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Every October we shine a special light on Breast Cancer Awareness, and in 2020 it was no different.

#TEAMBLUSA is an annual participant and is committed to the cause of increasing awareness of the disease and recognizing victims, survivors, and those living with breast cancer. Every Friday in October, #TEAMBLUSA wore PINK, pink shirts, pink socks, hats, shoes, even pink hair, to do our small part in making everyone aware of this terrible cancer that affects mostly women and also a small percentage of men.

Why do we wear pink for breast cancer and what does the pink ribbon represent? The PINK RIBBON represents fear of breast cancer, hope for the future, and the charitable goodness of people and businesses who publicly support the breast cancer movement. It is intended to evoke solidarity with individuals who currently have breast cancer.

This cause is very personal to many of our co-workers. For one anonymous employee, his mother found a lump on her breast in 2008. After seeing the doctor, she found out that she had breast cancer. She went through treatments and radiation therapy 5 times a week. His mother is doing well and she is a SURVIVOR! Without the help of people making donations to help fund her treatment, he is not sure whether his mother would still be here today or to see him get married next year.

Robin, an Accounts Payable Clerk, said, “I didn’t feel my lump when my breast cancer was found in 2011 through a yearly mammogram. On the last day of my radiation treatment, my family was there to see me ring the bell that represents being cancer-free. I am now 9 years cancer-free due to the early detection and the support of my family! That is why I wear pink the whole month of October, especially on Fridays and support the cause.”

COVID-19 has had an impact on annual mammogram screening numbers this year, as many are putting these appointments off. Experts stress the importance of early detection and say that these vital screenings should be continued with proper COVID safety precautions in place.

#TEAMBLUSA is proud to support Breast Cancer Awareness in October, and every month.

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BLUSA Defense Manufacturing is proud to support the 3rd annual Eagles Autism Challenge. Due to the ongoing health crisis, this year’s event was held virtually. Although it looked different from previous years, the event still was a huge success. Thanks to 3000 virtual teams from 14 countries, along with 284 fundraising teams, the event raised over $3.1M for groundbreaking autism research and care programs.

Team BLUSA Defense Manufacturing, headed by Captain Jeff and Co-Captain Jessica, fielded close to 40 team members along with their families. We completed a socially distant 5K walk around our beautiful, new facility and raised $3538.00, exceeding our original team goal. Special thanks to Wanda, Jessica’s mom, for providing amazing handmade Eagles masks to donors.

Faylene, a Customer Service Representative and first-year participant said,

“My family and I had a fun time with my co-workers. It was a beautiful day to support such a great cause. My children had an awesome time as well. They especially enjoyed the snacks and the live music. All in all, it was an awesome time and an awesome walk. See you all next year!”

Gagan, a Production Scheduler said,

“It was really amazing and exciting experience for me to be a part of the Eagles Autism Challenge with Team BLUSA. This was my first year participating in this challenge, but I completed the 5K by walking 8 laps around the building. It was fun participating with my coworkers and their families.”

The overwhelming financial support of the team and the fantastic turnout of walkers once again shows what an amazing family we have at BLUSA Defense Manufacturing. We are hopeful that next year we will grow our numbers and that the Eagles Autism Challenge will be back on the streets of Philadelphia.

Photos from BLUSA’s Eagles Autism Challenge

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BLUSA Defense Manufacturing is proud to announce that we now have 5-axis machining capability thanks to a powerful and versatile addition to our CNC Machine Family. We have just finished installing a Mazak VCU-500A/5X Vertical Machining Center. This machine has full 5-axis capabilities with a CAT-40, 10,000-rpm spindle allowing us to accurately and cost effectively process small, complex parts made from steel, aluminum, cast iron and other common materials. The VCU-500A/5x boasts a trunnion-style rotary/tilt table with roller gear cam technology, as well as an automatic tool changer. Its Smooth Technology spans from programming to metal removal to data collection and allows for fast programming times.

Come visit our new Mt. Laurel, NJ state-of-the-art facility and see this powerful machine in action!

Bright Lights USA Inc. dba BLUSA Defense Manufacturing will be relocating to Mount Laurel, New Jersey early 2019. The new facility is 67,000 square feet, allowing both our Barrington and Camden locations to work together under one roof. The larger space enables the company to continue its rapid growth and expand the team.

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In the same year he obtained his degree from the Rutgers School of Business, Daniel Farber founded Bright Lights USA with his father in the family basement. That was 26 years ago. Since then, their kernel of an idea has grown into a precision manufacturer of defense and industrial-turbine parts that employs close to 100 employees at two locations in Camden County.

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Today, as he walks the production floors and hallways of his Barrington plant, CEO Farber looks every bit the part of the proud father—proud of his employees, his company’s achievements and, not least of all, his company’s tradition of community service.

He is also keenly aware that a demographic challenge facing all US manufacturers, the aging of an industrial workforce moving into its retirement years, could hamper growth at the company he and his father worked so hard to build. “We have an aging workforce, and we know that we have to find new ways to develop staff,” Farber explained during a recent tour of his plant on Shreve Road in Barrington.

Farber gets help meeting this challenge from the NJ Community College Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development, a Trenton-based group that provides training through the state’s 19 community colleges. Among other programs, the Consortium provides on-demand, advanced manufacturing training for the long-term unemployed. Job candidates are fully trained and certified, and then matched with New Jersey manufacturers who wish to hire them.

Bright Lights is a strong partner in this process. The company helps the Consortium and Camden County College find and screen candidates for training, invites classes on tours of his Barrington and Camden City plants, and interviews job candidates. He has also donated manufacturing equipment to Camden County College for training purposes.

Over the past several years, Bright Lights has hired close to a dozen graduates of the training program, one of whom is Randy Wilson, who was unable to find work for two years after losing his job as a diesel
mechanic to layoffs at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Wilson eventually found his way to Camden County College’s Precision Machining Technician (PMT) training program. He graduated in May 2014, and was quickly hired by Bright Lights, which then trained him in his current position as a laser and rotary engraver operator.

“It helped me get back on my feet,” Wilson, a married father of 8 grown children, said of the Consortium’s training program. The Consortium’s training programs are supported by state and federal Labor Department grants. As such, they are available to employers and their employees free of tuition charges. In addition, manufacturers can be reimbursed for $10,000 in wages paid to new hires during the training and transition process. This is made possible under a federal Ready to Work grant.

Sivaraman Anbarasan, CEO of the NJ Community College Consortium, recently presented the Bright Lights chief executive with a Community Excellence Award for the time and resources he has devoted to the manufacturing training program.

For over 40 years Global Shop Solutions has provided manufacturers with one of the only fully integrated ERP software systems by manufacturers for manufacturers. Their ERP software system enables accurate inventory, on-time delivery, near perfect quality, lower administrative costs, increased sales, improved customer service, and data in the palm of your hand in real time. The company is the largest fully family-owned ERP software company in the world with zero debt, serving thousands of manufacturing customers in over 25 countries by 225+ employees in 7 offices around the world.

On August 1, 2018, BLUSA Defense Manufacturing, formerly Bright Lights USA Inc., was presented with a Statement of Support certificate in appreciation for its efforts in support of the United States National Guard & Reserve.

Since 2001, BLUSA has been recognized by ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) for its support of the US National Guard & Reserve. For more information about the “Statement of Support” presentation ceremony, please visit www.guardreserves.com and review the 3rd Quarter Newsletter posted there.