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14 S T U F F • F a l l 2 0 1 6 Who makes it: Modern Manufacturing Inc. Where: Worcester Employees: 20 How they make it: Extruded shapes of aluminum cut specifically for that custom project, with liquid sand and other ingredients used to create glass. How much it costs: Can range up to $50-$60 per square foot, installed Who uses the product: Homeowners, shower enthusiats By Susan Shalhoub Special to the Worcester Business Journal F rom pink flamingos to soccer cleats, from horseshoes to craft lager, there are things that many people regularly use or see that are made -- with pride -- right here in Central Massachusetts. (The packaging for some of it just might be made here, too.) Rick Uras, owner Glass showers Cool Stuff Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Glass gurus T o see the work of Modern Manufacturing of Worcester, for instance, all you have to do is look up. The company made the win- dows at The Edge at Union Station -- the now-modern apartment building behind Union Station in Worcester -- in the fully renovated 1914 Osgood Bradley building. The company makes and installs custom, historic glass win- dows, one-of-a-kind commercial storefronts, three-season porch enclosures, shower enclosures, glass partitions or whatever else its custom glass clients require. Glass, of course, is made from liquid sand, but it's what Modern Manufacturing does from there that sets it apart as a unique man- ufacturer in the Central Massa- chusetts region. "We use extruded shapes of aluminum that are cut specifi- cally; most work is custom, so there are no pre-made products," at Modern Manufacturing, said owner Rick Uras, who bought the company —founded in 1952 — in 1980. "Every commercial job is very specific to that building." And every job it takes on is also specific to Modern Manu- facturing, start to finish: Uras says that what sets his company apart is the ability for it to see a project through start to completion, with all work, from measuring to installation, coming from a single (local) source. Made in Central Mass: The cool stuff we use every day Cool Stuff P H O T O / E D D C O T E Rick Uras, owner of Modern Manufacturing in Worcester, makes custom glass for buildings, showers and storefronts.