2016 is winding down and at HPI we are looking back at everything we accomplished this past year.

The end of the year is a time to reflect on how we have evolved over the past 12 months. Between trade shows, expanding our facility, and launching a new 3D printing service, and everything in between, Hoosier Pattern has continued to have a successful year. We are lucky enough to have a business that employs ambitious, driven and dedicated individuals who all excel at what they do. If it weren't for the HPI team, 2016 would not have been as successful of a year as it was. 

- Early in the year we announced that we had purchased a Stratasys Fortus 450MC. Throughout 2016, this printer has allowed us to print sample prototype parts, print supports to assist in machining patterns and gating with offset partings, print CMM and machining supports/fixtures and produce patterns for low volume runs. This plastic printer has been an asset in HPI's toolbox, allowing us to expand options we offer our customers. Check out what our FDM printing can do for your next project here. 

- HPI is now ITAR/EAR compliant!  With our ITAR/EAR compliance came many changes internally at HPI. We have stronger security systems in place and more in depth monitoring of who is entering/touring our facility. Being ITAR/EAR compliant will open doors for new opportunities for HPI in the future and we are looking forward to capitalizing on those opportunities. 

- HPI completed its 10,000th shop order! 10,000 jobs have left our shop and we look forward to making that number rise in 2017. 

- In 2016, HPI had 100% employee participation in giving back to community programs. As mentioned before, the HPI team is second to none. HPI is not a stranger to community involvement. This work family knows the importance of community and helping those who are struggling temporarily or just not as fortunate. Every single employee had money taken out of each check and put it back into the programs that help our neighbors, schools and town. 

- HPI has expanded the facility from 45,000 sq. feet to 80,000 sq. feet. Almost doubling HPI's footprint gives us endless possibilities.  

- HPI was awarded a Global Supply Chain SOLVE Solution Award by Emerson Process Management. Read all about that here. 

- HPI exhibited at multiple trade shows around the country including the Casting Congress in Minneapolis, RAPID in Orlando, The Turbomachinery and Pump Symposia in Houston, SEMA 2016 in Las Vegas and The PRI Show in Indianapolis. The connections made and networking that happens at these shows are always beneficial to us and we look forward to meeting up with our current and future customers at shows in 2017. 

- HPI gained 3 new journeymen! Chris Lichtle, Mark Bodnar and Ron Cox all received their journeymen certifications in early November. 

- HPI put on their very first webinar and had a very positive response. HPI strives to be an industry leader in quality and knowledge and webinars are one way to reach large audiences across the globe. We look forward to utilizing this technology again in the future.

- HPI had 3 interns this year. Seeing a younger generation interested in the manufacturing industry and what we do at our shop was exciting and a great teaching opportunity. In 2017, we are hoping to educate more and let people know that we are way more than a typical machine shop. 

In addition to all of these accomplishments, HPI turned 19 years old! For 19 years, HPI has seen continual growth in this industry and HPI plans to continue growing and only getting better. 19 years of quality workmanship and strong work ethics have brought us to this point. We could not have done this without a solid team and a great network of customers. Thank you to our customers for giving us the opportunities to be your service provider. It is our desire to keep you satisfed with our quality workmanship and commitment to your projects. You are our inspiration in doing our very best.

We look forward to working with you on your tooling and rapid prototyping projects in the future. 

See You in 2017!

At HPI, we pride ourselves on the high quality of the products that leave our shop doors. We know that to have high quality products, we need to have high quality employees. With the apprentice program, we invest money and time on our employees to turn them into highly skilled workers who have earned their spot in the workforce. Outside of the apprentice program, we do everything we can to make sure that our employees have the tools they need to do whatever job it is, whether it's in the offices working at a desk or on the shop floor setting up machines. Every employee is important at HPI and deserves to be recognized for the hard work and effort they bring to their jobs every day.

That being said, HPI reached out to the Indiana Department of Labor because we have 3 hard working men in the shop who deserve to be recognized for what they have accomplished in the patternmaking field as well as what they have done for Hoosier Pattern. Chris Lichtle, Mark Bodnar and Ron Cox have reached a high level of proficiency in the pattern making industry not just here at HPI, but at patternshops and foundrys prior to HPI. They have all shown willingness to mentor and work with younger employees, especially those going through the apprentice program. They have invested many work hours educating our up-and-coming work force. By sharing their expertise and experience, they are ensuring that future generations of patternmakers will enter their profession as highly trained and skilled Journeyman Patternmakers. 

As previously mentioned, Chris, Mark and Ron have previously worked in the patternmaking business before coming to HPI. By rights, they should have obtained their Journeyman certificiates prior to joining HPI, but it did not come to pass. This was a wrong that HPI wanted to change. 

This week, Hoosier Pattern turns 19 years old. In celebration of our 19th birthday, we were also able to present Chris, Mark and Ron with their Journeyman Patternmaker certificates. We have a great amount of pride for this company and for the people who work within it. For a great product, you need to have a great company staffed with a great team and we truly believe that Hoosier has this. Congratulations to Chris, Mark, and Ron, who have gone above and beyond multiple times for this company and are more than deserving of this achievement. 

Chris Lichtle recieving his Journeyman Patternmaker Certificate. Chris has working as a patternmaker for over 40years. He joined the HPI team in 2003.

Mark Bodnar recieving his Journeyman Patternmaker Certificate. Mark has worked as a patternmaker for over 30 years and joined HPI in 2005.

Ron Cox recieving his Journeyman Patternmaker Certificate. Ron has worked as a patternmaker for over 40 years and joined HPI in 2008. 

Happy Birthday 19th Birthday to Hoosier Pattern as a company and Congratulations to our newest Journeyman Patternmakers! You have been a vital part of what makes HPI great and we are proud to have you on our team. Speaking of our team... do you want to join it? We have a few open positions. Check them out here.