32 S T U F F • 2 0 1 8 • StuffMadeinMA.com
Working toward an ultimate goal
This summer, Eric Pechinsky, now a senior at
Greater Lawrence Technical School in Andover,
worked in Cambridge at the Advanced
Functional Fabrics of America headquarters.
"I got to see how they developed the fibers and
put LED chips in them, and I got to analyze the
defects in them to make them come out more
consistent and work consistently," he said.
The high school is now working with AFFOA
and other partners to create a pilot curriculum
focusing on advanced fabrics.
Pechinsky said he hasn't been convinced a career in fabrics is for
him, but he's looking at a different kind of manufacturing: working
in robotics for a military contractor like Raytheon. Like other
participants in Manufacturing USA programs, he said he'll take
what he learned with him as he moves toward his ultimate goals.
"It was really cool to see the whole process behind how everything
is done," he said.
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America
Location: Cambridge
College affiliation: multiple
Founded: 2017
Purpose: To transform fibers, yarns and textiles into high-tech integrated
and networked devices and systems
P H O T O / M I T
P H O T O / M I T
Eric Pechinsky
