NEW BRITAIN – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that Addaero Manufacturing of New Britain is this week’s “Murphy’s Monday Manufacturer.” Addaero Manufacturing, which was founded in 2013 by Connecticut natives Rich Merlino and Dave Hill, specializes in additive manufacturing, otherwise known as 3-D printing. Merlino and Hill, both former employees of Pratt & Whitney, established the manufacturing company with co-founder Cesar Terrazas after recognizing the potential of additive technology to reduce lead times and improve quality in manufacturing. Today, the entrepreneurs design, engineer, and manufacture a variety of products, including tools, rocket nozzles, engine components, and remotely operated underwater vehicle parts for customers in the aerospace, defense, oil, gas, medical, and marine industries. Addaero Manufacturing serves clients located throughout the United States, such as NASA, Kaman Aerospace, GKN Aerospace, and Connecticut’s own Barnes Aerospace and Arcor Laser Services.

Located in a 6,000 square foot manufacturing space at the site of the former Fafnir Bearing Company, Addaero Manufacturing is well-positioned to accommodate a growing list of clients and increased sales. In order to continue their rapid expansion, Addaero Manufacturing plans to hire students from Central Connecticut State University in the coming weeks. Merlino, Hill, and Terrazas are looking forward to teaching their new employees about 3-D printing technology to help them attain valuable, real-world skills that will enable them to succeed in the future.

“In just a short time, Rich, Dave, and Cesar have turned an opportunity into a booming business. They’ve quickly adopted a state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and have been commissioned by more than a dozen renowned customers, like NASA, because of their cutting-edge entrepreneurship,” said Murphy. “It’s especially gratifying to see that they’ve resumed manufacturing in the old Fafnir ball bearing factory where hundreds of Connecticut residents – including my grandfather – worked to support their families. Addaero Manufacturing is one of many Connecticut companies that will propel our manufacturing industry into a thriving future, and I look forward to collaborating closely with Rich, Dave, and Cesar as they continue to grow their business.”

Richard Merlino, co-founder and President of Addaero Manufacturing, said, “We are excited to help drive the next revolution in American manufacturing and Connecticut has been a big part of this. By having a large concentration of capable manufacturing companies already in Connecticut we are able to leverage their skills and ours to deliver a high quality product. We are very excited about what the future brings us for both the company and the state of Connecticut.”

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.