HARTFORD — The Mazak Northeast Technology Center of Windsor Locks was recognized on Monday by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy as the featured “Monday Manufacturer” on his website.
Established in South Windsor in 1981, Mazak develops high-tech tools at a 22,000-square-foot facility near Bradley International Airport.
Mazak’s tools are used in the manufature of jet engine and automotive components and household appliances.
The Windsor Locks manufacturer’s 48 employees serve a long list of in-state customers including New Britain’s Polamer Precision, Barnes Group of Bristol, General Dynamics Electric Boat, Sikorsky, EDAC Technologies and GKN.
Murphy said Mazak is proud to work closely with Connecticut suppliers such as Tier One Machining, CED Services, KAF Manufacturing and the Quick Turn Machine Co.
The Mazak Northeast Technology Center in Windsor Locks is one of seven such centers in North America, and one of 37 worldwide.
Mazak Northeast Technology Center partners with the Connecticut Center of Advanced Technologies and Asnuntuck Community College to educate other Connecticut manufacturers and students on ways to improve their manufacturing capabilities.
The Windsor Locks company recently hosted nearly 200 students for a “Student Day,” during which aspiring engineers and machinists learned the latest advancements in manufacturing technologies and career opportunities in manufacturing.
Mazak is planning to introduce new machine concepts, such as cryogenic machining, at a tool show this September, Murphy said.
“When I met with Mazak and other members of the Connecticut Tooling & Machining Association last April, we talked about the importance of getting young people excited about manufacturing. I’m thrilled that Mazak is so focused on working with students and showing them the ins and outs of 21st century manufacturing,” said Murphy. “With high wages and advanced technologies, careers in manufacturing have a lot to offer, and I’ll continue to partner with companies like Mazak to get more students involved.”
The senator said the manufacturing industry plays a critical role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating the state’s economic recovery.
Today, Connecticut’s 4,602 manufacturers account for 10.2 percent of the state’s jobs and 87 percent of the state’s total exports.
In order to protect and grow manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, Murphy has introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods: the 21st Century Buy American Act and the American Jobs Matter Act.