Ditch Witch represents Oklahoma in ‘Made in America’ showcase
A Perry-based underground construction machinery manufacturer represented Oklahoma on Monday in a showcase at the White House highlighting American manufacturing.
The Made in America products showcase featured products made in all 50 states and was the start to White House’s “Made in America” week focusing on U.S. manufacturing.
Ditch Witch, a Charles Machine Works Co., was Oklahoma’s representative in the White House’s Made in America product showcase. The company’s JT20 horizontal directional drill was on display on the White House lawn for the event, Ditch Witch Marketing Communications Manager Haley Brorsen said.
“We are honored to represent the state of Oklahoma,” Ditch Witch President Dennis Wierzbicki said in a statement. “Handcrafted in Perry, Oklahoma, Ditch Witch products are an important part of the history of American industry. We’re proud of the innovative products we’ve contributed to the global underground construction market and strive to continually evaluate customer feedback to evolve our products to meet the ever-changing needs of the industry.”
The White House contacted the company and asked it to participate in the event, Brorsen said. The company manufactures drills, vacuum excavators, drill pipes, trenchers and other underground construction equipment, and has 175 dealer locations worldwide.
“Made in America” week keeps with President Donald Trump’s Americafirst theme and his pledge to bring back U.S. manufacturing jobs by rolling back regulations and renegotiating trade deals, like the North American Free Trade Agreement.
“This week the Trump administration will honor the amazing American workers and companies who have products that are made in America,” Helen Ferre, the White House’s director of media affairs, told reporters in a briefing Sunday. She said America sets “the world standard for quality and craftsmanship.”