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DISCOVER GLOBAL SITE LOCATION INDUSTRIES’ CHOOSE TEXAS COMMUNITIES

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Archives, Global Trade Daily, Site Selection

DISCOVER GLOBAL SITE LOCATION INDUSTRIES’ CHOOSE TEXAS COMMUNITIES

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Texas continues to add successful projects to its economic development portfolio, and Global Site Location Industries (GSLI) continues to spearhead efforts supporting businesses gearing up to expand or relocate operations.

GSLI’s Choose Texas program focuses solely on connecting these expanding or relocating businesses with Texas-specific markets that best meet their project needs and goals without the costs and hassle of traditional site locators. 

The following 11 Texas communities represent GSLI’s latest roundup of Choose Texas partners that offer companies unique opportunities for business – from competitive locations to robust infrastructure and skilled workers.

TexAmericas Center

Known for being a Top Ranked Business Facilities Location in 2021, the Texarkana region’s mixed-used industrial parks offer 3.5 million square feet and 12,000 acres of commercial and industrial property to expanding businesses. From its low operational costs, flexible facility options and access to Texas’ primary freight corridor (Interstate 30), TexAmericas Center brings 150 years of solid economic development experience to support the needs of its current and prospective tenants.

Most recently, TexAmericas Center announced efforts to combat the trucker shortage through a truck training partnership with Texarkana College. Through this partnership, space is offered to support the initiative to beef up the labor pool and continue to meet the increasing demand for drivers. Thanks to TexAmericas Center’s ideal location, students can benefit from the area’s space to practice and access multiple interstates and rail lines. 

“We have tenants who need commercial truck drivers directly or need to make sure raw materials can be brought in and shipped out for finished products,” Scott Norton, CEO and executive director of TexAmericas Center, said recently. “We want to do everything we can to support a trained workforce.”

To learn more, visit texamericascenter.com.

Dumas 

Located in the Texas panhandle, Dumas has a reputation for being one of the busiest and most historical small towns in the Lone Star State. In fact, Dumas was an essential production point for wartime products (including the largest helium deposit in the world) during World War II.

The city’s industrial park, located along the Ports to Plains International Trade Corridor, represents variety and opportunities. Current companies found in Dumas include Frito Lay Area Distribution Center, Equipment Supply Company, Inc. and Specialized Dairy Services. 

Dumas offers expanding or relocating businesses a diverse range of industries to grow among, competitive transportation access points and a proactive approach to workforce development. 

Through its partnership with Amarillo College-Moore County Campus, the city prepares the labor pool with resources relevant to industry needs. The Career Skills & Technical Training Center offers custom-based training to further develop skills needed to support growing businesses. Most recently, Dumas Economic Development Corporation worked with Beach Coders Academy to create a program specifically designed for web development skills and certification.

To learn more, visit dumasedc.org.

Laredo

Best known for its globally-minded business climate, Laredo is home to the No. 1 inland port along the U.S.-Mexico border, Port Laredo. The diverse city is about 150 miles from San Antonio and two hours from Monterrey, Mexico. Laredo represents the third position among the nation’s top five ports, after the Port of Los Angeles (No. 1) and runner-up Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

In terms of international trade, Port Laredo reported $205.88 billion of total global trade last year alone. Mexico, China and Japan are recognized as the top three trading partners of the city, with motor vehicle parts, gasoline/other fuels and diesel engines among top exports and motor vehicle parts, passenger vehicles and tractors among top imports. 

There is an alphabet of transportation options for businesses located in Laredo. From air, water, highways, motor freight, rail, bus, parcel services and trade handling services, the options are equally efficient as they are competitive. 

To learn more, visit laredoedc.org.

Sulphur Springs

Heading northeast, Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County offers a unique blend of small-town history and thriving business environment. The city is located just outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region along Interstate 30. The name Sulphur Springs is self-explanatory of the city’s history. Among the city gems still found there is the city courthouse, originally built in 1895, adding to the area’s traditional flair.

