Flex Trades

FlexTrades
News & Information

All

MFG History

Manufacturing Labor Blog

Manufacturing

How It’s Made

Health & Wellness

Culture Blog

CSR

Checklists

Career Development

Success Stories

How is Recycling Done

How is Recycling Done?

A reader of our How It’s Made articles asked if we could share our knowledge about recycling. As a result, we adapted our How It’s

open
We Are Free A Memorial Day Tribute Poem

We Are Free: A Memorial Day Tribute Poem

We’re free . What an interesting concept. We choose where we step foot, Our identities draped in linens ,Our hobbies prancing through the air. We sit at our desks Falling into the

open
This is How Plastic is Made

This is How Plastic is Made

How It’s Made – Plastic Plastic has been around for much longer than most of us know. In its earliest form (some say as early

open
Manufacturing Day with hard hat American flag and hand tools

Happy Manufacturing Day

Ten years ago, in 2012, the Fabricators and Manufacturers’ Association (FMA) founded Manufacturing Day (MFG Day). MFG Day is a national movement to show the

open
MAY 22 2019-NEW YORK: U.S. Navy Sailor from the USS New York stands at the Armed Forces Recruiting Station on the Military Island Plaza in Times Square during Fleet Week in Manhattan on May 22, 2019.

How It’s Made – USS New York

On September 11th, 2001, the unthinkable happened when four airplanes were hijacked by militants associated with the extremist group al Qaeda. Of the four planes,

open
African American factory worker working with adept robotic arm in a workshop . Industry robot programming software for automated manufacturing technology .

Top 10: American Innovations

This week Americans celebrated the 246th birthday of our country. We wanted to pile on by celebrating the 10 greatest inventions our nation has contributed

open
history of contract work

This History of Contract Work

The History of Contract Work For most, going to work means you’re an employee of a company, receive a salaried or hourly pay every week

open
This is How Plastic is Made

This is How Plastic is Made

How It’s Made – Plastic Plastic has been around for much longer than most of us know. In its earliest form (some say as early

open
manufacturing associations - light bulb with gears

Manufacturing Associations

Manufacturing Associations That Make a Difference By now, you’re likely well aware that FlexTrades is committed to manufacturing. But we’re not the only ones. There

open
FABTECH 2022 Recap

FabTech 2022 Highlights Recap

FABTECH is the North American metal fabricating industry’s premier event every year. It is run in partnership by some of the biggest trade associations in

open
Mastercam Logo

Mastercam in Manufacturing

If you are a CNC Programmer or would like to become a CNC Programmer, you’ve likely heard of or read about Mastercam. Mastercam is just

open
CTE Month

CTE Month

FlexTrades’ Monthly Manufacturing Calendar Highlight FlexTrade supports the American manufacturing industry, directly and indirectly, in any way we can. That’s part of why we take

open
How is Recycling Done

How is Recycling Done?

A reader of our How It’s Made articles asked if we could share our knowledge about recycling. As a result, we adapted our How It’s

open
This is How Plastic is Made

This is How Plastic is Made

How It’s Made – Plastic Plastic has been around for much longer than most of us know. In its earliest form (some say as early

open
MAY 22 2019-NEW YORK: U.S. Navy Sailor from the USS New York stands at the Armed Forces Recruiting Station on the Military Island Plaza in Times Square during Fleet Week in Manhattan on May 22, 2019.

How It’s Made – USS New York

On September 11th, 2001, the unthinkable happened when four airplanes were hijacked by militants associated with the extremist group al Qaeda. Of the four planes,

open
How Gasoline is Made Man at Pump

How It’s Made: Gasoline

The prices at the pumps have been higher than ever recently. In fact, US gas prices were the highest they’ve ever been which has many

open
static electricity energy

How It’s Made – Static Electricity

Manufacturing really is the culmination of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). So, let’s go back to the classroom and talking science. More specifically, the

open

Debunking New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions Redone – “Debunking Resolutions”   New Year’s resolutions are often cited as the unattainable goals we set in January, and they are iconic

open
A man working during the holiday season. Away from home during the holidays

Not Home for the Holidays

Not Home for the Holidays You don’t have to look hard during this time of year to realize the holidays are upon us. City streets

open
Grief Awareness

National Grief Awareness Day

National Grief Awareness Day is August 30 this year. It began almost a decade ago. The intention of this day (and National Grief Awareness Month

open
Dock worker man wearing safety helmet drinking water at containers cargo

Tips & Tricks: Stay Hydrated

Did you know that FlexTrades has an entire behind the scenes safety team!? It’s called “Safety First”. FlexTrades’ #1 priority is to keep our people

open
PTSD awareness month. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder health awareness for banner, poster, card and background design.

