October is Flathead Manufacturing Month

Come, celebrate the breadth of quality of products made right here in the Flathead Valley. The manufacturing industry plays a substantial role in our economy and manufacturing earnings are near twice the concentration as the national average and represent the highest concentration of any industry sector, according to the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana.

This exciting, dynamic industry boasts local manufacturers in the areas of computer equipment, energy, communications, machines products, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, wood products, firearms, and food and beverage. No matter what you’re passionate about, there’s bound to be a facility tour over the next months that sparks your interest. From learning about the firearms we use for hunting and the machines used to make our smartphones, to tasting the finest honey yogurt or craft beer, Flathead Manufacturing Month is a time for parents, educators, students, media, customers, suppliers, and the entire community to enjoy all the Flathead has to offer.

Click here to view the 2019 Flathead Manufacturing Month Program of Events

See what we did in 2019 below. 2020 events will be announced in August.

Facility Tours

There are a number of manufacturers across the industry who are opening their doors during Flathead Manufacturing Month. To learn more about each tour, or to register to attend, please click on any of the listings below. Registration is required for all tours. Tours with an attendance cap are noted.

Monday, September 30
4:00 pm – Flathead Lake Brewing Co.

Tuesday, October 1
9:30am – Weyerhaeuser
11:30am – Sonju Industrial, Falcor Defense, Dracos Barrels

Wednesday, October 2
10:00am – Applied Materials Pt. 1, Birch Grove
1:00pm – Applied Materials Pt. 2, Reserve Drive
2:30pm – Converting Equipment International
4:00pm – Sacred Waters Brewing Company
5:00pm – Glacier Sun Winery/Rough Cut Cider

Thursday, October 3
9:30am – Defiance Machine
11:00am – Kalispell Kreamery
2:00pm – Kalispell Brewing Company
3:30pm – Connector Tech

Friday, October 4
9:00am – PROOF Research
11:00am – Glacier Distilling Company
1:00pm – Glacier Steel Roofing
2:00pm – Glacier Precast Concrete
3:30pm – Nomad Global Communication Solutions

Other Events

UNWIND with Mountain Meadow Herbs and the Daily Inter Lake
Tuesday, October 8  |  5:00 – 6:30pm  |  1019 Hard Rock Road, Somers.
Join us for an after-hours networking opportunity at the newly constructed Mountain Meadow Herbs, located in Somers. Mountain Meadow Herbs is a manufacturer of more than 40 proprietary blends and formulas made of fresh, pure extracts of herbs that target supporting specific organs and body systems. From mineral support with Herbal Calcium and Herbal Iron, to im-mune-boosting specific organ support, Mountain Meadow Herbs provides healing at its best.
Attend this open-house event, co-hosted with the Daily Inter Lake, to tour the manufacturing operations at the facility while enjoying small bites from the Mountain Meadow Herbs Cafe menu. Beer and wine will be available, along with the opportunity to win raffle baskets and other prizes.
Registration for this event is not required.

Thursday, October 17 Flathead Timber Tour
12:30 – 5:00pm  |  Buses depart from the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce  |  15 Depot Park, Kalispell
Wood product manufacturing is one of the oldest industries here in Montana and annually we celebrate Montana Forest Products Week with the Flathead Timber Tour. This year, join us as we tour an active harvest!

In early July this year, the Montana Department of Natural Resources awarded the winning bid for the Liger Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) Timber Sale to St. Onge Logging of Kalispell. The Liger sale is Montana’s third forest-management project to date utilizing the Good Neighbor Authority, an initiative which allows the state to manage the harvest of timber on federal lands. Liger is the first GNA project to take place on Flathead National Forest lands. The project is expected to generate approximately $376,798, which will be reinvested into future forest-management projects such as hazardous fuels reduction, forest restoration, weed spraying, and stream improvement activities.

On the Timber Tour, you will be able to see machinery in action, hear about the Good Neighbor Authority, understand operations after harvest (see graphic to left), and learn about current fuels and wildlife management efforts.

Participants will board a bus that will depart from the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and arrive back between 5:00-5:15pm. All participants must ride the bus. Please dress for the weather and wear footwear comfortable for walking on uneven dirt. Limited to 80 participants. Click here to register.

Start typing and press Enter to search