Look around your room right now. The chair you’re sitting on, the plastic bottle on your desk, and the car key in your pocket all began as raw materials that were transformed into products through physical operations. Those are just few examples, and they’re relatively simple ones when you consider the capabilities of many New York State manufacturers.
Let’s take a virtual trip along the I-90 corridor and meet a few companies that make some of what we need today. Then we’ll consider where to discover what’s coming tomorrow.
Precision Machining
Precision machining is the process of removing unwanted material from a solid block of metal, plastic, or composite to produce parts with very tight dimensional or geometric tolerances. It uses CNC machinery to achieve measurements that are sometimes measured in microns. For reference, a human hair is typically 50 to 100 microns thick.
Precision-machined parts don’t have to be small, however. In the Capital Region, Greno Industries uses precision machining to produce large parts for gas turbines, combustion engines that convert natural gas or other fuels into mechanical energy. This energy then drives a generator that produces electricity used by facilities such as AI data centers.
Injection Molding
Injection molding is a high-volume manufacturing process that injects a molten material into a metal tool called a mold. Typically, this material is plastic; however, elastomers such as liquid silicone rubber (LSR) are also used. After parts cool, they’re ejected from the mold and finished during post-processing. For example, excess material call flash or flashing may need to be removed.
That doesn’t mean injection molding is imprecise In Central New York, Tessy Plastics is a contract manufacturer of precision plastic components for medical, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic products. The company has ISO Class 7 and 8 cleanrooms, holds an ISO 13485:2016 quality certification, and is registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Converting, Printing, and Packaging
Converting is a manufacturing process that transforms bulk materials such as sheets and rolls into functional components. It includes die cutting, a specialized process that uses a custom-made tool called a die to shear, cut, stamp, or shape thin materials. Some converters also offer printing and packaging services to provide customers with single-source solutions.
In Western New York, Tapecon is a leading example. The 100+ year old company makes products that include wearable skin tapes and patches, membrane switches for small electronic devices, and printed chemical indicators that the semiconductor industry uses to track moisture levels in packaging. These indicators can also be used to monitor shipments of perishable items such as food.
Made in New York: Today and Tomorrow
These are just a few of the manufacturing processes – and a few of the New York State companies – that make what we need today. But what’s coming tomorrow? To find out, join us for the New York State Innovation Summit on October 27th and 28th at the Buffalo Convention Center. You’ll learn about topics like the quantum revolution, the new space economy, and glass-based microelectronics.