Manufacturing Day events are Oct. 7 in Temple
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE
A Temple factory that specializes in custom-made hydraulic cylinders will be one of at least 10 companies to participate in the Oct. 7 Manufacturing Day Job Fair at Workforce Solutions of Central Texas.
Temple Machine Shop, which does business under the name TMS Hydraulics, has deep roots in the city.
“TMS was founded in 1980 in a 2,900-square-foot building with a dirt floor,” said Nicholas Guajardo, a human resources specialist for the company. “Today we occupy more than 46,000 square feet and employ 95 to 100 people, depending upon the time of year.”
The original Temple Machine Shop, located at 507 N. 4th, was equipped with a few lathes, milling machines and presses. The company primarily provided machining services for local farmers, small factories and building contractors, Guajardo said.
By 1986 business had grown 500 percent and the plant was doubled in size, then in 1993 the company moved to a new 28,000-square-foot plant at 1401 N. 14th. Seven years later, additions to the facility increased the size to 46,000 square feet.
“Earnings have been reinvested in state-of-the-art equipment to improve manufacturing capacity,” Guajardo said. “The company also invested in pay raises, benefits and better working conditions in order to attract and retain skilled and dedicated people.”
Today, TMS continues to manufacture hydraulic cylinders to meet a client’s needs.
“If you have a cylinder that needs to be replaced, we can make that product,” he said. “Compared to companies that mass produce hydraulic cylinders, our niche is customized orders, large or small.”
TMS cylinders fill a variety of needs and are used in agricultural machinery, construction equipment and bucket trucks used by utility companies.
TMS Hydraulics is one of five Temple companies partnering with the Temple Chamber of Commerce and Meet Temple for local Manufacturing Day activities. The other companies are MooreCo., Palladio Industries, Reynolds Consumer Products and Wilsonart.
According to Whitney Theriot, vice-president of the Temple Chamber of Commerce, 10 businesses have signed up for the Job Fair and more may sign up before the event.
In addition to the five companies that are partnering for the Job Fair, Materials Transport Co, PacTiv Evergreen, Delta Centrifugal, Lock Joint Lube and DataMars will have representatives and recruiters at the event.
“Temple College also will be there providing information about their skills and career programs,” Theriot said. “They are a great asset to the community and to local manufacturers.”
Guajardo said the decision to participate in Manufacturing Day was an easy call.
“It’s important for the community and students to know what career options are out there,” he said. “We have employees who have spent their entire career right here at Temple Machine Shop. They don’t just push buttons on machines, they do programming at each station — calibrating the equipment for various sizes of cylinders. We also do on-the-job training to teach skills and safety needed to produce a quality product.”
Guajardo said the COVID-related labor crunch seems to be in decline.
“We are having a steady stream of applicants,” he said. “It’s definitely up over the past couple years. We probably get 10 to 15 applicants per week, and three to five of those are highly qualified to do the job.”
Guajardo said the company is in good shape with welding and assembly numbers. TMS will use the Job Fair to primarily recruit Computer Numerical-Controlled machinists.
“That position is in big demand,” he said. “Filling CNC positions is a priority.”
CNC machines utilize a process in which pre-programmed computer software dictates the movement of factory tools and machinery. This process is used to run many different types of machinery, including grinders, lathes, mills and routers. This machinery cuts, drills, grinds and shapes a variety of materials.
Manufacturing Day will begin with the Job Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with top Temple manufacturing companies on hand to discuss career possibilities with local residents seeking employment.
That evening — from 5:30 to 7:30 — a free celebration in Santa Fe Plaza will feature Austin-based Texas country duo Western Express, plus treats from Kona Ice.
During the days leading up to Manufacturing Day, Temple students will be touring several manufacturing plants to learn about the many career opportunities the companies have to offer.
Manufacturing Day was created nationally in 2012 to showcase careers in industry by encouraging companies to open their doors to students, parents, teachers and community leaders.
