JKM NEWSROOM

Rep. Bobby Bright Tours JKM Manufacturing Plant in Eufaula, AL

EUFAULA, AL (May 10, 2010) – Rep. Bobby Bright (D), who serves Alabama's 2nd Congressional District, spoke recently at a special engagement at JKM Manufacturing, Inc., located at 920 Pine Ave. in Eufaula.

Rep. Bright was greeted by JKM CEO Chad B. White, employees and special guests.

"We were thrilled and honored to have had Rep. Bright in Eufaula to see firsthand how one innovative manufacturing company in Alabama is helping to stimulate the economy with jobs and serve our country and armed forces," White said.

Founded in 1997, JKM is a leading manufacturer of precision and sophisticated products for the defense, communications and aerospace industries, including the U.S. Defense Department.

At the event, Rep. Bright addressed JKM employees and special guests and toured the JKM plant.

"JKM has been successfully working since 1997 in manufacturing key parts for our defense industry," White said. "We're proud to have had Rep. Bright visit this hometown plant."

Rep. Bright is also the former mayor of Montgomery. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008.

Rep. Bright said, "During this time of economic challenges, it's good to see a company like JKM that is serving the community and our nation by creating jobs and contributing to the national defense. These hometown companies are key to our economic recovery, and I am honored to serve them in my district."

Rep. Bright serves on the House Armed Services Committee, which is critically important for the 2nd District, which is home to Maxwell Air Force Base and Fort Rucker. He also serves on the Agriculture and Small Business committees.

Eufaula Mayor Jay Jaxon, Jr. was supportive of the visit.

"We appreciate Congressman Bright spending his time learning more about JKM, its people and products," said Mayor Jaxon. "JKM plays a very important role in the defense of our country and we appreciate Congressman Bright's recognition of their mission."

Mayor Jaxon added, "JKM and its employees have worked very hard to produce quality products and we appreciate JKM's efforts. We trust Congressman Bright will promote their products throughout the defense industry."

Said White, "We hope this historic event will not only inform but also inspire our employees as they see how our work at JKM has a greater significance to our nation and worldwide. There is no greater satisfaction than knowing that our work matters not only to these men and women who defend our country every day but also to our local and national economy."

JKM builds products used on 23 major platforms, such as guided missiles, military aircraft, flight simulators, helicopters, tanks, industrial robots and sonar test equipment.

Last year, White escorted key employees on a trip to Fort Benning, GA, to see firsthand how vital the work they do in manufacturing components, which are used in TOW missiles by the U.S. Army.

"My philosophy is to get JKM employees more involved so they will understand the critical importance JKM plays in the defense of our country," said White, who has nearly 20 years of entrepreneurial, manufacturing, operations, consulting and financial expertise.

JKM specializes in innovation, flexibility and reliability. JKM also is a leading manufacturer of complex wire harness assemblies, rugged electronic systems, circuit card assemblies and electro-mechanical assemblies.

As JKM's top manager, White is a fervent champion of lean manufacturing, collaboration and communication – tenets that make JKM a responsive, reliable and proactive maker of quality products. He is committed to putting customers and their mission first.

JKM also produces a variety of interconnects, they include custom molded harnesses, complex braided cables, fiber-optic cables, coaxial cables and precision ribbon cables.

JKM's wiring harnesses are used to connect all the electronics of aircraft, tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters, missiles, gun systems, trucks, ships, boats and other vehicles for military and aerospace purposes.

JKM's customers include General Dynamics, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Honeywell Defense, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, L-3 Communications, the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and Defense Logistics Agency.

The various military systems and platforms JKM supports include the Abrams M1A1 Tank, Avenger Platform Stinger Missile Launcher, B-52 Aircraft, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, C-17 Aircraft, Cobra Helicopter, F-16 Aircraft, F-16 Cockpit Simulator, International Space Station, LAU 115 Missile Launcher, Minuteman Missile, Phalanx Anti-Ship Missile Defense System, RTS (Remote Targeting Systems), Shipboard SONAR, Stand-Off Land Attack Missile, Tomahawk Missile, TOW Missile and UH-47 Chinook Helicopter.

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Founded in 1997, JKM is a trusted leader in making precision and sophisticated products for defense, communications and aerospace industries, including the U.S. Department of Defense. Based in Eufaula, AL, JKM is certified in DoD MIL-I-45208A requirements.