PTSD Awareness Month Checklist

June is National PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Month, but it started as just one day. In 2010, the US Senate declared June 27 to

open
Sweet Potatoes

Lunchbox Hack – Holiday Leftovers

FlexTrades has lunchbox hacks because FlexTrades believes that those who eat better work better. This blog is our effort to improve the American workforce one

open

World Mental Health Day 2021

October 10 was recognized as World Mental Health Day but it’s fair to say mental health is something we should be talking about every day,

open
blood donor day

World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) takes place on June 14th and is celebrated around the world to raise awareness for the need for safe blood

open
We Are Free A Memorial Day Tribute Poem

We Are Free: A Memorial Day Tribute Poem

We’re free . What an interesting concept. We choose where we step foot, Our identities draped in linens ,Our hobbies prancing through the air. We sit at our desks Falling into the

open

Debunking New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions Redone – “Debunking Resolutions”   New Year’s resolutions are often cited as the unattainable goals we set in January, and they are iconic

open
homemade gift guide

Homemade Gift Guide

Attention Travel Technicians: Homemade Gift Guide  Put a homemade twist on gifts during the holidays with this homemade gift guide. Check out these affordable and

open
A man working during the holiday season. Away from home during the holidays

Not Home for the Holidays

Not Home for the Holidays You don’t have to look hard during this time of year to realize the holidays are upon us. City streets

open
december calendar

December Charitable Calendar

New Traditions at PMG The Backstory Years ago, my sister started a tradition for my nieces and nephews, as well as my kids, where she

open
charity day

International Day of Charity

On Saturday, September 5, we celebrate International Day of Charity.  This celebration began in Hungary to commemorate Mother Theresa’s death in 1997. It was declared

open
Delivering presents to FamilyWise

Fourth Quarter Charitable Results

While PMG chooses a charitable organization each quarter to donate either time or money to, the fourth quarter initiative felt extra special this year.  It

open

Q4 Charitable Initiative

Spreading Joy this Holiday Season   ‘Giving is not just about making a donation.  It is about making a difference.’ ~ Kathy Calvin, President &

open

KINMN – PMG Charitable Event

On August 1, PMG partnered with a non-profit organization called Kids in Need Minnesota (KINMN) to help support their annual 24 Hours to Empower event. 

open

2019 Polar Plunge

Every year, across snow-country in America, do-gooders and thrill-seekers choose to jump into freezing water to warm hearts. If you’re thinking that sounds crazy, you’re

open

PMG Volunteers at TCKINRC!

  As part of our commitment to community involvement, in Q3 PMG directed an internal school supply drive to collect donations for the Twin Cities

open

PMG Gives Back

PMG makes it a top priority to give back to the community whenever possible. At least once per quarter, the PMG team picks a foundation

open
homemade gift guide

Homemade Gift Guide

Attention Travel Technicians: Homemade Gift Guide  Put a homemade twist on gifts during the holidays with this homemade gift guide. Check out these affordable and

open
Dock worker man wearing safety helmet drinking water at containers cargo

Tips & Tricks: Stay Hydrated

Did you know that FlexTrades has an entire behind the scenes safety team!? It’s called “Safety First”. FlexTrades’ #1 priority is to keep our people

open
a new beginning

A New Beginning

Day one seems like a distant memory, A leaf swept away by the icy breeze, Distant— —yet familiar. A year ago, I was a leaf

open
first day new job

First Day at a New Job

What Not to Do – Edition 1 First Day at a New Job There’s a lot of information available today about what we SHOULD do

open
PMG ReTool Youtube Channel

PMG ReTool YouTube Channel

When it comes to industry-specific knowledge, there’s no replacement for experience. We all know that experience takes time to build. At PMG ReTool, we’re big

open

Interning at PMG

Being Part of the PMG Team My official title at PMG is Marketing Intern. Throughout my time here I have been able to learn quite

open