Manufacturers’ Association Recognizes Leading Businesses, Founding Father Thomas Shipley at Event

(York, PA) On May 21, 2025, The Manufacturers’ Association honored outstanding members and individuals at the Association’s 120th Annual Event. The event included a keynote featuring Retired Navy Seal and best selling author, Marcus Luttrell. 

Thomas Shipley was recognized posthumously as part of the Association’s “hall of fame” by the Association’s Manufacturing Trailblazer Award. In 1899, Thomas Shipley took the reins of the York Manufacturing Company and transformed the manufacturer – expanding employment tenfold in two years and becoming the largest refrigeration manufacturer in the US, gaining 50% of the market a few years later. The company continued to grow and evolved into iconic local companies — York International and later, Johnson Controls. At its peak, York International employed over 20,000 people and had an annual revenue of over $4 billion and is a critical supplier for the US Navy. As the company grew, Thomas Shipley became very involved in the community and was a founding officer of the Manufacturers’ Association, serving first as Vice President and then as the Association’s second President in 1907. Johnson Controls Navy Systems in York accepted the award on Mr. Shipley’s behalf.

Joseph Machine was presented with the Manufacturer of the Year award. The family-owned company, located in Dillsburg, York County, was founded in 1986 and builds specialized machines and automation for the window and door industry. Joseph Machine has been in growth mode averaging 20% growth each year for the last 15 years. A recent $13 million investment is expanding 150,000 sq/ft of their facility. The company currently employs 119, having added 39 in the past two years with plans to reach a total of 150 employees after full build-out. JMC sources 60 percent of its materials from over 150 Pennsylvania companies. 

The four other awards that evening included:

• The Manufacturing Innovator award went to JLS Automation, which deploys automation systems for the food packaging industry. In 2025, the company invested 8% of revenue in R&D to develop five new products and two new processes, including a patent-pending robotic cartoning system and advanced into AI-powered inspection and sorting to improve food quality grading. JLS recently won the Best in Class award at the Global Trade Show International Baking Industry. 

• The Partner of the Year award went to York County School of Technology. Since the 1960s, when the Association worked to help open the school, the two organizations have maintained a close relationship for over 50 years and in recent years have partnered to upskill the manufacturing workforce and also connect new tech school graduates for hiring opportunities with the Association’s manufacturing members.

• The Community Investor award was presented to Sahd Metal Recycling, a 3rd-generation family-owned business founded in 1941 in Lancaster County and a leader in metal recycling. The company is widely known for its popular podcast “Dumpster Talks,” which has amassed thousands of listeners and over 100 episodes spotlighting people, businesses, and leaders helping move industry forward. The Sahd team actively volunteers and supports many local non-profits, schools and organizations.

• The Association’s memorial Carl Winters Junior Pre-Apprentice Scholarship was awarded to Nicholas Opstbaum of Chester County Technical College High School, who is pursuing an Electro Mechanical Degree at Thaddeus Stevens School of Technology.

The following organizations underwrote the awards presentation at the evening’s event: Partner of the Year sponsored by Women in Manufacturing Central PA Chapter, Community Investor sponsored by Eckert Seamans Attorneys at Law, Manufacturing Innovator sponsored by Ledge, Inc., Manufacturer of the Year sponsored by Thaddeus Stevens School of Technology, and Manufacturing Trailblazer sponsored by Chesapeake Region Safety Council.