Author: FORGE Team

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A Guide to the Different Tool Steels for Injection Molds

Plastics Manufacturing Resources, a FORGE partner, connects companies to a wide range of plastics manufacturing options, from injection and blow molding to additive manufacturing, thermoforming and more. In this Tools of the Trade, they discuss the options for tool steels for injection molds. There are many options to consider, depending on your needs. If you’re…

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The Core Competencies of a Contract Manufacturer

Product Resources, a FORGE Iron partner, is a contract manufacturing company with expertise in designing and building complex scientific, medical and industrial equipment. In this Tools of the Trade, Product Resources describes the qualities that innovative companies should look for when selecting a contract manufacturer. Finding the right contract manufacturer is a difficult, time-consuming process….

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Reduce Total Cost of Ownership with Contract Manufacturing

Pearse Bertram, a FORGE Iron partner, is an industry-leading provider of distribution and contract manufacturing services for automation and process control solutions. In this Tools of the Trade, Pearse Bertram defines Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and how companies can save on their TCO by working with a contract manufacturer. What is total cost of…

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3 Critical Steps for Commercializing International Technologies for the US Market

The team of experienced engineers at Next Rung Technology, a Friend of FORGE partner, partners with growth-stage companies creating sustainable technologies to support them through the range of complex challenges faced in commercialization. In this Tools of the Trade, Next Rung Technology discusses the process innovative companies should go through as they bring their product…

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Documenting a Product for Production — A Key to Quality

Finish Line Product Development Services, a Friend of FORGE partner, is a product development consultancy complementing your existing product development team with experts, processes and reference designs exclusively for startups and small companies. In this Tools of the Trade, Finish Line drives home how essential documentation is for consistent product quality. If a product fails…

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What Types of US Small Business Administration Loans Are There?

Enterprise Bank, a FORGE Steel partner, is an independent, innovative bank that values the entrepreneurial spirit and stimulates the economy by helping to create new businesses. In this Tools of the Trade, Enterprise Bank Senior Commercial Lending Officer Debbie Novotny goes over the different loans available from the U.S. Small Business Administration. When you need…

FORGE 2023 impact report cover with electronics factory workers

FORGE 2023 Impact Report

Your belief in our model — manufacturing readiness education and right-fit connections — is what enables us to grow, and we’re grateful that we could expand so much last year. Come see what we and our network of innovative companies and supply chain members, partners, and ecosystem collaborators made happen in 2023. If you’ve already joined us for the ride in 2024, thank you. And if you haven’t, we invite you to come along. It’s going to be an amazing year!

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How to Deal with Supply Chain Shortages

Bayard Design, a FORGE Iron partner, provides engineered solutions to its customers’ product design projects. Its team can help run product design projects from concept through to commercial scale. In this Tools of the Trade, Bayard Design writes about what startups can do to cope with ongoing supply chain shortages. The supply chain shortages immediately…

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The Many Industries that Benefit from Plastics

Plastics Manufacturing Resources, a FORGE Iron partner, connects companies to a wide range of plastics manufacturing options, from injection and blow molding to additive manufacturing, thermoforming and more. In this Tools of the Trade, they write about the many industries that can benefit from plastics. If you’re looking into manufacturing your innovative product from plastic,…

Connecting with Economic Development Opportunities for Hardware Startups

Connecting with Economic Development Opportunities for Hardware Startups

Nov. 16, 2023 – We loved seeing the Merrimack Valley innovation ecosystem come together for our panel event Connecting with Economic Development Opportunities for Hardware Startups! A small crowd joined us at the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub to network and take in the panel discussion. Mark Michalski, our Eastern MA manufacturing expert in residence, kicked…