May 09, 2011
By Dawn Kent -- The Birmingham News
News file/Linda Stelter - Hyundai's Montgomery auto plant was named the Large Manufacturer of the Year.
Hyundai's Alabama auto plant in Montgomery, a cement maker in Calera and a chemical firm in Florence have been awarded state Manufacturer of the Year Awards for 2011.
The Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Technology Network presented the awards Monday at a luncheon in Montgomery.
Hyundai was recognized in the large manufacturer category of 400 or more employees. The Korean automaker, which opened its Montgomery factory in 2005, surpassed its annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles for the first time last year.
The plant's 2,500-plus employees have been working overtime to meet surging demand for its products, the Sonata sedan and the Elantra compact sedan.
Lafarge North America of Calera was recognized in the medium manufacturer category. The cement manufacturing facility employs 195 people and holds nearly 25 percent of the market share in Alabama, with an annual capacity of 1.5 million tons.
And the small manufacturer tapped for the award was Applied Chemical Technology of Florence. The firm develops chemical processes and equipment that is used in the fertilizer industry, pharmaceuticals, rocket and space fuels and biomass.
Also today, auto supplier Electricfil Corp. of Elkmont received the Sustainability in Manufacturing Leadership Award. The award is presented to a company that is committed to reducing wastes, lowering energy intensity and improving sustainability.