By james art 
Senator Sherrod Brown visited the Crown Battery plant on Wednesday
Brown spoke to farmers about the losses
Senator Sherrod Brown listened to local farmers as they talked about losses due to wet fields, a harsh winter and high water levels in Lake Erie.
Daniel Carson, The News-Messenger
Emphasizing the dignity of work and international competitiveness in manufacturing, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, visited Crown Battery Corporation’s manufacturing plant in Fremont on Wednesday.
This is the last week before Election Day, which is November 5th. On Tuesday, Brown spoke to workers about the issues at hand.
“It’s not even my first time here because Ohio is the No. 1 manufacturing state in the country,” Brown said. “There are hundreds of people in this factory. That’s how they make a living, they do things. That’s a big part of my job. I focus my efforts on the dignity of work. I have seen this work through the eyes of the workers. They create the wealth in that plant and keep it going.
Crown Battery has seen three major expansions since 2009. around 625 people work here and there. The company carries out export activities in 65 countries on six continents. It manufactures industrial products for electric hoists, material handling, underground mining equipment and railway locomotives.
During the plant tour, Crown Battery’s vice president of manufacturing, Mike Fraley, pointed out the “closed loop” manufacturing processes for lead that protect it from the environment. The plant also uses 100% recycled lead in its products.
Brown also had candid discussions with Hal Hawk, president and CEO of Crown Battery, about his work expanding international opportunities for Ohio manufacturers.
Hawke noted how Sherrod has railed against presidents of both parties against bad trade deals and policies that would hurt Ohio manufacturers and send Ohio jobs overseas.
“As a Republican voter, I have always supported candidates who actively fight for Ohio’s manufacturers. In this race, that candidate is Sherrod Brown,” Hawke said. “From ensuring we can remain competitive in the global marketplace to providing key investments for our communities, we’ve never had to wonder whose side Sherrod is on — he’s always on the side of Ohio growers and our workers.”
Hawke also described how lead-acid batteries work and the new research and development facility the company is building to make lithium-ion batteries.
“From opposing bad policies that send jobs overseas and hurting Ohio workers to fighting to bring manufacturing and supply chains back home, Ohioans know I will always work to retain the best manufacturing talent in the country right here in Ohio,” Brown said.
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