Twice a year, 20-Group members converge on a location to do exactly that. The idea behind this group, which is offered as a potential benefit of membership of DuPont's Star Coater program, is to bring 20 or fewer non-competing companies together in an information sharing group. Jay Burkard, president of Burkard Industries, a powder coater job shop and electrocoat service provider located in Clinton Township, Mich., is one of eight members in his 20-Group (see sidebar for membership list). Burkard says it was the 20-Group part of the Star Coater program that convinced him to enroll his company, which is primarily geared toward the automotive sector.
In April this year, Burkard Industries hosted the bi-annual two-day event, where all members of this particular 20-Group, which has been going strong for two years now, convene for what is considered a "brutal" evaluation of the host company. Of course, each venue precipitates a different agenda, and Jay Burkard shared his from the April event with Industrial Paint & Powder. Most visitors arrived the Thursday evening before the event for some socializing and then resting up for an early start the next day. On Friday, April 8, at 8 a.m., members were presented with an introduction to Burkard Industries. Burkard says it was the same type of presentation he would give to potential customers, offering an overview of the company, processes and products. Because Burkard Industries offers electrocoat services - the other 20-Group members do not, but may want to in the future - the members were given a guided tour of the e-coat area. Burkard says, "The primary function of all our current members is powder coating, but because we are non-competing, we can share all aspects of our companies and processes. Our goal, as a group, is to help each other with ideas to improve and grow our individual businesses."