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42 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 17, 2023 Building Ideas That Work... Contact us at 860.482.7613 or visit us at BorghesiBuilding.com 2155 East Main Street Torrington, Connecticut 06790 © 2011 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing ™ is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. With "Public Works" budgets being so tight, many towns have turned to Borghesi Building & Engineering Co., Inc. for help in leading the team to marry the budget with design and technology. In turn, we provide an efficient, practical building that "works" for the town. Providing quality and reliability with design and energy efficient construction. With over 80 years of experience our processes will help your dream to be realized. BARKHAMSTED HIGHWAY GARAGE HARWINTON GARAGE WATERFORD PUBLIC WORKS makes laser cutting, bending and welding machinery). It will also house a smart factory featuring highly advanced technology, automation and IT infrastructure. In total, Trumpf has about 400,000 square feet of space in Farmington and more than 620 employees in Connecticut. Trumpf President and CEO Lutz Labisch said strong demand for its laser machinery is driving the Connecticut expansion. "We have a long history of inno- vation and manufacturing here in Connecticut," Labisch said. "This year our parent company in Germany celebrates 100 years in business, and we have been here in the U.S. for more than 50 years." Burke Doar, Trumpf's executive vice president, said the current expansion is the company's seventh on the Farmington campus. "This project enables our customers to compete in a decoupled world, in a world where reshoring is real in manufacturing," Doar said. "We can do it competitively, we can do it cost effectively, and we can really create good jobs for people in manufacturing." The pandemic forced many compa- nies to rethink how they manage their supply chains, and reshoring or buying from local firms has been emphasized, Doar said. Mott Corp.'s Levin said his company uses lasers from Trumpf, and equipment from other local companies, in its precision manufacturing. "Trumpf has the best technology in the world, right? They have the best and most sophisticated lasers. … We search long and hard for the best suppliers in the world, and we find, in many areas, that Connecticut has the best technologies," Levin said. Skilled workforce Ponte, the economic development director, said another Farmington strength is the presence of Tunxis Community College, which has a large advanced manufacturing program that provides a pipeline of much-needed young talent. Labisch said developing a skilled workforce through the higher-educa- tion system should be a continued focus for Connecticut. His company has an apprenticeship program through the state's community college system, he said. Making the state competitive when it comes to taxes is also key, he added. Neither Trumpf nor Mott Corp. have received state incen- tives for their recently announced expansion plans, according to the Department of Economic and Community Development. Levin said the state should also emphasize connecting regional manufacturers with each other — like Mott and Trumpf have in the past — so they know what is locally available. Suggestions aside, both CEOs said Connecticut's overall support of advanced manufacturing in recent years has been noticed by the industry. "We are able to find a good, qual- ified workforce here," Labisch said. "Good education in Connecticut and a good source of skilled labor is a big factor for us." HBJ Editor Greg Bordonaro contrib- uted to this story. A rendering of the planned 55,800-square-foot addition to Trumpf Inc.'s Farmington Industrial Park campus. RENDERING | CONTRIBUTED