Ketchie Inc.

Manufacturing Day is one of our favorite days at work!
We hosted 30 eighth graders from Kannapolis Middle School along with CTE leaders and administrators from Kannapolis City Schools and Cabarrus County Schools. Our goal was simple: share our passion for manufacturing and plant seeds for the future.
Ketchie Inc has a job shadowing program called Opportunity Knocks, where high school students job shadow experienced machinists who become their mentors. Students see virtuous skills in action, get hands-on exposure, and literally “try on” manufacturing to see what a career could look like for them. For many, it’s a life-changing experience that opens the door to a career of dignity, purpose, and economic mobility.
That’s why we start early—inviting middle school students into the shop so they can see what’s possible and keep manufacturing on their radar as they enter high school.
It was special to see our entire team in action. As Courtney Silver pointed out, this is one of the few times each year when everyone—from the front door to the back—is working on the same project at the same time. It’s pretty sweet to see us all united in inspiring the next generation of manufacturers.
A big thank-you to Stephanie Burleson and the Cabarrus Economic Development (EDC) for providing lunch for everyone. The partnership we have with the folks in City of Concord, NC and City of Kannapolis is fantastic—this is a great place to be in business and to invest in the community.

We’re honored to be nominated for the Coolest Thing Made in NC!

Our nomination is for “Crate to Great” — where our team repurposed a steel shipping crate into a gravity material feeder for our robot tending a dual-spindle lathe. It discharges raw material and collects finished parts — all without human intervention! A simple idea, transformed into a smart solution.

At Ketchie, we believe manufacturing is about more than just parts — it’s about investing in people, technology, and processes that strengthen our community and give manufacturers confidence in their supply chain.

This year’s contest had a record-breaking 188 nominations, with 102 companies moving forward. We’re proud to be part of such a strong representation of North Carolina manufacturing.

✅ Public voting is now open! You can cast one vote per day at coolestthingmadeinnc.com Search for our product, click vote, and help us showcase what’s possible when manufacturers invest in innovation and people.

Round 1 voting closes Wednesday, August 28 at 9 p.m. EST.

We’d be grateful for your daily support as we continue to grow and celebrate the impact of manufacturing in NC.