Founded in 1902 and headquartered in Two Harbors, Minnesota, 3M Company started as corundum mining venture and eventually became one of the largest product manufacturers in the world today. 3M Company labels their products under the following markets: Display & Graphics, Electronics, Electrical & Communications, Health Care, Safety & Security, Transportation, Manufacturing & Industry, Office, Home & Leisure, and Government. With over 55,000 products spanning in a wide range of different markets, 3M Company has become a multi-billion dollar company that employs over 88,000 people worldwide. The company’s operation spans over 65 countries with distribution and retailers in over 200 countries.3M Company’s product portfolio includes (but is not limited to): Industrial Tapes and Adhesives, Abrasives, Vehicle Care, Electrical OEM Materials, Fire Protection Systems, Government Solutions, Paints & Coatings, and Infrastructure Protection Products. Read more >>

Gentex Corporation, not to be confused with Gentex, is a private company that manufactures products for the military, Special Forces, law enforcement, and emergency medical services. In 1932, after the great depression, Marcus Frieder bought Klots Throwing Company and renamed it General Textile Mills. As the largest silk manufacturer in America the General Textile Company assisted in World War II by producing parachutes, eventually becoming the largest manufactures of parachutes in America. Due to the advancements in their cloth technology Gentex Corp was approached by the government to design a new helmet for pilots. To improve their line of helmets Protection, Inc. was purchased. Shortly after respiratory products started to be produced. Then Derry was acquired and Gentex Corp was able to begin manufacturing electroacoustic communication systems. Read more >>

The Bendix Corporation has been in the manufacturing business for over 60 years. During that time, Bendix has produced automotive brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, and radios. When Bendix expanded into aeronautics in 1929 Vincent Bendix changed the corporations name to Bendix Aviation to reflect the new products. During world war 2 Bendix manufactured about 75% of all the avionics on US aircraft. The Bendix Radio division was established during this time to produce radio transmitters and receivers. After the war they continued making radio and radar equipment. In the 1960’s they began supporting NASA through telecommunications systems and other various products. One such product was the Saturn V instrument Unit. The Instrument unit was a ring shaped structure that contained the electronic systems of the rocket. The Saturn V rocket which was used to send astronauts to the moon used inertial guidance to guide the rocket's trajectory. Contained in the unit are an accelerometer, a digital computer, radar, and a telemetry unit. Then in 1966 Bendix was selected by NASA again. Read more >>

The name DynCorp was established in 1987. Previously the company was named Dynalectorn Corporation after California Eastern Aviation, Inc. acquired Land-Air, Inc. In the late 1990’s DynCorp Technical Services (DTS) was established. DTS handled DynCorp’s entire portfolio of domestic contracts while DynCorp International LLC handled all international business. Then in 2003 Computer Sciences Corporation purchased DynCorp and all of its subsidiaries. The next year CSC sold DynCorp International, DynMarine and specific DTS contracts to VERITAS Capital Management for $850 million. CSC retained the DynCorp name to become DynCorp International. Finally DynCorp International was acquired by Cerberus Capital Management for $17.55 per share. Read more >>

Caterpillar Inc. was created in 1925 after a merger of the Holt Manufacturing Company and the C. L. Best Tractor Company. Headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. Along with equipment and machinery, Caterpillar Inc. also sells financial products and insurances to their customers. Caterpillar’s range of products and services has enabled the company to be a Fortune 500, employ over 125,000 people, and meet yearly revenues of over $65 Billion. Caterpillar Inc.’s products include (but are not limited to) Backhoe Loaders, Cold Planers, Draglines, Hydraulic Mining Shovels, Wheel Dozers, Electric Power Generators, Marine Power Systems, and Industrial OEM engines. Their ranges of products are utilized by commercial, business, industrial, and government entities. With their machines being used in many different government contracted projects across the globe, it is very clear that Caterpillar Inc.’s influence is worldwide. Throughout recent years, Caterpillar Inc. machines have been used to help in government projects in countries such as Japan, Philippines, Brazil, Greece, China, Romania, and U.S.A. Some recent project examples include the following: Read more >>