Interesting Times | Here’s a question to ponder: Is the phrase “May you live in interesting times” a blessing or a curse? I’ve heard it described as both. Whichever the case may be, I believe that we do, indeed, live in interesting times. Perhaps at no other point in history has our exploration of materials sciences been more interesting or more challenging.

Changing economic and environmental conditions influence the interest generated by any particular technology at a given time. Faced with a seemingly limitless global demand for limited raw materials, we have some fascinating problems to solve about manufacturing issues like forming, bonding, welding, and joining that allow us to make better use of these increasingly precious resources. And without question, these factors change the mission and value of hundreds of commercial operations.

At EWI, we are quickly approaching the completion of our 24th year of operation. Many materials joining advancements have occurred in these 24 years – a fair number resulting in patented processes that are now used by companies that have benefitted from the research conducted at EWI. Through these years of study, experimentation, and consultation, we’ve remained faithful to our founding purpose, which is to aid in the creation of new businesses, revitalize existing businesses, enhance productivity, and stimulate economic growth and prosperity.

Our longevity points to the trust that our Members have in our capabilities and to our adaptability. When times and needs have changed, we have supported our Members in bridging the gap between older technologies and new possibilities. Many of our members expect to manage through tough economic times during the next few years. Globalization is forcing them to seek approaches and partners that make them more competitive in meeting the demands of their customers. EWI has had the opportunity to contribute to the success of many of its members through delivery of innovative solutions that help them meet this challenge.

In light of these changes, we recently invited every EWI associate to participate in the process of re-examining our Mission Statement to ensure that it is authentic to their professional experiences and relevant to the members they work with most closely. Our new mission statement is succinct and precise. We exist to “Advance our customers’ manufacturing competitiveness through innovation in joining and allied technologies.” Those 12 words serve as the launching pad for every project initiated at EWI. They also serve to keep us focused on the characteristics of a responsive and successful business.

Even more succinct than our 12 word mission statement is our new tagline “Joining Innovation”. Like most companies, we pair our tagline with our company logo to reinforce the image that comes to mind when you think of EWI. Clearly, we want you to remember that EWI is the place where joining and innovation meet. Moreover, it’s the place where committed and talented people bring innovative solutions to some of the most interesting challenges of our times.