Massachusetts Manufacturing Mash-Up ‘a real home run’
WORCESTER — Gathering some of the greatest innovators across the state, the third annual Massachusetts Manufacturing Mash-Up transformed Worcester’s Polar Park into the home of manufacturing excellence.
Organizing partners FORGE, Mass. Technology Collaborative, MassHire, MassRobotics, Mass. Manufacturing Extension Partnership and Worcester Polytechnic Institute brought together over 1,500 attendees, a record-breaking number of manufacturing leaders, students, legislators and startups on Sept. 19.
Industry leaders and state legislators opened the day, including Executive Office of Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao, state Rep. Jeff Roy, state Sen. Paul Feeney and Senate President Karen Spilka. Roy and Feeney, co-chairs of the Mass. Legislative Manufacturing Caucus, took turns announcing over 70 recipients of the eighth annual Massachusetts Manufacturing Awards.
“Nine years ago, we formed the Manufacturing Caucus to focus on the renaissance of manufacturing in this state,” Roy said. “Manufacturing output here is at its highest in history!”
One of the awardees was Clean Crop Technologies, an agricultural technology startup building a cold plasma device to boost crop yields, reduce food waste and improve food safety with manufacturing support from FORGE. Three hundred high schoolers from across Massachusetts tried design and engineering challenges. Fifty MassBridge community college students joined an advanced manufacturing speed networking event.
The concourse hosted an innovation station, and booths by MassMakes stage, “Got Talent?” Manufacturers’ Row, and Mass MEP. FORGE showcased partners and startups with attendees, featuring:
- AMI, Winthrop, Maine, New England’s premier resource for electronic contract manufacturing needs.
- Bayard Design, Cambridge, a full-service product design and mechanical engineering firm.
- Burt Processing Equipment, Hamden, Conn., a leader striving to create a more sustainable environment through the innovative and responsible use of water and natural resources.
- Cambridge Polymer Group, Woburn, a contract research laboratory specializing in materials and product development.
- Empire Group, Attleboro, a full-service product development and prototyping company.
- Kalow Technologies, Rutland, Vt., a contract manufacturer specializing in electro-mechanical “turnkey” manufacturing services.
- Enterprise Bank, Lowell, a community bank.
- FLX Solutions, Bethlehem, Penn., a disruptive company making miniaturized robots that operate in difficult-to-access spaces.
- ICSN Group, an international trade and development company.
- New Page Associates, Boston, an engineering and operational support consulting firm.
- Pearse Bertram, Bloomfield, Conn., an end-to-end provider of innovative automation and process control solutions.
- PEKO Precision Products, Rochester, N.Y., a full-service contract manufacturer of complex machinery, equipment and electromechanical assemblies.
- Plastics Manufacturing Resources, Upton, a firm of seasoned plastics manufacturing professionals who connect original equipment manufacturers with manufacturing solutions.
- Product Resources, Newburyport, a product design, engineering and manufacturing company with expertise in designing and building complex scientific, medical and industrial equipment.
- Samtec, a worldwide manufacturer of a broad line of electronic interconnects with local offices.