LAST WEEK, The Gazette ran a story on Kevin Swint, who purchased the Emporia business Wall Industries.
Wall makes headlight-aiming equipment for the automotive industry. The headlight aimer was invented by E.L. and Gene Hopkins and is the product that catapulted Hopkins Manufacturing into an international business. In 2005, the headlight-aimer business was sold to Wall Industries.
Having Swint buy this business is a success for our community. It’s nice to see a person who grew up in Emporia and attended Emporia schools buy the business and put down some roots.
This story also stands out because this product is made in America.
In the story, Swint told how Emporia companies such as Glendo, Kansa, BPE, Hopkins and Mast Engineering all make parts for the aimer.
Emporia’s manufacturers have a history of helping each other and it is good to see that tradition continue.
If Swint hadn’t bought the company, just think what the outcome might have been. A company from out of state might have bought it and shut down the Emporia office and plant — costing the community jobs — and then sent the production to China, where the aimer could probably be produced for less.
Swint wanted to emphasize the product was made in America so he changed the company name from Wall Industries to American Aimers.
The headlight aimer has been a success story for Emporia. It’s good to see that Emporia tradition continue under Swint’s leadership.
Christopher White Walker
Editor & Publisher
momus (anonymous) says...
Nice to see a bright spot in the local economy. Thanks for the positive story Gazette! And I wish American Aimers a lot of luck and good fortune in the future!
June 18, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )