Manufacturing Industry News

SCHAUMBURG, IL – The Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) is calling on the Illinois General Assembly to return to session as soon as possible to clarify the state’s flawed Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) that threatens business operations and jobs in our state.

​More than 30 small and midsized manufacturers joined an online briefing recently where Illinois Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse Executive Director Phil Melin explained how the BIPA threat grows daily with inaction. Delaying a response to the Illinois Supreme Court’s request for the 2008 law’s clarification is raising serious concerns within the business community as more and more companies are finding themselves being hit with exorbitant legal fees.

​More at TMANews.com - 

First conceived by TMA Board Chairman Norbert Stengel, the Foundation launched a major fund-raising drive two years later, when the late Egon Jaeggin of Numerical Precision was the TMA Board Chairman.

“It was a proud moment in my term to raise $1.3 million for the Foundation,” Jaeggin recalled in a 2016 interview with TMA News Bulletin. “I had a dream in 1989 that one day TMA would have its own tech center, and 25 years later, here we are…” referring to the current TMA headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois.

​Forty-six years later, the TMA Education Foundation continues its efforts to promote the machining industry.

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Legislative Scorecard Shows 29 Lawmakers in the Illinois House and Senate Had Perfect Scores Voting for Legislation that Impacts Manufacturing

SCHAUMBURG, IL – With the 2023 Spring Session of the Illinois General Assembly nearing a close, the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) released its annual Legislative Scorecard for 2022 which shows an encouraging growth of support for small and mid-size manufacturers among Illinois House and Senate members.

Of the votes tracked by TMA, the average scores among state senators increased from 46% to 57%, and the average scores among state representatives increased 14 points to 58%. TMA’s Legislative Scorecard tracked lawmakers’ votes on HB5412, SB157, SB208, HB5471, SB2940, and HB3296.

12 state senators scored 100%, with 15 scoring above 70%. 17 state representatives scored 100%, with 27 scoring over 70%.

For more information, see TMANews.com

SPRINGFIELD – In January 2024, Illinois employers of any size will be required to allow employees to earn up to 40 hours of paid time off per year – the most expansive PTO requirement in the nation.

The employees taking advantage of the time off will not need to give reason for their absence, such as being ill or simply taking a day off. They are asked only to provide notice “in accordance with reasonable employer standards” – a vague term that will likely be open for interpretation.

What does this mean for Illinois employees? See https://tmanews.com/illinois3rdstatepto/ tmanews.com/illinois3rdstatepto/

SCHAUMBURG – The Technology & Manufacturing Association once again hosted a Precision Machining Competition to area high schools for the purpose of encouraging high school students to learn about and consider careers in manufacturing, specifically precision machining. 
Nineteen instructors from 18 different Chicago area high schools encouraged their students to develop their machining skills as they completed challenging precision machining projects. After completion, the students’ machining projects were judged by skilled craftsmen in the industry. 
The judged projects included industry basics such as tap wrenches, punch sets, U-Blocks, drill press vises, bench blocks, small grinding vises, and offset V-Blocks. Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) projects, using a computerized manufacturing process that uses pre-programmed software and code, included CNC Milling, CNC Turning, CNC Programming on Milling and Turning, tape dispensers, and jack cubes. 

​More at https://tmanews.com/highschoolteachersmachining/ 

SCHAUMBURG, IL – The Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) gathered today for its Annual Meeting at the Mazak Midwest Technology Center in Schaumburg where they named a new Chairman for 2023, creating historical precedent within the association and industry.

Nicole Wolter, President and CEO of HM Manufacturing in Wauconda, was appointed TMA Chairman, becoming the first Latina to hold this role in the association’s 98 years and one of the only female association leaders within the industry nationwide.

​More HERE

As TMA dedicates more and more of its Schaumburg headquarters to meet TMA members’ demands for training, the TMA team is moving its networking events away from Schaumburg and to where TMA members are. 
A growing number of TMA members is meeting up with colleagues in Chicago’s south suburbs, where TMA’s Sandra Sempowicz organizes breakfasts one month and after-work brew hours the next.
More at TMANews.com