And the Silver Crescent goes to...
Manufacturing excellence awards go to some of SC's top manufacturing operations.
By John Temple Ligon temple@thecolumbiastar.com

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham gives the keynote address.

The Silver Crescent Foundation and the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership held their annual luncheon to award the Silver Crescent for Manufacturing Excellence to some of the state's top manufacturing operations. The Salute to Manufacturing had been held for 12 years in Greenville but was held in Columbia for the first time on Monday, May 9, at the convention center on Lincoln Street.

The keynote speaker was U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. He reminded the full- house audience of South Carolina's 17 percent work force portion in manufacturing and the opportunities to build wealth through manufacturing.

South Carolina is particularly opportune for export with three major ports in Charleston, Savannah, and soon in Jasper County, the joint- venture port project being developed with the State of Georgia.

Among the audience of 500, there was fresh discussion of the new program in supply chain management at USC's Moore School of Business. One of the secrets of efficient manufacturing is the efficient and timely supply of parts and raw materials.

Fairforest Elementary's Anisa Snipes was a first place winner of the Student Design Challenge. She is pictured with her teacher Teresa Cheser and Congressman Joe Wilson.

The three recipients of the Silver Crescent Award were Floralife, Inc., BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems, Inc., and Milliken and Company.

Floralite was awarded in the Small Manufacturer category. U.S. Representative Gresham Barrett presented BorgWarner its award in the Medium Manufacturing designation. And Milliken's award was in the Large Manufacturer category.

"These companies represent the best of the best in South Carolina," said Gary Foster, president of Automation Engineering Corporation and chairman of the Silver Crescent Foundation. "All of these companies play vital roles in the communities where they do business, providing valuable jobs, contributing to the tax base, and giving back to their communities by supporting charities and mentoring young people. They are positive reminders of why manufacturing is still the cornerstone of South Carolina's economy and we salute their ongoing success."

Richard Kyzer (l), director of government relations for Santee Cooper, presents Richard Dillard of Milliken and Company the Large Manufacturer Silver Crescent Award.

In addition to the Silver Crescent Awards, winners of the 2008 Student Design Challenge were recognized and presented awards by U.S. Representative Joe Wilson and S.C. Superintendent of Education Jim Rex. Anisa Snipes, a fifth grader from Fairforest Elementary School in Spartanburg, was the elementary school recipient. Viral Desai, a seventh grader from Fairforest Middle, also in Spartanburg, took top honors for the middle school category. And Jennifer Fortner, a sophomore at Byrnes High School in Duncan, won for the best design by a high school student.

The 2009 awards luncheon will be held in Florence at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing Technology.

The South Carolina Silver Crescent for Manufacturing Excellence