From Play-Doh to production: Medina County students experience manufacturing firsthand

Throughout the day, students explored how products are made, touring Blair Rubber Company's facility and taking part in activities designed to bring manufacturing concepts to life.

What started with Play-Doh and a clear PVC pipe gave 43 middle school students a hands-on introduction to the world of manufacturing during a Summer Kids Manufacturing Camp held at Blair Rubber in Seville, Ohio. Organized by Medina County manufacturing economic development, the camp brought students ages 13 to 15 to Blair Rubber Company for a day of hands-on learning and industry exposure.

The experience comes at a time when Ohio's manufacturing industry is looking to introduce the next generation to career opportunities in the sector. According to the Ohio Manufacturers' Association, manufacturing accounts for 16.5% of Ohio's private economy and supports more than 687,000 jobs across the state. Ohio manufacturers are also projected to need approximately 35,000 new workers each year to meet expansion and replacement demand, making early career awareness and workforce development increasingly important.

"Events like this give students an opportunity to see manufacturing in action and learn about the many different career paths available within our industry," said Neil Bateman, plant manager, Blair Rubber Company. "We were excited to welcome these students to our facility, introduce them to our team and give them a hands-on experience that they could take with them. We hope this is the beginning of a continued effort to help young people in our community explore careers in manufacturing."

Throughout the day, students explored how products are made, touring Blair Rubber Company's facility and taking part in activities designed to bring manufacturing concepts to life. One demonstration by Blair’s maintenance team used Play-Doh and a clear PVC pipe to show how rubber linings protect industrial equipment — including railcars — from corrosion and wear.

“Students had the opportunity to visit manufacturers across Medina County and experience modern manufacturing firsthand. We planned for 20 students, but nearly 60 signed up, demonstrating the strong interest among students and families in learning more about manufacturing careers.” said Jake Altman, economic development projects director, Medina County Economic Development Corporation

By connecting classroom concepts with real-world applications, the camp helped students better understand the variety of careers available in modern manufacturing — from skilled trades and maintenance to engineering, operations and production. Blair Rubber plans to continue supporting similar workforce development initiatives, helping introduce more students to manufacturing careers and strengthening the future workforce in northeast Ohio.

About Blair Rubber

Blair Rubber Company (An affiliate of IKO) is a U.S.-based manufacturer of corrosion-resistant rubber linings and conveyor belt splice products, serving applications in industries including mining, water treatment, chemical processing and oil and gas. The company also provides technical expertise related to chemical compatibility, applications and installation procedures.

About IKO

IKO is a worldwide leader in the roofing, waterproofing and insulation industry for residential and commercial markets. A vertically integrated company, IKO operates more than 35 manufacturing plants throughout North America and Europe. IKO is a family-owned business established in 1951.