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V O L . X X X I N O. X X I V O C T O B E R 2 0 , 2 0 2 5 22 M A N U FA C T U R I N G / I N T E R N AT I O N A L T R A D E F O C U S O ver the past decade, Compotech in Brewer has moved from man- ual production to automated systems that integrate robots to create ballistic protection systems and expedi- tionary shelters for U.S. Army troops. e Advanced Manufacturing Center at the University of Maine in Orono has been instrumental in help- ing Compotech automate its process for tasks such as sanding, drilling, welding and packaging. Primarily a defense contractor, Compotech has about 80 employees at its manufacturing facility in Brewer and its digital solutions site in Orono. Making thousands of armor panels a year, automation throughout the production line has improved quality control and efficiency. "ey helped us build manufactur- ing equipment for our facility," says Paul Melrose, the company's presi- dent. "For example, they helped auto- mate the process for making some of our armor panels, making it easier for the operators to perform tasks con- sistently and efficiently — a human- machine interface, so to speak." Concept to production Founded in 2002, the Advanced Manufacturing Center has worked with hundreds of companies and trained scores of students. e engi- neering support and service center helps move ideas from concept to pro- duction through hands-on prototyp- ing, design and fabrication services for companies across Maine and provides workforce development programs. ese days, the center is leading companies and students into the future of "Industry 4.0," a term that refers to digital advancements such as the integration of artificial intelligence into manufacturing processes. e center recently opened a robotics and automa- tion workforce training facility called the B.O.T. Loft (build, optimize, train) equipped with collaborative robots and automation trainers. "Based on recent studies completed by the AMC and partners, having a cohort of trained operators and tech- nicians is essential to help company managers develop the confidence to embrace automation and robotics," says John Belding, the center's director. "e B.O.T. Loft is the next stage in the AMC's longstanding commitment to help companies trial and de-risk the adoption of these technologies, and to train workers with the skills needed to operate them." Bandsaws and robots e center started in 2002 to support manufacturing around Maine. e 30,000-square-foot building where it's housed was completed in 2004. Today, the building houses $6 million worth MANUFACTURING THE FUTURE UMaine's advanced capabilities advance companies and workforce for the 21st century B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r P H O T O S / J I M N E U G E R A laser cutting head used to cut metal. Members of the management team of the University of Maine's Advanced Manufacturing Center in Orono, in front of a laser cutting machine. From left: Brad Denholm, associate director of workforce development; John Belding, director; Forest Wentworth, associate director of projects.

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