Duo Form has been named Michigan Manufacturer of the Year for 2022 by the Michigan Manufacturers Association. The company won a Manufacturing Excellence Award in the Large Tier category.
The MMA honored the winners of the 2022 MFG Excellence Awards during a celebration Thursday, Nov. 10, in Lansing. The MFG Excellence Awards is the annual statewide celebration of the exceptional contributions that Michigan manufacturers make to their workforce, their communities, the economy and the industry. The program promotes the inspiring stories of Michigan’s manufacturing industry, the thousands of unique manufacturing companies across the state, the hundreds of thousands of Michiganders employed in the industry and the local communities that support it.
Duo Form, an ISO 9001:2015 certified heavy gauge plastic thermoformer, is a leader in producing materials for OEMs in the RV industry, with its thermoformed products used in a variety of products, including skylights, bath and RV lifestyle items.
Last year, Duo expanded its RV parts offering to the ever‐growing RV aftermarket and has launched more than a dozen products designed and developed especially for existing RV owners wanting to repair and rehab or update and modernize their existing RV.
“We would not have won this award without the help of our entire DUO team, from production floor to mid‐level and senior management,” said Shelly Ditmer, Duo Form’s president. “We have reinvented the way we think about employee culture and engagement. Our focus on the DUO culture has resulted in increased productivity and effectiveness through the creation of a Culture Task Force and a DUO Safety Team.”
Added Mike Gonser, Duo Form vice president of operations: “When COVID hit, we would not have turned around a superior face shield in 48 hours without a strong teamwork mentality. We have a strong team at DUO and I’m so proud to bring this award back for all of our employees. Our staff has remained flexible and reactive from the beginning of COVID until now, as we continue to innovate, grow, and develop new products and product lines. This award solidifies to us that we are on the right path and reinforces our desire to continue to grow through automation, innovation, and simple ingenuity.”
“It’s a major honor to receive the 2022 Manufacturing Excellence Award,” said Ditmer, “and we are proud to represent Southwestern Lower Michigan and celebrates this recognition to Michigan’s workforce, communities, and economy. At the same time, we would like to congratulate all of our fellow nominees and winners, we are truly humbled to be honored with other amazing companies, all of who were equally deserving.”