PurePOWER Technologies, LLC, a Navistar company, was recently honored with the prestigious Innovators Award from the Southern Growth Policies Board. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell presented PurePOWER Technologies' Blythewood plant manager Greg Butler the award at Southern Growth's 2011 Chairman's Conference on June 13.
The Innovator Awards are presented annually to one organization in each of Southern Growth’s 13 member states in recognition of initiatives and organizations that are improving economic opportunities and quality of life in the region. The 2011 Innovator Awards recognize private sector businesses in the South that have achieved success through the adoption of innovative manufacturing practices.
PurePOWER Technologies received the award for being vertically integrated, combining research and development, engineering and manufacturing in their organization as well as being environmentally friendly. The ability to coordinate and consolidate all this expertise results in unsurpassed technological solutions for their customers. This year PurePOWER plans 13 new products, which will expand both their production and design operations and result in more job opportunities. This expansion has not been without challenges for PurePOWER as the labor market for well qualified technicians and engineers is tight. To meet the challenges, they have developed relationships with Clemson University and the University of South Carolina to recruit engineers and are starting a Diesel Technology Program modeled after a successful program in Chicago with a local high school.
“PurePOWER is dedicated to always being on the cutting edge of technology and innovation, which allows us to gain and maintain a skilled workforce with the know-how and enthusiasm to take us into the future. We look forward to being part of the South Carolina business community for a long time to come,” says PurePOWER Technologies President, Houman Kashanipour.
PurePOWER is aggressive in seeking out partnerships that benefit their business, such as using Incumbent Worker Training funds, made available to employers through the Workforce Investment Act to train their existing workforce on new technology.
