Hutchinson, Minnesota – July 16, 2018 – Hutchinson Manufacturing proudly announces that its President Tom Daggett is being honored with the 2018 Made in Minnesota Manufacturing Awards Lifetime Achievement Award from Minnesota Business magazine. Daggett will be recognized during a Sept. 20 ceremony at the Machine Shop in Minneapolis.
“I am very honored and humbled to accept this tremendous award,” said Daggett. “I have literally spent my entire life in Minnesota’s manufacturing industry so this honor is especially meaningful. I accept it on behalf of the hundreds of dedicated Hutchinson Manufacturing and Pride Solutions employees past and present who have helped our family build several successful businesses, and also on behalf of my parents whose legacy we continue to honor.”
Tom Daggett was born into the manufacturing business. His parents “Bud” and Doris Daggett started Hutchinson Manufacturing and Sales Inc. the year he was born – 1953. The company is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2018.
By the age of 12, Tom’s father was finding work for him to do around the family’s Hutchinson metal fabricating plant. By 16, Tom had first-hand experience running many of the processes in the plant from shearing, saw, press brake and welding. Following high school, a degree from the University of Minnesota and a short stint in other employment, he came back to work in the family business as general manager in 1978, taking over as president in 1991.
Under Tom’s leadership, Hutchinson Manufacturing has grown to a multi-million company with global sales primarily in the defense, nuclear and industrial sectors. HMI has weathered multiple recessions by being cautious with debt and by becoming a full-service manufacturer offering fabrication, welding, machining and painting in one facility. What started as a mom and pop shop making clothesline poles and picnic table frames in a 2,400 square foot shop now occupies 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space and has 150+ employees.
In 2002, Tom was asked to manage a local business, May Wes, through bankruptcy. He ended up buying the aftermarket agricultural product company, recalling its grateful employees just in time for the busy harvest season. That same year, he formed Pride Solutions LLC as an umbrella company for four companies specializing in UHMW poly material: May Wes, C&A Pro performance snowmobile skis, Pride Engineered Plastics and Pride Assembly. These four collaborative businesses share a 25,000 square foot manufacturing facility and common business administration functions.
In 2010, the Daggett Companies opened NuCrane Manufacturing in Hutchinson with partner PaR Nuclear, a subsidiary of Westinghouse Electric Company. The company manufactures the operating cranes for the Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power plant.
Continuing his father’s tradition of giving back to the community, Tom has been active in the Hutchinson community serving as Chairman of the Hutchinson Area Health Care Board, Chairman of the ISD #425 Hutchinson School District, and serving on numerous task forces for local and regional development.
Hutchinson Manufacturing supports numerous organizations including the Ridgewater College Welding Advisory Board, Hutchinson School Board, MN Workforce Development Committee – Positively MN, manufacturing industry trade associations, Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association, Employers Association, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
The company also contributes to several charities including United Way, Hutchinson Community Foundation, Hutchinson Area Health Care Foundation, Boy Scouts of America and more. Hutchinson Manufacturing employees are encouraged to volunteer in the community.
Tom and his wife Barb recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. They have two children and two grandchildren. In his free time, Tom enjoys cross-country and downhill skiing, biking, fishing, and golf.
Related Glossary Terms
- sawing machine ( saw)
sawing machine ( saw)
Machine designed to use a serrated-tooth blade to cut metal or other material. Comes in a wide variety of styles but takes one of four basic forms: hacksaw (a simple, rugged machine that uses a reciprocating motion to part metal or other material); cold or circular saw (powers a circular blade that cuts structural materials); bandsaw (runs an endless band; the two basic types are cutoff and contour band machines, which cut intricate contours and shapes); and abrasive cutoff saw (similar in appearance to the cold saw, but uses an abrasive disc that rotates at high speeds rather than a blade with serrated teeth).
