind – build the products people really want to create profitable growth for everyone associated with our wonderful Ford Motor Company.

P & A celebrated this special award with its employees on May 1, 2007. A special presentation was given to the employees by Daryl Adams, Kevin Trares, Roger Yambasky, Bob Pruka, and Pat Boyer. Jeff Price, Plant Manager, presented the special award to a group of long term employees who represented each area of the plant. This group of employees were Chloe Hindall, Clark Phillips, Ann Zehender, Roby Boothby, Marty Kingery, Duane Hastings and Becky Randolph. Tony’s catered a steak and chicken meal for everyone to enjoy. Each employee was given a black polo shirt embroidered with the company name and award recognition. P & A launched multiple parts for the Ford Edge and the Lincoln MKX in 2006. The company had on display a Ford Edge and a Lincoln MKX for employees to view.

An award of this magnitude is a real accomplishment for P & A and Midway Products.

In June of 2007, Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America awarded Midway Products Group, Inc. a Certificate of Achievement for Supplier Diversity.

Midway¹s continued efforts toward minority supplier sourcing have proven once again to be a successful program. Midway achieved and exceeded targets set forth in Toyota¹s annual purchasing policy activity. Midway also exceeded targets for minority sourcing with other 1st and 2nd tier customers.

Midway¹s Director of Purchasing, Norbert Czernia, participates in the Michigan Minority Business development council and other minority development programs. Norbert personally coordinates Midway¹s efforts in sourcing minority- and women-owned businesses.

In June of 2007, Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America awarded a Certificate of Achievement to Hudson Industries recognizing Hudson¹s quality performance.

This certificate is Toyota¹s way of recognizing Hudson¹s achievement in meeting the targets set out as a part of the annual purchasing policy activity.

Lakepark Industries made the decision in1999 to make several acres of land directly east of the manufacturing facility available to the town of Shipshewana. The land was designated to be used as soccer fields for the town’s youth soccer program. This joint effort between Lakepark and Shipshewana led to opening the soccer park for use in 2002 after the excavating was complete and grass was established. Also a pavilion was built and the park was surrounded by a white rail fence. The park is large enough to allow for ten soccer fields of various sizes. On Saturdays mornings you may look out our office windows and see hundreds of kids and families enjoying soccer.

Lakepark Industries enjoys a positive relationship with the community and this project has helped build on that relationship. In 2003 Lakepark Industries was given the Quality of Life Award by the Town Counsel of Shipshewana in recognition of our support of the soccer field project.

Visitors to our plant often see the soccer fields, which usually leads to questions about how the soccer fields came to be next door to our plant. They are always pleased to hear about how Lakepark worked with the community to support the kid’s soccer program. The typical response is an approving smile and “That’s great.”

The safe and efficient movement of material within any manufacturing facility is always a challenge. Wasted movement, waiting for forklifts, bulk containers, and excessive traffic are just a few challenges to overcome that affect both effectiveness and safety within a facility.

At PPI (Production Products, Inc.), a Midway Products Group metal stamping facility located in Columbus Grove, Ohio, efficient, safe material handling has been an area of focus since the plant’s inception.

The plant developed a material handling strategy that incorporates the use of small totes, floor rollers, flow racks, roller carts, and train delivery. The combination of these elements significantly improves the effectiveness of material handling throughout the plant. In addition, it greatly reduces the level of forklift traffic which further reduces waste and improves safety.

Dwight Closson, Plant Manager, states, “Our goal is the complete elimination of forklifts throughout the manufacturing operations, limiting forklift use for shipping and receiving purposes only.” The plant is not there yet, but has implemented phase one and two of a three phased approach.

The use of small totes and train delivery enables one material handling operator to service multiple operations on a single round trip through the assembly operations. One train load delivers product throughout the plant, where it is needed and when it is needed in one single pickup and delivery route.

FIFO is maintained throughout the facility with dedicated floor roller lanes that make the storage of materials from the press shop visual and easy to manage. The lanes are sized for specific kanban quantities for each part number that is produced in the prog press department. The use of small totes, at the presses, eliminates the need for a forklift to transfer product once a container is complete. With this system, custom designed carts are moved manually to the floor lanes and simply pushed onto the designated lane rollers.

Paul Caskey, Materials Manager at PPI, is quite impressed with the new system. He advises that “material flow is much better” and the system “eliminates forklift traffic in much of the area, so it definitely reduces waste and has made it safer.”

2007 is the 11th year of operation for Findlay Products. Our successes are a reflection of all of our Team Members hard work and dedication. We are especially proud that we still have our Clock #001 and #002 Team Members with us and would like to introduce them to you.

