The best part of 2022? Hands down, coming together with you to do what we do best, collaborate and innovate. As we look back on what we’ve accomplished this past year, we remain committed to helping Connecticut companies like yours increase efficiency and productivity while strengthening our workforce. In recapping the highlights of 2022, we hope to remind you of some valuable resources you can utilize in this new year.
TO READ A MESSAGE FROM RON ANGELO, PRESIDENT & CEO, ABOUT CCAT’s PLANS FOR 2023, CLICK HERE.
This year, CCAT offered unprecedented support for Connecticut thanks to funding provided by the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and the Manufacturing Innovation Fund. With our “Money for Manufacturing” program, companies like yours can acquire the tools, develop the skills, and access the resources needed to keep pace in today’s rapidly evolving ecosystem. Here’s a list of funding programs – technology and workforce – accepting applications into 2023. Stay tuned, as we will be announcing additional funding sources soon!
“Our printer has already paid for itself, cutting our costs and lead times significantly, saving us $2k since October.”
Brittany Isherwood, President, Burke Aerospace on purchasing the Raise 3D Technologies printer through IVP grant and Desktop Metal printer through AMAP grant (April 2022)
Manufacturing Innovation Fund Voucher Program (MVP)
$100,000 to conduct a project aimed at improving your manufacturing productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness. Administered on a first-come first-served basis.
Manufacturing Innovation Fund Voucher Program (MVP)
$100,000 to conduct a project aimed at improving your manufacturing productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness. Administered on a first-come first-served basis.
SIRI and Cyber Assistance Program (SAC)
$10,000 will be provided on a matching basis to help manufacturers obtain Smart Industry Readiness Index assessments and Cyber Security assessments.
Incumbent Workforce Training Program (IWT)
$50,000 provided on a matching basis to reimburse manufacturers for training costs incurred to upskill their employees.
Apprentice Funding Program (AFP)
$15,000 wage subsidy per apprentice over the course of their apprenticeship program.
MIF Engineering Internship Program
This program is for rising sophomore through senior students seeking computer science, finance, marketing, and engineering internships this summer. We will promote your listings on our website and offer professional development, networking, and other enrichment opportunities. Employers with less than 300 employees may be eligible for wage subsidies up to $3,500 for two engineering interns.
Advanced Technology
CCAT’s Advanced Technology Center (ATC) is a destination of innovation, allowing businesses to explore new technologies and see the latest systems and equipment in operation. At the start of the year, Paul Lavoie kicked off his inaugural tour as Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer with a visit. CCAT also hosted private and public tours for manufacturers,
legislators, educators, and students to showcase the leading-edge equipment in our Additive Technology Optimization Machining (ATOM) Lab, Advanced Design Automation Metrology (ADAM) Lab, and Advanced Composites Technology Center.
Members of the ATC team, including Jackie Garofano,Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer; Joe Wysocki, Director of Manufacturing Technology, Advanced Technology Centers, Jeff Crandall, Senior Manager, Additive Technologies; Nasir Mannan, Principal Engineer, Advanced Design, Automation & Metrology Lab; and Donna Fusco, Program Innovation Lead came together to produce a series of events to highlight trends in Advanced Manufacturing.
CCAT also offered a variety of training workshops focused on automation and robotics, additive manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, big data and analytics, and digital technologies. This past year the CCAT team presented:
CCAT also coordinated a full line-up of training workshops led by our technology partners: Aida; aPriori; Creaform; Datanomix; Gibson Engineering; Hawk Ridge System; Hexagon; Leela-AI; Massivit; NC Software; Qualityline; Renishaw; Sensofar; Sitewatch; Siemens; Swoosh Technologies; Synagex
“David Morganson [CCAT Manufacturing Applications Engineer] immediately took the time to explain his work, share his passion for additive manufacturing. Throughout our conversations, I always walked away with an increased knowledge of manufacturing technology.”
Clive Komlenic, Eastern Sales Manager, Mikron Tool USA, Monroe, (November 2022)
Recognizing it may have been difficult to step away from the shop floor, CCAT records many of these sessions for online viewing. To access an extensive online library anytime, on-demand, CLICK HERE.
CCAT in collaboration with CONNSTEP, Inc., Engineering USA, CCSU, DECD, and the State of Connecticut, has introduced the Connecticut Digital Model Initiative to help Connecticut small and medium-sized defense suppliers adopt MBD digital manufacturing technologies.
“MBD has one of the lowest barriers to entry: it’s software. You can implement software into your manufacturing processes to immediately drive cost [down], drive efficiencies, and improve performance through your entire organization.”
