The manufacturing industry has always been a tough nut to crack in northern Minnesota. This place produces great amounts of raw materials, such as iron ore and timber, but lies far away from customers who buy manufactured goods. Thus, only small scale and specialty manufacturing has succeed, and less so as time has gone by.
Lately, a sight uptick in manufacturing in Northeast Minnesota has me wondering what it takes to boost value-added industries. I talked to a local manufacturer in a unique corner of the market. He makes machine guarding materials for industrial works that use automation. Ironically, jobs lost to automation have created at least a few in Hibbing, Minnesota. But as we live under the specter of mining layoffs, we have to think bigger about how this region — and others like it — might adjust to new opportunities inherent in these changing times.
You can read my latest column, “Entrepreneur aims to help Iron Range add value at home,” in the Sunday, March 23, 2025 edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune. (gift link)