Looking at the business side of things, Sulphur Springs offers a robust and diverse industry presence with companies including Ocean Spray, We Pack Logistics, Aero Space Aluminum and B.E.F. Foods. The city’s advantageous transportation options offer businesses short and main line rail, air and NAFTA corridor access via Interstate 30. Did we mention the city’s municipal airport was named airport of the year? 

Additionally, Sulphur Springs is known for its outstanding academic reputation, bragging state recognition every year since 1999, and preparing its workforce via the Sulphur Springs Higher Education Center. It is clear there is nothing “small” when it comes to doing business there. 

To learn more, visit ss-edc.com.

Lancaster

The “Shining Star of Texas” lives up to its name, particularly when talking business. In 2020, Lancaster took the No. 1 position on Dallas Business Journal’s list of highest value deals by Economic Development Agencies, with an impressive $1.41 billion secured. 

Expanding and relocating businesses can benefit from the city’s competitive job investment consisting of 1,000 jobs by 2023 offering wages between $30,000 and $76,000. Location is everything when deciding on where to grow your company, and Lancaster provides ideal access to rail and multiple interstates within a three-mile radius (including IH20, IH35E and IH45) in addition to Lancaster Regional Airport, Dallas Love Field and DFW International Airport all within a 35-minute drive or less. 

Distribution and manufacturing are two driving forces behind the city’s economy with opportunity for artificial intelligence companies, cold storage, food processing & manufacturing and motor vehicle parts. Among Lancaster’s top employers are AT&T, Quaker Oats, Brasscraft, Oncor, LGS Technologies and DSV Logistics. 

To learn more, visit lancaster-tx.com.

Andrews

If you have ever wondered what a successful micropolitan region looks like, the City of Andrews is one of the best examples. Known for being among the fastest-growing micropolitan areas in the state, Andrews was recognized as the fastest-growing county in the nation between 2010 and 2015.

Business development is supported several ways, one of which focuses on advanced training and postsecondary education opportunities through the Andrews Business & Technology Center. A result of a partnership between Odessa College, University of Texas Permian Basin, College of the Southwest and the city and county governments of Andrews, this training center is a prime example of how the area commits to preparing its workers.

The small-but-mighty community is home to companies looking for long-term options. Andrews has been the home of The Kirby Co. since 1972 and currently employs 162 workers. Advance Cooling Towers is another example of longevity in the area, with 20 years of business in Andrews. Salazar Service & Trucking Corp. has more than two decades of business in Andrews while Chemical Service Co., which was originally established in 1967, expanded operations in 2014, adding 15 new jobs over five years.

To learn more, visit andrewstxedc.com

Crockett

Known for being the county seat of the oldest county in the state of Texas (Houston County), Crockett is between Tyler and Houston, east of Waco. Incorporated in 1837 and named after legendary folk hero Davy Crockett, the City of Crockett embodies small-town culture, big business opportunity and a collaborative approach to development. 

Industrial manufacturing is one of the primary economic drivers in Crockett. Among companies currently found there are Elastotech, Quantex, Alloy Polymers and Vulcraft. 

Thanks to the town’s advantageous location, Crockett provides a multimodal transportation channel via: the Union Pacific freight rail; Highways 7, 21, 19 and 287; and DFW International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Crockett Municipal Airport.

To learn more, visit crockettedc.org.

Harlingen

Located in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, Harlingen is known for its diverse business portfolio and highly competitive access to international markets. In fact, the Port of Harlingen generates $1 billion in economic activity via import and export activity alone.

And we must point out the robust infrastructure available for businesses. Multiple telecommunications and fiber optic services, 15 electricity providers, natural gas & propane, and high-quality water/sewer make a critical difference for businesses located here.

The city consists of 3,545 establishments and a labor force of 33,482. Among top employers, those in education, healthcare, technology and manufacturing take the lead in Harlingen. Companies such as L&F Distributors, Valley Baptist Medical Center, Penn Aluminum International LLC and United Launch Alliance are all found there.

To learn more, visit harlingenedc.com.

Sunnyvale

Known for offering expanding and relocating companies a “business climate that shines,” Sunnyvale is east of Dallas, slightly northeast of Mesquite and within the DFW market, approximately 36 miles from DFW International Airport. 

