Kay County Businesses Join Efforts Cookshack partnered with two other Kay County companies in the production of the redesigned Smokette and the new pellet-fired Charbroiler. K&C Manufacturing in Newkirk provided the production of the Smokette’s control box and Tonkawa Foundry produced the heavy duty grill grates for the new Charbroiler. The partnerships were facilitated by Northwest Oklahoma’s Manufacturing Extension Agent (MEA), Johnny Thornburgh. His position is sponsored by Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) and Pioneer Technology Center (PTC). Partners and products pictured (left to right) include Kirk Brown, K&C Manufacturing owner; Johnny Thornburgh, MEA; Stuart Powell, Cookshack President; Sandy Salisbury Linton, Tonkawa Foundry, Inc. CFO; and Don Reimer, Tonkawa Foundry, Inc. Vice President of Foundry Operations; along with the Cookshack Smokette and Charbroiler. Innovation, opportunity, success, and growth are terms rarely used to describe today’s economic times. However, three Kay County manufacturers have found themselves less vulnerable to the ramifications of the nation’s economic downturn by developing local partnerships. Johnny Thornburgh, Northwest Oklahoma’s Manufacturing Extension Agent (MEA) sponsored by the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, Pioneer Technology Center (PTC), and Northern Oklahoma College, has been working with Stuart Powell, President of Cookshack, based in Ponca City, in the development of some new products. Two such products included the redesigned Cookshack Smokette and the new Cookshack Charbroiler. In working with Powell on the development of these products, and by listening to and understanding Powell’s needs, Thornburgh was able to match Cookshack product needs with local manufacturers’ capabilities. November 2007 marked the beginning of the redesign for Cookshack’s Smokette. About one year later, in October 2008, the design of the charbroiler began. Powell knew he needed better resources to produce their products. “It just so happened that I was complaining to Johnny one day [about the difficulty of finding certain product components], and he said ‘Have you thought about contacting Kirk in Newkirk to do injection molding?’ Kirk already makes some parts for us and I don’t even know why I didn’t think of calling him initially,” reflected Powell. Thornburg commented “It sometimes takes someone that can look at companies from the outside, but still have industry knowledge to know how and when to make those matches. It’s my job to help local manufacturers be better at what they do, to help them innovate, to improve their bottom line and to help them see that we want Oklahoma manufacturers to be successful.” In this account, “Kirk” is Kirk Brown, the owner of K&C Manufacturing. K&C is a machine shop located in Newkirk. The outfit is a custom tool and die maker and specializes in plastic and metal fabricated parts. K&C currently produces the control box for the Smokette with the injection molding process. “The opportunity to start a new project was great. And what made it even better is that it is on-going work for K&C. This is the second project that has been facilitated by Pioneer Technology Center, NOC, and the Alliance. It proves to me that there is value in my investment as a taxpayer,” remarked Brown. Powell followed by stating, “At Cookshack, we want to promote as much as possible that our products are ‘Made in the USA.’ When looking at the Smokette’s controller, I was told that I’d need to have it made in China. But by having the right partners locally, we are able to keep work and dollars not only in the U.S. but in Oklahoma and even Kay County.” The new Smokette was launched in January 2009 In the development of the Cookshack Charbroiler, it was important that it was equipped with heavy duty cast iron grills which distribute heat evenly, unlike some gas grills which use lightweight cast iron grates. To instill this quality in the Cookshack product, Powell was looking for a company to make custom grates for the charbroiler. That is where the partnership with Tonkawa Foundry, Inc. was developed. Tonkawa Foundry is a third generation company located in Tonkawa that specializes in iron based castings. Sandy Salisbury Linton, chief financial officer, noted, “Our customer base is spread across the nation. So, in some respects, it is nice to support other local Oklahoma manufacturers and put a project together that benefits both, the companies and the local economy.” Tonkawa Foundry has created custom grill grates for the Cookshack Charbroiler that cost the same as a standard, mass produced version. The Cookshack Charbroiler project is the first time that Cookshack and Tonkawa Foundry have partnered. On behalf of Pioneer Tech, NOC and the Alliance, Thornburgh facilitated the partnership. According to Sandy Salisbury Linton, the foundry’s Chief Financial Officer, “Johnny was the link that brought us together. Sometimes it’s hard to find partners in Oklahoma, much less Kay County. Johnny served as a liaison for us. We [manufacturers] never had anyone who seemed to care or advocate for our industry until the Alliance, NOC and Pioneer Tech partnered. Our MEAs have not only helped us [manufacturers] with engineering, safety and LEAN efforts, but know us well enough to bring Oklahoma manufacturers together to create industry leaders.” The new charbroiler was introduced in May 2009. The Cookshack Charbroiler is not only distinctive because it cooks food evenly and at the same rate no matter where placed on the grill, but it also uses “green” technology. It is the only commercial charbroiler that employs renewable energy by means of 100% wood pellets. Also, it is the only pellet-fired charbroiler on the market. “Having local partners makes it a lot easier on us to do business. If we need a part, it’s as easy as going to Newkirk” remarked Powell. “Just by calculating the time we save by using local manufacturers, we have saved over $10,000 in product development. That doesn’t even include the potential we can save on the production or even the customization we have received that will enhance our product’s quality.” “In dealing with today’s business challenges, we sometimes forget to look in our own backyard for help. It makes me proud to work with companies from around here. The more we learn about each other here the more partnerships we will continue to have.” Powell commented, “These partnerships exhibit local manufacturers working together and ultimately helping the community get through some tough economic times.” It is apparent that these partnerships are win-win; not only for Cookshack, K&C Manufacturing, and Tonkawa Foundry, but also for Ponca City, Tonkawa, and Newkirk. These partnerships are not only beneficial to Kay County, but also to Oklahoma and even ultimately our nation. For more information about the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance or these partnerships, contact Johnny Thornburgh. His office is located at Pioneer Technology Center, 2101 North Ash Street in Ponca City, or call 580-718-4328.

Posted on Monday, August 03, 2009 (Archive on Monday, September 14, 2009) Posted by ljackson  Contributed by ljackson

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