Precision Machining & Tooling

Western Massachusetts alone is home to 230 precision machining companies with more than 7,700 employees. There exists an established network of experienced companies able to produce medium to high complexity components and assemblies in low, medium and high volume. The companies have varied capabilities from full 5-axis CNC Milling to 8-axis multitasking, screw machining, CNC turning large and small diameter, Wire and Sinker EDM and precision grinding of all types. Companies seeking to subcontract in the region will find that the companies offer one stop shopping due to the large number of supporting businesses in the region. These supporting companies perform important secondary processes such as: plating, painting, non-destructive testing, welding, casting, forging, shot peening and other metalworking support services. The result is a one stop region for companies seeking highly engineered precision machining of components and assemblies for major commercial manufacturers, aircraft engine builders and military equipment contractors worldwide.

The region’s precision machining companies have adopted new technologies in order to increase their productivity and competitiveness. Many companies offer ‘lights out’ production capabilities which make them competitive even with low cost countries (LCC) without the intellectual property risks commonly associated with sourcing to firms outside of the US I.P. laws. These firms have the infrastructure, equipment and skilled labor necessary to commercialize projects now being designed and developed for a broad array of markets such as alternative energy, biotechnology and medical devices.

Precision machining is highly indigenous to New England.

Plastics

The plastics industry was born in Leominster, MA, so it’s no wonder that Massachusetts has the seventh largest concentration of plastics companies in the country. Western New England is well represented with highly skilled and specialized plastics processors with over 220 companies in Massachusetts alone, employing more than 16,000 workers.

The area's plastic processors manufacture products predominantly for medical devices, packaging, aerospace, and defense industries.

With many local colleges and universities providing degrees in polymer / plastics engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and industrial engineering, there is no shortage of a well equipped labor force with the skills necessary for the plastics industry. In fact, the University of Massachusetts in Amherst was ranked as the #1 Polymer Science and Engineering Department by U.S. News & World Report (2007).

Medical Device Manufacturing

The region has rapidly developed into a ‘hub’ for medical device manufacturing due to intensive, collaborative promotional efforts by state leaders and the industry itself. Massachusetts alone is typically ranked in the top 3 of device producers (sharing #1 with CA and MN typically). This is also most likely due to the region’s large population of precision machining and plastics processor companies with many located in neighboring Connecticut as well.

The industry has seen a very rapid rise in exports over other industry sectors. Since 1998, the period for which trade data are available to foreign countries, while state merchandise exports grew by 18% between 1998 and 2003, medical device exports grew by 78% - virtually unaffected by recession. The cluster has been growing significantly in this decade with medical device exports growing by 36.9% between 2001 and 2003, an increase of about $498 million. In contrast, total exports from MA increased only 6% during the same time period.

Clean/Green Technology

Today, surveyed executives expect to see a 30% job growth in renewable energy firms and 25% in energy efficiency firms over the next couple of years – faster than any other industry sector. Clean technology is seen by many as offering possible solutions to the current economic downturn. Massachusetts alone reports their clean energy cluster supporting 14,400 jobs and is poised to be the 10th largest cluster in the state. Energy efficiency and demand response firms supply almost 6,300 jobs or 44% of the total 14,400 jobs. The region is seen as an “incubator” for clean energy firms with 68% of them operating below $10 million in annual revenues, and 41% below $1 million. Like medical devices, green products and their components fit nicely with the many precision machining and plastics firms in the region.

Paper & Packaging

Paper manufacturing is one of the oldest and most enduring industries in the region due to its large stands of timber and ample water power from large, swift rivers. It quickly became of the first areas in the US to produce paper and paper products on a massive scale. Holyoke, MA still bears the nickname, “Paper City” and was once home to over 30 independent paper mills. Today, the region is still host to a vibrant paper manufacturing industry with particular emphasis on high value, specialty papers and coatings. Companies such as Avery Dennison, Covidien, National Envelope, Pioneer Packaging and Packaging Corp. of America, still thrive and employ over 4,000 people.

Electronics

Important linkages exist between medical device manufacturers and manufacturers of electronics, producers of metal components and plastics processors. Every dollar of output produced by medical suppliers is associated with another 45 cents of goods and services produced by other firms in the region, and every 100 jobs in medical devices is associated with an additional 79 jobs. Further, employment and wages in medical devices and their supply chains have grown faster than in manufacturing as a whole. For these and other reasons, the electronics industry sector in the region continues to perform well.