Made in New Mexico — a peek at how it’s done
It was probably a school field trip in Chicago that helped me find my way into the newspaper business. still remember walking through the press room at one of the daily newspapers and feeling the big machines rumble as gigantic rolls of newsprint moved along ink rollers. Somehow, by magic it seemed, the end result was the pages for the afternoon newspaper.
To an elementary school-age boy, the tactile feeling of the place, as well as its sounds and smells, were intoxicating.
Manufacturing has changed a lot as computers and assembly operations have become more technologically efficient. But even with the necessary advancements, there are still facilities in and around New Mexico where visitors can see, hear and smell how products are put together.
And that’s the purpose of Manufacturing Day. The annual open house sponsored by the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership gives the public a chance to see how things are produced, stapled, mixed, matched, cemented, sealed and processed here in this state.
This year there are some 50 events at places ranging from a flour mill in Valencia to a woodflooring manufacturer in Las Vegas, N.M., to companies elsewhere that make ductwork, food and beverages.
Some of the tours start this week, but many continue until the end of the month. Tours are free, but pre-registration is required and some locations have certain restrictions on children or a requirement for closed-toe shoes.
Four Santa Fe manufacturing companies are included in the tours:
La Puerta Originals, 4523 N.M. 14, opens its doors to the public for tours at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 24. La Puerta handcrafts solid-wood doors, gates, kitchen cabinets, furniture and architectural elements. Visitors will tour the shop facilities and antique yard as they learn about historic preservation and provenance of the materials.
Verde Food Co. also is offering tours Oct. 24, at 9 and 10 a.m. The manufacturing facility is located at 851 W. San Mateo Road. Verde Food makes cold-pressed juice and other food using locally grown and organic produce.
Santa Fe Spirits is opening its facility at 10 and 11 a.m. Oct. 24. The distillery at 7505 Mallard Way, behind Tractor Supply Co. on Airport Road on the southwest side, contains a tasting room as well as production facilities. Visitors will be guided through the manufacturing process as they hear about the company’s history and plans for growth.
Extraordinary Structures, 2879 All Trades Road, has public tours at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Oct. 24. Extraordinary Structures focuses on designing and building tiny houses, sheds, studios, accessory dwellings, outbuildings and other small structures. Visitors will see operations that utilize equipment such as CNC routers and plasma cutters.
Elsewhere in Northern New Mexico, Taosbased Private Label Select offers tours Monday, Oct. 23; Old Wood in Las Vegas hosts tours Friday, Oct. 27; and Black Mesa Winery in Velarde is having tours and tastings on Saturday, Oct. 28.
All public events are free and can be found at newmexicomep.org/mfgday — the site links visitors to a corresponding Eventbrite page where they can register for a tour.
For more information on manufacturing in New Mexico, go to newmexicomep.org or follow the events on Twitter at #mfgdaynm.