By Kip Eideberg, SEM Senior Vice President, Government & Industry Relations --
In 2024, AEM turned an ambitious idea into reality.
What if we traveled from community to community, spotlighting the people behind the equipment that builds, powers, and feeds America? What if we created a platform for manufacturing workers to share their stories in their own words?
The result was the AEM Manufacturing Express, a traveling celebration of the men and women that make up the industry – from welders to engineers.
This year, the AEM Manufacturing Express will hit the road for the third consecutive year, traveling across the Northeast and stopping at equipment manufacturing facilities in Connecticut, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Along the way, we will celebrate the people behind our industry and showcase the ripple effects of investing in American manufacturing.
Most campaigns struggle to sustain momentum, but the AEM Manufacturing Express has done the opposite. What began as a bold experiment has grown into one of AEM's most effective grassroots initiatives. Since launching in 2024, the tour has traveled thousands of miles, made more than 100 stops, and connected workers, community leaders, and lawmakers in discussions about the future of manufacturing
The reason is simple: people respond to authenticity.
No policy briefing, whitepaper, or economic report can fully capture what happens when a lawmaker or reporter walks through a manufacturing facility, meets the employees who keep it running, and sees firsthand how equipment manufacturing strengthens a local community. Every facility has a story, and the AEM Manufacturing Express is dedicated to telling those stories.
This year's Northeast tour comes at a particularly important moment. Equipment manufacturers continue to drive innovation, invest in their communities, and create family-sustaining jobs. Yet our industry also faces significant challenges, including workforce shortages and trade uncertainty. Addressing these issues requires more than conversations in Washington; it requires sharing the stories of the people whose livelihoods depend on getting policy right.
Ultimately, this tour is about building pride within our industry. At every stop, employees are reminded that what they do matters – from assembling the equipment that helps construct our roads and bridges to designing the equipment that feeds our nation.
As we begin this year's journey across the Northeast, we are reminded that the greatest strength of our industry is the people who build them. For more than two years, we have had the privilege of helping tell their stories. This year, we look forward to sharing even more of them.
The full route for the Northeast leg of the AEM Manufacturing Express is available on the tour’s official website. For additional AEM Manufacturing Express coverage, be sure to check out the AEM Industry Advisor every Monday and Thursday.