Gary Nims is our Clock #001 Production Team Member. He was hired on March 11, 1996, as a Line Press Operator. Once the Weld Team was established in June of 1996, Gary became a part of that team. Over the course of 11 years, Gary has helped the Weld Team with many different jobs including Team Leader, box builder and has filled in as a Hi-Lo driver whenever needed. With Gary’s experience and knowledge, he is an excellent trainer and assists whenever we hire new Team Members. We’d like to thank Gary for all of his dedication and hard work over the last 11 years.

Our Clock #002 Team Member is Felicia Briggs. She was hired on March 11, 1996, as a Production Team Member. In November 1998, she entered our Quality Technician Apprenticeship Program. She obtained her CQT status from the Toledo Chapter of ASQ in October of 1999. She then went on to receive her certification for Quality Engineering (CQE) in December 2005 and on January 17, 2006 she was promoted to a Quality Engineer position here at FPC. Additionally, Felicia became certified as a Black Belt through the Midway sponsored program. Felicia’s commitment and dedication are very evident to all who work with her. She has been an asset to Findlay Products and we’d like to thank her for all that she’s done for us.

We would also like to recognize all of the Team Members that have 10 years of service and thank them for their time, service, hard work and dedication to our success. A catered dinner was enjoyed by the following; Gary Nims, Felicia Briggs, Mike Conkle, Roger Yenour, Allen Straight, Jane Myers, Deb Oberle, Jess Welch, Mike Bucher, Karen Bailey, Larry Breece, Pam Stock, Duane Risner, Louis Bonifas, Betty Saldusky, Annie Risner, Steve Holman, George Behney, Patrick Kroetz, Mark Zeiger, Chris Everett, Lee Burlile, Mike Spargo, Rick Lange, Troy Harshman, Toby Holman, Janet DeVries, Thom Strnad, Jayanne Ervin, Kevin Donaldson and Aaron Weinandy.

FPC thanks all of their Team Members for their support and dedication.

On May 9, 2007, MPG welcomed Ronald Hughes to speak about the automotive applications of advanced high strength steel (AHSS). Hughes, Manager of Advanced Engineering and Product Development at SeverStal North America, spoke to an audience of about 40 MPG employees including upper management, product engineers, tooling engineers, design engineers, material buyers and the sales team. The presentation addressed the vigorous steel industry and the decreasing steel supply base offering AHSS solutions for automotive applications.

Ronald once served as Chairman of the Weight Reduction Task Force of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). He has also been a participant in the UltraLight Steel Auto Body (USLAB), UltraLight Steel Auto Closures (ULSAC), UltraLight Steel Auto Body-Advanced Vehicle Concepts (ULSAB-AVC) and UltraLight Steel Auto Suspension (ULSAS) Consortia. Ron currently participates in AutoSteel Partnerships, International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) World Auto Steel and with the AISI-Automotive Applications Committee.

Hughes received his Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering combined with a Master of Science Degree from the Ohio State University as a Ford Foundation Fellow. Ronald’s previous employment includes coated steel research and development for Rouge Steel Company, for Armco Steel, as well as with Ford Motor Company in Vehicle Materials Development and Planning in Car Engineering.

Mr. Hughes presentation is hopefully the first of many. MPG recognizes that we are in partnership with our suppliers and our customers, and they can be our best resources.

Progressive Stamping, Inc. (PSI) continues to improve the subframe weld and assembly process, as well as the related systems, after what was to be considered a very successful launch.

Customer satisfaction remains the top priority at PSI. The two primary ingredients for Customer satisfaction for the subframes, are the weld and dimensional quality. The PSI Team performs daily verification for over 500 welds. This process is achieved with the use of microscopic photography and image retention equipment. These aids assist in verifying the depth, span and weld penetration, on a sample that has been sectioned from an assembly, and prepared with an acid etch. This strive towards perfection, makes us feel good about the safety of the driver and passengers of the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX. The dimensional quality of the subframes remains a focused effort, to assure the Customer assembly and the Consumer satisfaction. Each attachment point must be dimensionally precise, so that the vehicle handles properly, while delivering a smooth and quiet ride. Most of the significant characteristics have a tolerance, which is less than the width of a dime. The dimensional verification of these characteristics is 100% guaranteed, with the use of variable data vision inspection unit, which is capable of measurements within 0.02mm. The Tool Engineers and Quality personnel receive constant remote feedback of the data, which allows them to refine the fixtures and tools to assure the highest quality part.