WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced on Monday that RAF Electronic Hardware in Seymour is this week’s “Murphy’s Monday Manufacturer.” Founded in 1975, RAF specializes in the manufacturing of electronic hardware components, including spacers, standoffs, thumb screws, jack screws and handles in a variety of metals and finishes for the telecommunications, medical, entertainment and military/aerospace industries. They primarily do work for global distributors and major catalog houses, but also original equipment manufacturers both large and small. The company joined MW Industries, Inc. in 2008 to become the nation’s largest supplier of electronic hardware components. MW has three locations in Connecticut, the largest is their 130,000 square-foot facility in Seymour which features a quick turn department for orders with tight lead times as well as an in-house plating department to ensure a short, four week lead time for any order where the part is not in stock.

“RAF is doing everything right. For decades, they have provided quality products that are distributed all around the world. I want to thank the team for their commitment to Connecticut manufacturing and their commitment to training the next generation of manufacturers in our state,” said Murphy.

“At RAF we make the little things that make the big things work. We’re proud to work with a handful of schools in Connecticut to train the next generation of skilled machinists, because we are committed to growing our business here in Connecticut and want to do our part to ensure the growth and development of our workforce,” said Ryan Lisiak, Vice President of RAF Electronic Hardware.

RAF works with numerous trade schools in Connecticut including Emmett O’Brien Technical High School, Kaynon Technical High School, and Housatonic Community College to develop internships and pre-apprenticeship programs for students to create a pipeline of the next generation of skilled machinists in the state. They also support a variety of local charities and sponsors the Make a Wish Foundation in Connecticut.

The manufacturing industry plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating the state’s economic recovery. Today, Connecticut’s thousands of manufacturers account for 10% 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 BuyAmerican.gov Act and the American Jobs Matter Act.

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