Manufacturing, warehouse & distribution and healthcare sectors can all be found in Sunnyvale, with other sectors sprinkled in. Healthcare and social services, construction, administrative and support services and retail are the leading industries. Among the city’s major employers are Texas Regional Medical Center, Dal-Tile and FedEx Distribution. 

Sunnyvale’s labor force stands at 4,828 employees among 484 establishments

To learn more, visit townofsunnyvale.us.

Clyde

If you have not already caught on to the vast number of small towns driving business in Texas, the City of Clyde should do just that. This small and highly charming town started with the building of a log cabin sometime around 1876 before people from Fort Worth would become the first to officially settle in Clyde.

A mix of public-private employers make up the business roster. A unique aspect of the city is that it is the opposite of what one would find in an unpredictable business environment. This city takes pride in the stability of its major employers and a quality of life-focused approach to business development.

Air, highway and rail access provide ideal logistics for companies seeking immediate access to multiple transportation options. Additionally, Clyde’s workforce and low operating costs support businesses looking for a competitive edge.

To learn more, visit clyde-tx.gov.

Paris 

Last, but certainly not least, is the City of Paris, a.k.a. “The Best Small Town in Texas.” Paris is where one can find that classic small town feel without compromising opportunities for business. 

Healthcare leads the industries in this town, with Paris Regional Medical Center and multiple outpatient facilities. The town’s 200-acre industrial park is another significant asset, offering several shovel-ready options. 

Served by the Kiamichi Short Line Railroad Co. and the host of Cox Field, Paris offers a variety of competitive transportation options, including multiple motor freight carriers. Looking for competitive wages and a skilled industrial labor shed? Paris has those, too.

To learn more, visit parisedc.com.

Security
Archives, Global Trade Daily, Software

An Exploration of Emerging Technologies for Facility Security

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Safety is a critical consideration for any workplace. Every business is subject to some amount of risk, and without proper precautions, companies could endanger employees or hinder their focus. While workplace safety isn’t a new concern, it is particularly prominent at the moment.

A 2020 poll revealed that only 65% of American workers feel completely satisfied with their physical safety at work. That figure is down 74% from the previous year and the lowest it’s been since 2001. Facilities must become more secure, and thankfully, new technologies provide a way forward.

While cybersecurity may get more press in conversations about security technology, recent advancements have pushed physical safety further, too. Here’s a closer look at some of the emerging technologies for facility security.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most disruptive technologies across industries today. As of 2020, 50% of surveyed companies had implemented AI. While its most popular use cases are in optimizing business processes or automating routine tasks, it has significant potential in security.

Machine vision algorithms can scan CCTV footage to recognize when someone is carrying a weapon. They can then instantly alert security staff or other employees, enabling quick, effective action. Since AI typically works far faster than manual processes, its speed could potentially save lives.

Similarly, AI could analyze audio signals to detect nearby threats. Studies suggest that people report only 20% of heard gunfire, mostly from being unsure of the noise’s source. AI could recognize these threats faster and more accurately, leading to timelier warnings and emergency calls.

IoT

Another emerging technology that has seen use cases far beyond security is the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT sensors’ ability to gather and send information in real-time makes them an indispensable facility safety tool. These sensors can virtually extend security staff’s reach, letting them monitor areas without traveling to them.

Even implementing IoT connectivity in everyday objects can improve facility security. For example, IoT-connected smoke detectors could send alerts to employees’ phones when they detect a fire in the building. These devices could then connect to a facility’s smart locks, opening safe passages while blocking compromised areas.

IoT connectivity can also improve workplace safety through predictive maintenance. These systems can make predictions about needed upkeep 20% faster and with higher accuracy than traditional means. Facilities can use this to keep gates and other security systems in optimal condition.

Drones

Compared to AI and the IoT, drone technology hasn’t experienced widespread adoption among businesses. Most commercial applications are in research, but they’re seeing increasing use as security tools, too. Like IoT sensors, drones let security teams monitor areas remotely, with the added advantage of omnidirectional mobility.

