BOZEMAN, Mont. – Seven companies in the Gallatin Valley celebrated Manufacturing Day by offering tours of the facilities where products are made.
Simms Fishing Products is located in Four Corners and offered tours to the public to walk people through the process of making fishing waders.
“It is very innovative, very clean, and really a fun place to work,” said Director of Employees Diane Bristol.
The process is complicated and takes many hands. While one employee is cutting templates, dozens of others are sewing fabric together to make sure the waterproof design is done correctly.
“So for us, finding people, finding the right people and retaining them is really, really critical,” said Bristol.
Simms employs 170 employees from around the Gallatin Valley. Bristol said what makes Simms products a success is the relationship with the community and other companies, including the tech industry.
“Without each other and without a team, we would be a lone manufacturer trying to draw people in. And when we collaborate with others then it makes it a bigger voice for sure,” said Bristol.
On the other side of town, another manufacturer, West Paw, is typically know for their dog toys. The company’s dog toys start as a dust-like substance. It is then transferred into a machine which heats the substance into a liquid, presses it into a mold, dropped into ice cold water. The result, a dog chew toy.
West Paw also makes dog beds and leashes. Training Manager Nikki Dixon-Foley said it is not just about making a great product but also giving back to the community.
“Make sure that we are contributing to the wellness of the community. Everything from dog park to our staff volunteering time all across the Gallatin Valley,” said Dixon-Foley.
It is that community spirit that keeps these companies up and running while they thrive to grow and serve even more customers.
