Superior Extrusion hosts an open house at its K.I. Sawyer facility to celebrate 25 years in business

The two-decade-old Upper Peninsula-based Superior Extrusion Inc. (SEI), a national leader in extruded aluminium products, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary at the K.I. Sawyer facility. The firm was created in August 1996 and has always been based at the K.I. Sawyer facility. SEI believes that its 25-year history has generated around 500 million pounds of aluminium.

SEI purchased and installed a new nine-inch aluminium extrusion press. To commemorate the celebration of the completion of its fourth press and the adoption of a new road name, the firm held an open house complete with food, beverages, and a brief programme.

"We value our employees. If we didn't have them, we wouldn't be able to make products. Then we have customers that buy it. It's just great to have everybody here for the open house and get together and talk about how Superior has grown over the last 25 years," said George LaBlonde III, SEI president and chairman of the board.

SEI offers its clients solid, hollow, and semi-hollow aluminium forms in various lengths, according to the company's website. Other extrusion services the firm provides include deburring, mitre cutting, and drilling.

On December 15, 1998, the business performed its maiden extrusion on its initial 1,650-ton, 7-inch Ferrell press. In response to rising demand, SEI built a 9-inch, 2,500-ton Youngstown press in 2009. SEI installed its third press, a 7-inch, 2,000-ton Extral press, in 2018.

"This is a 25-year celebration, it's the completion of press four and we're also getting up to 500 million pounds that we've produced over 25 years," LaBlonde said. "We're happy to do it. We're glad to have our vendors, our contractors. We have some clients that are here (at the celebration) and then also our employees and shareholders."