Facilities can use drones to get a bird’s-eye view of the property, potentially spotting things they may otherwise miss. Drones’ maneuverability can give teams access to areas that would be inconvenient or unsafe for workers to reach, too. Since flying is faster than walking, they make surveying a facility more efficient as well as more thorough.

Autonomous Robots

Some facilities have moved beyond remote-controlled drones to implement autonomous security robots. While these solutions carry higher upfront costs than traditional drones, they push their productivity benefits further. Without the need to control a robot, security teams can focus on other duties as these machines patrol, accomplishing more without extra staff.

Autonomous security robots may sound like a distant goal, but they’re already in use. LaGuardia Airport deployed robotic security guards in 2018, becoming the first major American airport to do so.

Security robots often feature capabilities beyond recording footage and sensing potential threats. Some have built-in facial recognition technology to identify known or wanted criminals, alerting security staff when they find them. Others can communicate with employees or visitors to help them navigate safely through the facility.

Disguised Barriers

Not every emerging security technology is as eye-catching as a robot, and sometimes, that’s by design. Such is the case with disguised barriers, which look like ordinary furnishings but protect buildings from vehicle-related accidents. These solutions keep employees, property and visitors safe without compromising a business’s curb appeal.

New technologies let companies construct robust protective barriers in unassuming shapes and sizes. As a result, a structure that looks like an ordinary flower planter can stop a 7.5 metric ton vehicle moving at 40 mph. The strength of these barriers ensures everyone inside is safe, while their design improves morale and attracts customers.

Traditional crash barriers may appear intimidating or overly industrial. These structures could drive customers away or make the workplace feel less comfortable, lowering morale. Disguised barriers remove these negative side effects while maintaining protection.

Innovative Materials

Novel construction materials are one of the innovations behind disguised barriers, but that’s not their only use case. Newly discovered or lab-grown materials can offer far more strength in a lighter or more flexible package. For example, graphene is so strong that if it coated a spider’s web, it could catch a falling plane without breaking.

These materials vastly improve the resilience of gates, barriers and other protective measures. Similarly, flexible options like graphene can form protective clothing for security guards or other workers who may encounter physical hazards. As research in this area continues, materials will keep getting stronger and lighter simultaneously.

Biometrics

Biometric security isn’t necessarily new, but new technologies are pushing it forward. Fingerprint scanners have become far more affordable and reliable than they used to be, letting many facilities replace outdated keycard systems. Physical biometrics themselves are no longer the peak of access security as behavioral biometrics gains traction.

Biometrics identify patterns in human behavior to distinguish between people. While most of these systems analyze computer use patterns like keystrokes, some can measure physical behaviors like someone’s gait or speech. These actions are harder for someone to fake, protecting restricted access areas from fraud.

Behavioral biometrics hasn’t seen much use in physical security yet, but as technology develops, it could. These systems can bolster traditional methods like passcodes and keycards to maintain a high bar for security.

New Technology Can Make Facilities More Secure

Every workplace has hazards, whether people realize it or not. As criminals’ methods become more sophisticated, so too must the security systems that stop them. These new technologies represent the latest in safety innovation.

Many of these technologies are still in their early stages, but they’re growing quickly. Before long, they could define modern security, making workplaces safer in the face of rising threats.

manufacturing facility
Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily

Manufacturing Facility Tours as Excellent Marketing Tools

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Whether you organize them for customers or investors, company tours can be an excellent way to showcase your professionalism and establish a bond with your audience. Many business owners understand that now, gladly giving tours to all interested parties. However, even when they do, one area tends to often be avoided or overlooked — the manufacturing facility.

Now, that’s not too surprising. After all, manufacturing facilities are noisy, large, and these tours take lots of planning and preparation. Still, there is much to be gained from taking your investors and customers to your manufacturing facility. Let’s take a closer look.

How Manufacturing Facility Tours Work As Marketing Tools

It may come to you as a surprise to hear that most suppliers, customers, and investors appreciate manufacturing facility tours. They present a unique opportunity to see where your products are made, what the process looks like, and how you handle everything. In a way, touring your manufacturing facility can make your audience feel like they know and understand you better.

