To the Stars Business Awards 2024
14/10/2024
KMW Ltd is a manufacturing company that has been operating from the heartland of Kansas for nearly 60 years. It has a strong history of evolving and growing to meet the needs of its OEM and dealer customers. KMW’s mission has always been and continues to be the production of superior, durable products with cutting-edge innovation and precision to meet and exceed the needs of our customers.
This summer KMW Ltd was nominated for the Kansas "To the Stars” Business Awards for 2024. It was thrilling to be included with a stellar group of other great companies in Kansas also nominated in the Manufacturing/Distribution division. On October 3rd, at the "To the Stars" business awards event hosted by the Kansas Department of Commerce, KMW was honored by the announcement that they achieved the division award for the South-Central Kansas Region.
KMW proudly invests in its people, innovation, and the general local area that have supported us all these years.One way this company invests in our employees is with the KMW Learning Academy, which enables us to build a pipeline of diverse employees with needed skills and knowledge for success and advancement in their careers. This serves the company and the team by meeting the ever-present demand for skilled workers.
KMW is also a state of Kansas "Apprenticeships Champion.”These apprenticeships create an "earn while you learn” career pathway, allowing workers to develop skills, and advance into higher-level jobs within the company without incurring debt. This is a win-win for KMW and its team. KMW’s current program offers several one-year courses in Supervisor certification, Assembly, Fabrication, Shipping and Receiving, Material Management, and Maintenance, and a two-year program in Welding.
KMW understands the importance of investing in state-of-the-art equipment like lasers, CNC brake presses, and powder-coat paint facilities. By employing advanced, high-tech machines to help manufacture loaders, backhoes, grapples, and other attachments, each product's consistency, quality, precision, and uniformityfrom start to finish is ensured.
KMW Ltd utilizes advanced quality assurance testing systems and methods to refine and develop products. For instance, endurance cycle testing is employed to test the limits of performance and ensure that those products meet the highest standards. KMW is constantly looking to the future to identify ways to enhance and streamline the manufacturing process while maintaining the highest quality standards. This helps affirm that theproducts produced are of excellent quality that the company, the team, and the customer can all be proud of.
KMW supports local organizations and activities such as Charity Golf Tournaments, local school systems, the library summer reading programs, the Kid’s Cove, the Chamber of Commerce in each of the towns we are proud to be a part of, and many more ways. The local Kansas area where KMW and its teams’ roots began, and continue to grow, is an important part of the company’s success. KMW values its teams' Mid-American work ethic, which provides strength and steadiness to our local workforce. Sincere thanks to the entire team, whose tireless efforts throughout the years have propelled the growth of KMW and will do so long into the future.
A letter from the desk of Kansas State Governor, Laura Kelly:
October 3, 2024
Dear Wayne Buchberger,
It is our sincere pleasure to award KMW, Ltd. as the Manufacturing/Distribution Regional Award Winner in the category of Manufacturing/Distribution for the 2024 To the Stars: Kansas Business Awards.Celebrating your business and its outstanding contributions to the community, the state economy and the people of Kansas is very exciting. Your hard work is appreciated and certainly worthy of this recognition.
KMW, Ltd. was nominated because you are creating job opportunities, products and services, innovating and diversifying the local marketplace, building community identity, and so much more. You have made an impact in your community and that impact has been noticed. Your business has demonstrated the tenacity, determination and creativity needed to persevere regardless of circumstance. These values are at the heart of what it means to be a Kansan. Despite the many challenges over the past several years, our state has remained resilient. Thanks to businesses like yours, we continue to reach to the stars.
Accompanying this letter is a plaque commemorating your Regional Award distinction. We encourage you to display it proudly in your home or business. Again, congratulations. Thank you for investing in Kansas and making Kansas a great place to live and work.
Sincerely,
Laura Kelly
Governor
On the photo: Amy
Roraback, KMW Ltd Marketing Manager – Kansas Lt. Governor , David Toland -
Wayne Buchberger, KMW Ltd CEO/Managing Director
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