Greene Welder Wins Big for New York’s Raymond Corporation

The Raymond Corporation is celebrating the remarkable achievement of Jordan Taft, a welder at their Greene facility, who has emerged as the gold medalist in the welding category of the esteemed Toyota Material Handling Group (TMHG) Skills Competition.

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For the second consecutive year, a welder from Raymond claims the top spot, demonstrating the company's expertise in the field. In addition to Taft's outstanding win, Chris Vrba from Raymond's Muscatine, Iowa facility achieved an impressive sixth place among competitors from around the world. Participants hailing from various Toyota Industries family of companies based in China, France, Italy, Sweden, and the United States showcased their skills during the event.

Taft's remarkable accomplishment not only showcases his personal excellence but also highlights Raymond's commitment to continuous improvement and the professional development of its employees.

Mike Field, President and CEO of The Raymond Corporation, extended his warmest congratulations to Jordan Taft, acknowledging the dedication and passion demonstrated by welders like him. Field commented, "The passion and dedication our welders, such as Jordan Taft, bring to their craft is inspiring and a testament to the empowering culture we strive to foster at Raymond."

The highly competitive welding competition required participants to showcase their mastery in various welding techniques, including tack welding, semiautomatic welding, and finishing the vessel's surface.

Raymond has been conducting its internal welding competition since 2015 as a means to promote friendly competition and enhance skills and knowledge within its welding teams. The exceptional performances of Raymond welders in these internal competitions have consistently earned them invitations to compete in the TMHG Skills Competition at the global level.

Raymond's representation in the Assembly category of the TMHG Skills Competition was equally impressive. Jessica Vargus from the Muscatine facility and Tom Morrison from the Greene facility achieved remarkable fourth and fifth-place finishes, respectively.

Given his extraordinary performance, Jordan Taft has received an invitation to return to Japan in March 2024, where he will compete against other accomplished gold-winning welders in the international Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) Welding Skills Competition.