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| Contributed photo Taking part in the TIOAS trip to Smith & Wesson in Houlton Oct. 23 are, from left, Edwina Lovely, Aline Drost, Mary Disy, Carol Doody, Doris Nadeau, Joe Sleeper and program director Neal Sleeper. Absent when photo was taken was Jeanette Searles. |
The Caribou Parks and Recreation Department’s Take it Outside Adult Series is always looking for new program ideas, and the outing the group attended on Oct. 23 fit that bill exactly.
After reaching out to Smith & Wesson plant manager Scott Allen, he graciously agreed to host the group. The business has had a presence in Houlton for many years. Though what they manufacture has changed over the years, they continue to employ a workforce that exceeds 150 employees.
Initially, Smith & Wesson manufactured and assembled handguns, but today, the company manufactures the slides for the handguns through a special process, but the primary focus is on manufacturing handcuffs.
Allen gave the group a sit-down presentation of the history of the plant and how the industry has evolved over the years. Scott has been with the company for over 20 years and has been involved with several product introductions with the company. Scott also mentioned that Aroostook County’s strong work ethic has given the business the necessary edge to compete in their industry.
Scott also gave credit to Sen. Susan Collins and Northern Maine Community College for giving Smith & Wesson the necessary tools to train and educate their workforce. Following a detailed plant tour and witnessing Smith & Wesson employees diligently assembling handcuffs, the group broke for lunch at the Elm Tree Diner.
In the afternoon, the TIOAS participants were originally scheduled to visit the U.S. Border Patrol Station, but due to some unfortunate last-minute criteria, they were informed that they would not be able to tour their Houlton station.
Searching for other ideas, they turned to Bison Pumps in Houlton. On short notice, the company willingly hosted the group and it turned out to be an awesome opportunity. Upon entering their manufacturing facility, participants’ eyes were wide open with what they saw in front of them. Bison has a niche business in that they are manufacturing old fashioned hand pumps, but to today’s demanding standards. Tour participants were give a step-by-step tour of the manufacturing process and plant.
At the conclusion of the day, participants felt educated and informed about what the Aroostook County workforce is providing to today’s demanding customers.
