SEDC hosts Made in Seguin Manufacturing Industry Bus Tour
(Seguin) — The eyes of area high school students opened a bit wider recently as they toured a number of manufacturing facilities in Seguin. Manufacturing Day is a national event designed to showcase the modern manufacturing technology and careers found within the walls of a student’s hometown. Locally, the Seguin Economic Development Corporation (SECD) hosted its Made in Seguin Manufacturing Industry Bus Tour for area juniors and seniors from Seguin, Navarro and Marion ISDs.
Kicking off their day last Wednesday at Niagara Bottling were students from Seguin ISD. Even prior to touring the plant floor, students like Seguin High School Junior Fernando Cisneros say they were impressed by the diverse career options available at the local company.
“I haven’t been here before but now that I have experienced this, I’ve got to see how a lot of this works and how factories really work inside. I’m glad I got to experience it because it really helps me decide on what I want to do with a career I pick,” said Cisneros.
SHS Senior Gavin Rangel says walking into the company, most would think the information would be all about water. But in fact, he says he learned that the design and quality of the bottle and its cap were just as important in keeping the company competitive and environmentally responsible.
“I was surprised about how they made the bottle caps and how they made the water bottles — how they heat them up to the right temperature and form it with air and how the bottle is shaped,” said Rangel.
But perhaps what was most impressive for most students was the fact that 50 million water bottles are designed and filled each week here in Seguin.
Also coming away with some new knowledge was Rick Bough Seguin ISD director of career and technical education (CTE). Bough says, constant changes in the industry means there’s always something new to learn.
“I thought the conversation about the making of the bottles (was interesting). This is an engineering class so for them to get a grasp of that engineering process that goes into it because we think of engineering as behind a desk (job) but ultimately, this is the application of what it is they are learning. So it’s an opportunity for them to see that,” said Bough.
At the end of it all, the opportunity for the students to learn more about their community is why Bough says they continue to participate in this initiative.
“This is just a great opportunity for our students. It gives them a chance to see the manufacturing process. It also exposes them to careers that are available right here in Seguin and that’s really what we are focusing on is ‘One Heart, One Seguin’ and really showing our students you don’t have to go somewhere else to find a great job,” said Bough.
The Seguin region has nearly 7,000 manufacturing jobs. That’s more than three times the national average.
The other participating businesses in this year’s tour include Caterpillar, Ameritex, CMC Steel Texas, Hexcel, Cavco Industries, Niagara Bottling, Rave Gears, Alamo Industrial and the TX Federation for Advanced Education (TX FAME) Lone Star Chapter/Texas State Technical College.
This marks the fifth year that the SEDC has hosted The Made in Seguin Manufacturing Industry Bus Tour.
