Manufacturers’ Association Recognizes Leading Businesses, Founding Father Thomas Shipley at 120th Annual Event

On May 21, 2025, The Manufacturers' Association honored outstanding members and

individuals at the Association's 120th Annual Event. The event included a keynote featuring Retired Navy

Thomas Shipley was recognized posthumously as part of the Association's "hall of fame" by the

Association's Manufacturing Trailblazer Award. In 1899, Thomas Shipley took the reins of the York

Manufacturing Company and transformed the manufacturer - expanding employment tenfold in two

years and becoming the largest refrigeration manufacturer in the US, gaining 50% of the market a few

years later. The company continued to grow and evolved into iconic local companies - York

International and later, Johnson Controls. At its peak, York International employed over 20,000 people

and had an annual revenue of over $4 billion and is a critical supplier for the US Navy. As the company

grew, Thomas Shipley became very involved in the community and was a founding officer of the

Manufacturers' Association, serving first as Vice President and then as the Association's second

Joseph Machine was presented with the Manufacturer of the Year award. The family-owned company,

located in Dillsburg, York County, was founded in 1986 and builds specialized machines and automation

for the window and door industry. Joseph Machine has been in growth mode averaging 20% growth

each year for the last 15 years. A recent $13 million investment is expanding 150,000 sq/ft of their

facility. The company currently employs 119, having added 39 in the past two years with plans to reach a

total of 150 employees after full build-out. JMC sources 60 percent of its materials from over 150

The four other awards that evening included:

• The Manufacturing Innovator award went to JLS Automation, which deploys automation

systems for the food packaging industry. In 2025, the company invested 8% of revenue in R&D

to develop five new products and two new processes, including a patent-pending robotic

cartoning system and advanced into AI-powered inspection and sorting to improve food quality

grading. JLS recently won the Best in Class award at the Global Trade Show International Baking

Industry.

• The Partner of the Year award went to York County School of Technology. Since the 1960s, when

the Association worked to help open the school, the two organizations have maintained a close

relationship for over 50 years and in recent years have partnered to upskill the manufacturing

workforce and also connect new tech school graduates for hiring opportunities with the

Association's manufacturing members.

• The Community Investor award was presented to Sahd Metal Recycling, a 3rd-generation family-owned business founded in 1941 in Lancaster County and a leader in metal recycling. The company is widely known for its popular podcast "Dumpster Talks," which has amassed thousands of listeners and over 100 episodes spotlighting people, businesses, and leaders helping move industry forward. The Sahd team actively volunteers and supports many local non-profits, schools and organizations.

The following organizations underwrote the awards presentation at the evening's event: Partner of the Year sponsored by Women in Manufacturing Central PA Chapter, Community Investor sponsored by Eckert Seamans Attorneys at Law, Manufacturing Innovator sponsored by Ledge, Inc., Manufacturer of the Year sponsored by Thaddeus Stevens School of Technology, and Manufacturing Trailblazer sponsored by Chesapeake Region Safety Council.