Editor’s note: Welcome to So That Happened, our editors’ takes on things going on in the manufacturing world that deserve some extra attention. This will appear regularly in the Member’s Only section of the site.
Reshoring in Action
We’ve read some big headline numbers in recent years when it comes to the reshoring to North America of manufacturing capacity and the supply chains that feed production plants. And we’ve heard many executives speak rather opaquely about “realignment” initiatives or longer-term plans to reshape their global footprints.
12 Students Selected for STEM Scholarship
Partnering with global nonprofit FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), automated solutions company Dematic has announced the 2024 winners of the Dematic FIRST Scholarship program. 12 scholarship recipients were selected based on academic excellence and their dedication to pursuing a future career in STEM.
“This year's Dematic FIRST scholarship winners are truly exceptional,” says President of Dematic and Executive Board Member of KION Group Mike Larsson. “The skills and experiences they’ve gained through the FIRST program will propel them not only to successful careers in STEM, but also to becoming future leaders. The high caliber of this year’s applicants highlights our need for continued investment in STEM education. By empowering these future leaders, we're paving the way for the next generation.”
Lily Hoopes from Bonney Lake, Washington, and Aman Amjad from Brookfield, Wisconsin, were both awarded $5,000. 10 students were awarded $1,000 scholarships:
- Blake Bollow
- Noelle Bryan
- Casey Bushey
- Allie Cadenhead
- Rafael Calderon
- Adriana Cruz
- Jason Elisei
- Bill Giang
- Hendrik Sorensen
- Adam Thai
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must have previously participated in a FIRST Robotics Competition or FIRST Tech Challenge. Applicants were also required to provide their transcripts, a letter of recommendation and an essay about a future with human and machine interactions in the warehouse.
“Being awarded the Dematic FIRST Scholarship is an incredible honor as I advance my education at Georgia Tech and embark on my career,” says Amjad. “Participating in FIRST during high school ignited my passion for STEM, and I’m grateful to Dematic for supporting my studies. FIRST and Dematic encourage students to explore real-world careers through teamwork, education and robotics.”
—Anna Smith
Eaton Announces Next CEO 10 Months Early
When it comes to leadership transition, Eaton Corp. is planning ahead. The $23.2 billion power management company on Aug. 12 announced that Paulo Ruiz will be appointed CEO in approximately 10 months upon the retirement of Craig Arnold.
Arnold, who has been the chairman and CEO since June 2016, will step down May 31 after reaching the manufacturer’s mandatory retirement age of 65.
Meanwhile, in an interim step, Ruiz, who has been president and COO of Eaton’s industrial sector since July 2022, has been named president and COO of Eaton effective Sept. 2. He will also join the board of directors on that date. Additionally, he will continue to oversee the industrial sector during the transition, the company said.
Before joining Eaton in 2019, Ruiz held a variety of positions within Siemens.
—Jill Jusko
Kellanova, We Hardly Knew You
That didn’t take long.
Have you heard of the name Kellanova? The spinoff from WK Kellogg Co. collected all of its non-breakfast-cereal brands into one location – big names including Pop Tarts, Eggo, Pringles, Cheez-It and (for some reason its non-cereal) Rice Krispies Treats.
It’s been around for less than a year, spinning off from Kellogg last September. It debuted at 107 on the 2024 Industry U.S. 500 list of the country’s largest manufacturers. WK Kellogg, where most of the cereal brands remain, was No. 363.
Well, don’t bother learning the name. Perhaps adding nova to the Kellogg name was a sign that it would flash brightly and disappear. On Wednesday, privately held Mars Inc., makers of Snickers, M&Ms, Whiskers cat food and Tasty Bite brands, agreed to buy Kellanova for $35.9 billion.
“We have a substantial opportunity for Mars to further develop a sustainable snacking business that is fit for the future,” Mars CEO Paul Weihrauch said. “We will honor the heritage and innovation [emphasis added] behind Kellanova’s incredible snacking and food brands while combining our respective strengths to deliver more choice and innovation to consumers and customers.”
Sure, Kellogg’s is a foundational American brand with more than a century or history and roots tracing back to 19th Century health food craze/abstinence movement. Kellanova, in its storied 11 months in existence gave the world the Pop Tart Party Pastry, a $60 toaster pastry designed to serve 73 people.
Mars explained its purchase by saying that adding Cheez-It and Coco Pops to its lineup “advances [its] strategic vision for the future of snacking.”
—Robert Schoenberger