And do you know what marketing is all about? Well, building relationships and a sense of familiarity with the audience. Your manufacturing facility tour would serve this exact purpose, proving to be one of the best marketing tools at your disposal.

Just think about it — do you prefer to invest in or buy products that come from a source you know or to have faith in something you understand nothing about? Most people, probably including you, would agree with the former. The same goes for your investors, customers, and suppliers — they want to feel like they can trust you.

On top of that, a clean and efficient manufacturing facility can greatly improve your audience’s impression of your company. Investors will be more willing to invest when they see their money is going into something worthwhile. Similarly, customers will be more likely to stay loyal if they know you have nothing to hide.

What’s more, a successful tour itself is sure to be impressive. After all, if you manage to present and explain everything even in such a busy, noisy environment, you’ll prove that you’re professional and resourceful.

How to Organize a Tour in Your Manufacturing Facility

Now that you see the benefits of giving a tour of your manufacturing facility, the question is only how to successfully organize it. As we said, that’s not at all simple — all the noise in the factory is sure to make it more difficult to talk. Still, there are ways to overcome these problems and organize an excellent tour. And here is what they are:

Use a High Noise Headset

When touring a noisy manufacturing facility, you have only one option — to shout and hope everyone hears you. That, of course, isn’t the best solution since those members of the group who stand further away are almost guaranteed not to understand anything. Yet, for a long time, it seemed that there was no other way.

Things have changed now, though. Now you can get high noise headsets for your tours and hand them out before you enter the facility. Thanks to these, even when you speak in your normal voice, everyone in the group will hear you clearly.

Unsurprisingly, that already drastically improves the experience. First of all, you won’t have to shout and strain your voice, which will help you sound more confident and collected. Instead of worrying if people can hear you, simply speak as you practiced, and you’ll surely get your point across.

What’s more, your audience won’t have to strain to hear or fight for a spot closest to you. Instead, they can comfortably spread out and still listen to you speak. Thanks to the noise-canceling features of the headsets, they will surely hear your every word.

Don’t Restrict Your Audience’s Movements Entirely

Of course, letting the tour participants wander wherever they want is out of the question. Some areas are out of bounds, and that’s perfectly fine. However, you should allow them at least some degree of freedom to look around or even touch things. That way, they’ll stay interested in your presentation longer and remember it better.

So, before you start the tour, tell them where they can and can’t go and what they can and can’t touch. Then you can do your tour in peace as you walk around, without fear that someone will get hurt or break something.

Don’t Promote Your Brand Too Much

Your tour may serve as a marketing tool, but that doesn’t mean you have to promote your brand every chance you get. Such obvious advertising can be quite off-putting and may do more damage than good.

What you want to do instead is promote your company by giving interesting facts and information, and showing how things work. Explain what your business stands for and its mission, show your vision and focus on your relationships with customers and employees. That’s sure to be far more engaging and create an overall positive impression of your company.

In Conclusion

Ultimately, with a bit of work and planning, you should be able to set up a great tour for your customers and investors. Of course, a manufacturing facility tour is almost impossible to have without high noise headsets for your audience. You’ll have to provide those, but view them as an investment. After all, tours of this kind can only help elevate your company’s reputation.

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Author: Rick Farrell, President, Plant-Tours.com

Rick is North America’s foremost expert in improving manufacturing group communication, education, training and group hospitality processes. He has over 40 years of group hospitality experience, most recently serving as President of Plant-Tours.com for the last 18 years.  He has provided consulting services with the majority of Fortune 500 industrial corporations improving group communication dynamics of all types in manufacturing environments. 

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Special Reports

The Top Manufacturing Security Solutions Companies Can Implement to Protect Their People

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Despite the difficulties 2020 posed, manufacturers have worked hard to help global operations continue running efficiently. To keep up with demand, however, companies are still operating facilities where hundreds or thousands of employees are on the floor at once. Within these large, densely populated facilities, following health guidelines like social distancing becomes a frustrating exercise. While managers certainly want to protect their people, they face unique challenges in today’s environment.

