As the Manufacturing Express hit the road this summer, it was fitting that we paid a visit to one of the companies that’s responsible for paving many of those roads. Located in the Great Smoky Mountains of Chattanooga, Tennessee, ASTEC builds the asphalt plants that provide 40% of the world’s asphalt market.
Right here in Chattanooga, ASTEC employs 1800 workers to assemble their plants. And building these big machines is no small feat. This equipment is designed to move 300 tons of asphalt an hour, and a drum alone is made from 40,000 lbs of steel. But it’s the quality craftsmanship and attention to detail that has made ASTEC the market leader in the asphalt industry. After all, there is a reason Formula One Racing has ASTEC listed as their preferred paving partner.
But it’s not just race cars that depend on well-paved roads. The world’s infrastructure depends on safe and reliable roads. Roads that connect families, take people to work, and transport goods to people who need them. Thanks to ASTEC’s equipment, drivers everywhere have safer roads to travel on.
And it’s not just the drivers on the road that ASTEC cares about. It’s also the customers that buy their plants. Every year, ASTEC hosts a three-month training course—here on-site in Chattanooga—where customers can learn how to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot their equipment. As a company, ASTEC puts a tremendous emphasis on creating a quality experience for every user of it’s products, from the paver making the asphalt to the driver traveling on the road.
There was much to celebrate as the ASTEC staff came out to the smoothly paved parking lot to enjoy the festivities. Senator Marsha Blackburn even came out to show her support for ASTEC and the positive impact the company is having on Tennessee and beyond. As a member of both the Senate Transportation and Finance Committees, Blackburn knows how important it is for an American company like ASTEC to be the world leader in an industry as critical as asphalt paving.
Blackburn’s presence at ASTEC’s event was a large part of why the company was so excited to have the Manufacturing Express visit their facility. “An event like this is important to our workers because it shows that someone is paying attention to the work they do and the equipment they build.” Director of Marketing Brandon Meredith said, “It’s good to know they have representation in the industry.”
AEM and the Manufacturing Express are proud to bring the stories of the men and women of the industry to communities across the country. Thanks to companies like ASTEC, we’re able to get there safely.
