COLCHESTER – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that Alpha Q, Inc., a custom manufacturer based out of Colchester, is this week’s “Murphy’s Monday Manufacturer.” Founded in 1964, Alpha Q offers precision-tolerance milling, turning, grinding, and assembly services to customers around the world in the aerospace, oil, gas, medical, and automotive industries. Their products are used in the construction of Black Hawk Helicopters, battle tanks, commercial jets, and other industrial applications by many well-known companies, including Sikorsky Aircraft, Rolls Royce, Honeywell Engines and Systems, Vericor Power Systems, and UTC Aerospace Systems. In addition to their Colchester location, Alpha Q operates a second manufacturing facility in Tennessee.

Alpha Q employs nearly 100 Connecticut residents at their Colchester plant and takes great pride in the fact that many of their workers have stayed with the company for upwards of 25 years. In an effort to close the manufacturing workforce skills gap, Alpha Q works closely with area colleges and high schools, as well as the Job Corps Academy, to encourage students to start careers in the manufacturing industry. Alpha Q has hired many of these local students and offers tuition assistance and professional development opportunities as part of their benefits package.

“Connecticut manufacturers are investing time and resources into our workforce, and they’re leading our state’s economic recovery because of it,” said Murphy. “When local manufacturers like Alpha Q prepare the next generation of skilled workers to fill in-demand and well-paying manufacturing jobs, they’re helping hundreds of Connecticut residents and families climb the economic ladder. Through partnerships with schools like Goodwin College and Windham Technical High School, Alpha Q is doing their part to secure Connecticut’s role as a leader in American manufacturing.”

Richard J. Hurley, V.P., General Manager at Alpha Q, Inc. said, “Connecticut has a rich history in manufacturing and at Alpha Q, Inc., that history is alive and well. We are committed to educate and properly train our workforce to meet the growing demands found in today’s manufacturing. This commitment relies on state and federal funding streams to allow us to continue to offer the training and professional development required in the world of advanced manufacturing. We were founded here in CT over 50 years ago and we’re proud to be part of the strong manufacturing base in the state.”

The manufacturing industry plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating our state’s economic recovery. Today, Connecticut’s 4,602 manufacturers account for 10.2% of the state’s jobs and 87% 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 existing standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods, the 21st Century Buy American Act and the American Jobs Matter Act.