Ron Angelo, President & CEO, CCAT
A dedicated CDMI web page, built and managed by CCAT, now provides resources and information, including a series of MBD training videos. CCAT’s principal engineer Nasir Mannan has also joined Digital Model Initiative’ team and is available to help companies learn more about adopting model-based definition. For more information, CLICK HERE
Workforce Innovations
CCAT continues to work with the manufacturing community to enhance employer engagement, provide assistance to job seekers, and create professional development opportunities supporting high school and college-level educators. Throughout the past year, CCAT presented the following webinars:
CCAT also partnered with the State of Connecticut, educational institutions, and organizations to develop and implement programs that raised awareness of careers within manufacturing and STEM, reaching nearly 4,000 young adults. We launched MAKER Multipliers (seeded by a grant from Stanley Black & Decker), piloted a State-wide Summer 2023 internship program for #CTManufacturing (funded by the Manufacturing Innovation Fund), and partnered with an employer to identify, assess, and pre-qualify a cohort of highly-motivated individuals with no previous manufacturing experience and no formal manufacturing education.
Lynn Raicik, Director of Workforce, and her team at CCAT are passionate about helping connect untapped talent throughout the region with training and jobs. Over the past 12 months, they have connected with 1,200+ job seekers looking to launch new careers. The team was especially excited when Gov. Ned Lamont came to CCAT recently to announce the expansion of the State’s signature workforce program, Career ConneCT.
The program provides an intake portal leading to tuition-free job training, career coaching, and employment assistance. Support services such as childcare, transportation, and technology are available to eligible candidates.
To learn more about career opportunities within manufacturing, attend an upcoming 30- minute info session led by our Workforce Innovations team, Click Here
For more resources for educators, visit CTCreates.org.
Energy
2022 has been a busy year for Joel Rinebold, Director of CCAT’s energy program. He was among a selected group of distinguished speakers at the TransAtlantic Hydrogen Exchange, and was invited to serve as an official “reviewer” at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen Program 2022 Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting (AMR). With his help, CCAT looks forward to building strong ties between Bavaria, Connecticut, and the Northeast Hydrogen Hub.
CCAT also announced the launch of Connecticut’s first Offshore Wind Supply Chain Directory built in collaboration with AVANGRID’s Park City Wind, the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), and AdvanceCT. The directory, one of the most complete supply chain directories for offshore wind in the U.S. provides connections for more than 4,000 suppliers, 1,600 of which are Connecticut companies. All businesses, especially
women-owned and minority-owned businesses, are encouraged to register at offshorewind.ccat.us to participate and expand the supply chain for renewable energy. READ MORE
Joel unveiled the directors at Environmental Business Council’s 3rd Annual Offshore Wind Forum with MIT, SECTER, DECD, and other stakeholders and participated in the Clean Energy Roundtable on the Northeast Hydrogen Economy at UCONN. He also moderated the panel session entitled “Building Blocks on Connecticut’s Hydrogen Future,” featuring Enrique Bosch from AVANGRID, Tony Leo from FuelCell Energy, and Neil Beup from Linde for the Connecticut Power and Energy Society conference.
In the News
CCAT Awarded 2022 Connecticut Medal of Technology
In May, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) was selected, along with Dr. Craig Crews at Yale University, as a 2022 recipient of the Connecticut Medal of Technology: the state’s highest honor for technological achievement in fields crucial to Connecticut’s economic competitiveness. CCAT was awarded the medal for leadership of regional and national partnerships focused on applied technologies and workforce initiatives to strengthen Connecticut’s manufacturing ecosystem’s global competitiveness. READ MORE
Nasir Mannan of CCAT Named One of HBJ’s 40 Under Forty
Nasir Mannan, Principal Engineer, was profiled as one of Hartford Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty in September. This award spotlights up-and-coming young professionals in leadership positions within private, public, and nonprofit sectors across the Hartford Region. Recipients are recognized for leadership, entrepreneur-ism, and community involvement serving as role models for their peers. READ MORE
Henry Babiec Shines a Spotlight on Hybrid Manufacturing at CCAT
Our very own Henry Babiec landed on the cover of the summer edition of 3D Metal Printing Magazine for the feature “Tech Centers Help Manufacturers Jump Aboard the Metal-AM Train.” which profiles ways CCAT helps manufacturers identify how Additive Manufacturing can benefit their business. Henry, a manufacturing applications engineer in our ATOM Lab, recently traveled to Frankfurt, Germany, to present on the power of hybrid manufacturing at Formnext 2022. Hybrid manufacturing combines additive manufacturing (AM) and subtractive manufacturing within the same machine.
“As exciting as 2022 was, 2023 will be even more transformative and impactful as we kick-off and accelerate our work.”
Ron Angelo, President & CEO, CCAT
How we can help in 2023
Thank you for engaging with us in 2022. We wish you and your team a happy, healthy, and productive New Year. Here are some ways CCAT can assist you in the 2023:
