After 22 states, the AEM Manufacturing Express Tour concluded in Wisconsin. Having launched on July 1, in Knoxville, Iowa, the tour set out on wheels to celebrate the 2.3 million people of the U.S. equipment manufacturing industry and highlighting their role in building the tools and equipment construction professionals utilize every day - as well as the agricultural pros feeding the world. A celebration, if you will, for the employees and their families.
In all, the AEM Manufacturing Express stopped at 80 equipment manufacturers across the Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic. The final stops in Wisconsin, home to AEM’s headquarters, brought the four-month long tour to a celebratory close as manufacturing workers, elected officials, and industry leaders gathered to celebrate equipment manufacturers’ impact on the communities where they live and work. The final week brought them to facilities for CASE-CNH Industrial (Racine), Wacker Neuson (Menomonee Falls), Super Products LLC (Mukwonago), and HUSCO (Waukesha). At completion, the tour will have gone over 10,000 miles in over 20 states.
At the Wacker Neuson manufacturing facility in Menomonee Falls, (in the greater Milwaukee area) on October 16, 2024 stop during the AEM Manufacturing Express Tour.Association of Equipment Manufacturers
“The AEM Manufacturing Express has been a unique platform to celebrate the grit and determination of the men and women of the equipment manufacturing industry,” says AEM President Megan Tanel. “As we wrap up this historic journey in Milwaukee, we are proud to have told the stories of so many individuals who help build and sustain our modern world. We look forward to finishing strong in the community where our organization is rooted.”
A Ford F-150 in a "I Make America" wrap was onsite to draw attention to the competition. The winning model will not be wrapped.IRONMARKETS | Photo by Jonathan Kozlowski
Returning to Wisconsin
“Returning to Wisconsin, the AEM Manufacturing Express is coming home to celebrate the equipment manufacturing industry and the 180,000 workers that are the backbone of the state,” said Kip Eideberg, AEM’s Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations. “This cross-country tour has demonstrated that when the equipment manufacturing industry is strong, America is strong. As we enter the final sprint to Election Day, we have a simple message for all candidates: We do not care whether there is an R or D behind your name, we want to know what you will do to support equipment manufacturing in America.”
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
While at the Wacker Neuson facility, the state's Lt. Governer Sara Rodriguez, Gert Reichetseder, president/CEO of Wacker Neuson - North America, as well as the president of AEM Megan Tanel spoke. 
Wacker Neuson focuses on operator comfort in their new excavator lineup.IRONMARKETS | Photo by Jonathan Kozlowski
"We are very happy to host the AEM Manufacturing Express today. We are also happy that so many of our employees came out here. We are in Wisconsin but the weather is still good so that's great. Let me welcome our special guest Lt. Governer Sara Rodriguez and we also welcome on behalf of all of OEM Megan Tanel, the president of AEM.
Why are we participating here on this AEM Manufacturing Express? I think it's very much important that we bring all our men and women working in the manufacturing industry to the stage and talk about what we do here because there is so many good things happening. We see this logo here 'I Make America' and Wacker Neuson is doing many things here in America. We are proud that we have been in the U.S. almost 70 years. Last year the Wacker Neuson Group celebrated 175 years and out of the 175 years of Wacker Neuson, almost 70 years we have been here in the states. I think that's also something to be very proud of.
We have a very nice faclity here which we are also expanding...There are many things which are made here in America. You can see some of the products around here. We are proud that you guys are building these products in America, for America. We are expanding on the other side of the building...we are very happy to expand our manufacturing footprint here in the U.S. - bringin excavators over here, which are going to start at the end of next year.
Thanks again to AEM for coming to us here. We are happy to host the event. You can see that we are very proud here that there is plenty of people who really make America. Thank you for coming. I am looking forward to today."
—Gert Reichetseder, president/CEO of Wacker Neuson - North America
The Wacker Neuson ST31 offers the power and torque needed for any jobsite. This unit delivers 3,100 pounds of rated operating capacity at 50% and is a class leader with lift height over 125 inches.IRONMARKETS | Photo by Jonathan Kozlowski
"Thank you all for coming out and rolling out the, should I say the yellow carpet instead of the red carpet? This is great. We love seeing all the equipment and support. We are super happy to be here in Menominee Falls celebrating with you all.
Did you know that you are part of 181,000 manufactuering jobs in this state alone that contribute $21.8 billion to our national economy. What you do is a big deal. What you do is a really big deal. You're putting money into this economy, you're putting money into this community and I'm guessing you're putting money into your families.
What you do is something to celebrate. We talk about manufacturing being the backbone of America and it truly is. Sometimes we don't give ourselves enough credit, so to put it plainly, what our members do - what you do - is you help to build, feed, and power the world.
The equipment that you're making is either helping to build infrastructure to get us to and from work, soccer practice, church, or whatever it might be, get the food that's growing on the farms to the table, and powering up the world. So, thank you. We're here to celebrate you're grit, your determination, your can-do spirit. We couldn't do it without you.
But we're also here to ask you for your help. We would love to hear your voices as we move into this election. What I am here to do is ask you to educate yourselves. Learn about pro manufacturing policies. It's those policies that keep these jobs here and help to support you and your communities."
—Megan Tanel, President of AEM
Wacker Neuson's RTxSC3 series of trench roller is available with the Compatec monitoring system, which uses a sensor located near the drums to measure the vibration level and determine how much the soil has been compacted.IRONMARKETS | Photo by Jonathan Kozlowski
The Wacker Neuson SM100 is rated at 1,000 pounds of operating capacity at 35 percent of tipping. In terms of size, the SM100 is 35.5 inches wide, compact enough to fit through a 36-inch wide gate.IRONMARKETS | Photo by Jonathan Kozlowski
"I'm thrilled to be with you here today for this incredible event to celebrate the amazing products that you build here in Menominee Falls. Megan said this, we know that manufacturing of the American economy. In Wisconsin we are proud of what we do. We work hard. We solve problems. And we buld the stuff that moves our state and our country forward.
Wisconsin is a national leader in manufacturing with nearly 9,000 manufacturing companies across the state. When people see the 'Made in Wisconsin' label, they know they are getting a quality product made by some of the best workers in the world. And that is you. The work you're doing here at Wacker Neuson is critical. Our ability to innovate and create products, tools, and services that transform how we live is essential to our national competitiveness. We must work to keep equipment manufacturing strong with continuous investment in our infrastructure and policies that promote investment, job creation, and research and development. This strengthens our resilient rural communities as well. And to advance programs to attract, train, and retrain the next generational workforce - programs like Wisconsin's Innovation Grant program, designed to help individuals gain the skills, education and training to pursue successful, family supporting careers like manufacturing. And our states youth apprenciship program, which we continue to break records in. That includes new opportunities in manufacturing. We are so proud to celebrate record high participation of our youth and registered apprenciticeship programs here in Wisconsin for a second year in a row.
From small manufacturing businesses to large production plants like [Wacker Neuson], Wisconsin's best-in-class manufacturing companies include nearly a half million Wisconsin workers and about roughly $66 billion in economic impact. You represent the best in Wisconsin manufacturing.
As we celebrate Wisconsin's proud manufacturing history, I look forward to continuing to support this critical industry and the workers that power it."
—Lt. Governer Sara Rodriguez (D-Wisconsin)
Participating equipment manufacturers include iconic companies such as AGCO Corporation, CNH Industrial, Caterpillar Inc., Cummins Inc., Deere & Company, Komatsu, Kubota, The Toro Company, Vermeer Corporation, and Volvo Group. Sponsoring companies include Trible Crown Products, DEUTZ, DuraMark Technologies, Two Rivers Marketing, Spindustry, and BAND-IT. The tour has also featured the participation of more than 100 elected officials and community leaders, who joined company employees and their families for events that included games, giveaways, food, and entertainment.