Manufacturers are prioritizing holistic employee safety, and manufacturing security solutions are now available to help facility managers realize their goals of promoting workers’ health and safety. Here are three specific technologies companies are using to better protect their people.

Physical identity and access management (PIAM) solutions

Many facilities have limited the number of ingress and egress points in an effort to better manage people flow. Even with automated screening solutions, however, high-volume employee throughput events like shift changes place severe strains on processing employees. Chokepoints emerge where people congregate in long lines, increasing the risk of transmitting germs.

Increasing throughput capacity and reducing risks to employees and visitors are top priorities that automated, touchless PIAM solutions are suited to meet. For example, employees and visitors can take at-home health screening questionnaires on their mobile devices. Based on the self-assessment, healthy visitors can receive a QR code to scan for facility entry at an access control point.

Should an employee self-report feeling unwell, a system with integrated analytics can facilitate cross-department communication to resolve potential issues. For instance, the system can automatically notify a human resources department, which can take further action like providing employees with self-quarantining guidelines while helping other departments adjust as needed.

Within the facility, other systems can protect workers on the floor by regulating people inflows and outflows. People counting systems, updated in real-time as workers enter and exit the facility, provide accurate employee counts to ensure areas don’t become too congested. Video surveillance system integrations can also assist managers, should they want to to rearrange floor layouts to promote more social distancing.

Human temperature screening

Concerns about illness have raised the profile of human temperature screening (HTS) as part of a security system. HTS systems use thermographic cameras to read a subject’s skin temperature from a distance, automating significant portions of a facility’s health screening process. Integrated systems allow for elevated temperature detections to trigger notifications for further screening or automatically deny facility access. While elevated temperature alone isn’t enough to determine if an employee is sick, HTS provides another layer of support within a comprehensive worker protection plan.

Manual screening involves placing staff equipped with thermometers at every entry point — an inefficient process that an HTS system can help to automate. Each system does have its own set of use parameters to follow, including best practices on sensor placement, scanning area and subjects’ interactions with devices. Some also need additional calibration equipment, such as a blackbody — a reference point that’s heated to a specific, stable temperature within the scanning area.

Installing and integrating an HTS system has significant benefits for holistic employee safety, but facility managers have other decisions to consider as well. For example, companies need strict policies on who can access the sensitive health information these systems gather and where it’s stored. Any system must be compliant with regulatory requirements from entities like GDPR, BIPA and others. Protecting employees’ physical health is important, but so is protecting their private information.

Integrated video surveillance systems

Standalone security solutions can contribute significantly to ensuring workplace safety, but facility managers can realize more benefits through integrations with existing systems. Video surveillance systems in particular have much more to offer. Using data and analytics drawn from multiple sources, they can provide protection beyond merely theft deterrence.

For example, facility managers can leverage “heatmaps” by merging internal video surveillance data with a floor plan. Using this information, they can identify and address the “hot spots” where employees congregate or come into close contact, such as crowded break rooms. With consistent monitoring, managers can better understand whether changes like adjustments to workstations on the floor are effectively promoting more social distancing.

Video systems also help facilities save on other potential costs like workplace incident verification. Interior video surveillance can track employee behaviors like social distancing and proper use of PPE. If an employee files a compensation claim, managers can generate an auditable trail of evidence to use in proceedings. Facility managers can also use system data proactively to improve training sessions and identify opportunities to encourage behavioral changes in employees.

Manufacturing facilities keep the world moving — and shutting down is often not an option. Still, managers can use security solutions to better protect their people while their facilities remain open. With automated PIAM and screening solutions, along with existing systems integration, manufacturers can apply data-driven approaches in their efforts to ensure workplace health and safety, all while managing their operations more efficiently.

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Lance Holloway is a Senior Solutions Architect at STANLEY Security. Lance has served in the physical security industry for over 27 years. Today, he is part of STANLEY Security’s Enterprise Solutions Architect team, which focuses on research, design and workshop forums to aid customers in achieving even the most complex security goals in today’s evolving technology landscape.