MPI Donation Makes It’s Way To This Year’s Grammy Awards

Poughkeepise, NY, February 1, 2014: At this year’s Grammy Awards, nominees, celebrities, and performers alike received a unique gift made possible by MPI’s extraordinary equipment and its commitment to education in the investment casting industry.

The story begins in the summer of 2013. MPI, the worldwide leader in wax-room equipment, donated a 25-ton wax injector to Pittsburg State University (PSU) in Kansas, home to the only Investment Casting Institute certification program in the world. The new wax injector was installed in the metal casting lab at the Kansas Technology Center.

Every year, participants and nominees of the Grammy Awards receive what is commonly referred to as a “swag bag” full of special items contributed by showcase exhibitors. Rachel Ropp, an exhibitor at this year’s show, had the opportunity to include such an item in the swag bag. She wasn’t sure what to do, but remembered that her husband, PSU graduate Trenton Ropp, had a wonderful experience at the Kansas Technology Center.

Mr. Ropp contacted Russ Rosmait, university professor of engineering technology, to see if anyone could help. PSU student Tyler Dietzschold embarked on a mission to create 250 metal bottle openers to include in the Grammy swag bags, using the new wax injection machine donated by MPI. One side of the bottle opener bears the logo of Pittsburg State, the other side the Grammy Awards’ logo.

“It’s pretty crazy to think about,” Dietzschold said. “Some of the biggest names in music are going to have a bottle opener we made right here at the Kansas Technology Center using MPI equipment. I never really thought I’d make something that George Strait would one day hold.”

One of MPI’s goals for donating the machine was to bring real-world applications to the classroom. The state-of-the-art wax injector with Smart Process Controls allowed Dietzschold to produce a product at a level of quality befitting the Grammy Awards, even as a student.

“We’re thrilled that the equipment we donated to PSU has allowed a student to be involved in such an exciting project,” said Bruce Phipps, President, MPI. “It’s rewarding to see the impact our equipment is having on the future leaders of our industry.”

Kris Kristofferson

Joey Fatone from Nsync

Treinta Días, Winners of the Grammy for Best Latin rock, urban or alternative album