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OCTOBER 2, 2017 • HARTFORD BUSINESS JOURNAL | 75 Retrospectives In October 1992, with a vision, an electron beam welding machine and six employees, Michael Francoeur launched Energy Beam Labs out of his garage in Cheshire, CT. He envisioned creating an ultra-modern facility where customers could come for solutions to their tough joining problems. His dream has exceeded expectations. As the company grew, Francoeur relocated to East Granby, CT in 1998 and renamed the business Joining Technologies to reflect its expansion into laser welding technology. Through the years, the company added supply chain management, machining and laser cladding to its services; Joining Technologies also began to offer products, including integrated laser work cells and wireless devices used for monitoring natural gas pipelines. Today, Joining Technologies develops innovative solutions for industries nationwide, including aerospace, automotive, medical device, defense and energy. Customers represent titans of industry and national defense, including Boeing, Parker, Kaman, Covanta, Alcoa, UTC and the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), to name just a few. Unprecedented Growth In 2006, the company purchased a 2-kilowatt disk laser – the very first of its kind sold in North America – which expanded its capabilities in aerospace components manufacturing. Five years later, the company signed a joint cooperation agreement with the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology in Germany and opened a second facility in East Granby for laser additive research and development services and production laser cladding. Since its founding, Joining Technologies has grown from six to 115 employees and now has three additional companies that provide services to a wide range of industrial markets across North America. American Cladding Technologies specializes in laser cladding and laser metal deposition services. Joining Technologies Automation designs and builds manual and automated laser systems and equipment. Newgate Instruments, a spin-off of JT Instruments, designs and manufactures devices for remote oil and gas pipeline monitoring. In 2012, Joining Technologies was hailed for its Infinite Web® automated laser-based cutting and welding system, receiving a Platinum Innovation Prize from the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award. The Hartford Courant named the company one of Connecticut's Top 10 Workplaces in 2011 and 2012. In 2017, CEO Dave Hudson established a new parent company called Joining Industries to support its subsidiaries, acquire new businesses, provide complex project management services and attract investors; this new entity represents a platform for accelerated growth. "We are committed to growing our business significantly but responsibly, staying true to our vision: to leverage our business to improve the lives of everyone we touch our employees, our customers, our suppliers and our community," he said. Core Values In addition to its vision, Joining Technologies developed a set of core values to guide decision-making. These include customer engagement, growth opportunities for employees based on merit, and a strong commitment to community service. Joining Technologies' internal charity committee carefully screens non-profit organizations before adding them to its approved charity list. Employees enthusiastically support a number of community organizations and nonprofits, such as the Springfield Rescue Mission where they serve meals and sponsor coat and food drives for the mission's clients. The company also sponsors blood drives, local Little League teams, the East Granby police and the New England Air Museum. The small business that began as Francoeur's dream has thrived, and in 2017 Joining Technologies celebrates its 25th anniversary. A Quarter-Century of Accomplishments Joining Technologies, Inc. Address: 17 Connecticut South Dr., East Granby, CT 06026 Phone: 860-653-0111 Web: www.joiningtech.com