CELEBRATING MARYLAND MANUFACTURERS

With 3,680 manufacturing businesses supporting a workforce of 103,630, there’s a lot to celebrate about Maryland’s manufacturing industry. Earlier this week, Governor Larry Hogan stressed the importance of the manufacturing industry by proclaiming October as Maryland Manufacturing Month. Additionally, this Friday, Oct. 7, is Manufacturing Day, a nationwide celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers.

In celebration of Maryland’s manufacturing industry, which generated $19.57 billion in gross state product in 2014, here’s a snapshot of some of the new and expanding manufacturing businesses in Maryland.

• Harbor Design and Manufacturing (Baltimore City), a design and manufacturing company, is on a trajectory to have 200 employees and 45,000 square feet dedicated to engineering and mass production of cutting-edge technologies. Learn more.

• Earlier this year, Blueprint Robotics (Baltimore City), a robotic, pre-fab homebuilding manufacturer announced a move to a 200,000 square foot warehouse/manufacturing plant and 60 jobs. Learn more.

• In May, Frito-Lay (Harford County) announced it was investing $122 million to construct a new 165,000 square-foot automated distribution center, upgrade its wastewater treatment system, and install two more manufacturing lines. As part of the expansion, the company plans to add 140 employees to its current Aberdeen workforce. Learn more.

• Pinnacle Foods (Washington County), a leading producer, marketer and distributor of high-quality branded food products in the U.S. recently announced plans to locate a manufacturing facility in Hagerstown with initial plans to create 85 to 125 full-time jobs by December 2018. Learn more.

• Open Works (Baltimore City), a new creative center for makers, opened this fall. Its 34,000 square foot facility offers workshops, classes and studio space for small-scale manufacturing. Learn More.

• CHUTES International (Charles County) is manufacturer of commercial and industrial chutes and related products. In August, the company relocated to a 43,000 square foot facility and added 15 jobs. Learn more.

• FR Conversions (Carroll County), a major producer of van conversions for wheelchair accessible transportation, invested $20 million to purchase and equip an industrial building, and expects to add up to 400 jobs to its existing workforce. The company celebrated its new headquarters in April. Learn more.

• In June, high-tech manufacturer of defense equipment, Hardwire Armor Systems (Worcester County) announced it was expanding operations and adding 20 new jobs over the next three years. Learn more.

• Last year, Tempur Sealy International (Washington County) announced that it was leasing a newly constructed 615,000 square foot facility to expand its manufacturing and distribution operations in the county, retaining the facility’s existing 112 employees and creating 120 new jobs. Learn more.