We’ve reached the final installment of our Made in Massachusetts series, and we’re closing with six MassMEP members whose work reaches industries across the country and around the world.
This group brings together medical technology, specialty papers, advanced composites, precision manufacturing, and equipment that supports other manufacturers.
Small Parts, Important Work
A medical device may look simple from the outside, but producing its individual components can involve some highly specialized manufacturing.
Founded in 1962, G&F Precision Molding operates facilities in Fiskdale and Danvers, Massachusetts, specializing in thermoplastic and liquid silicone rubber molding.
The company works primarily with life sciences customers, including medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Its capabilities include product development support, prototyping, mold making, precision molding, and additional operations such as bonding and testing.
Liquid silicone rubber can be used to manufacture flexible components, while thermoplastics provide options for parts with different performance requirements.
The finished device may be what patients and healthcare professionals recognize, but the components inside require just as much attention during manufacturing.
Materials Built for Demanding Conditions
What does it take to manufacture a material that can withstand challenging conditions underwater or in an industrial environment?
Globe Composite Solutions, based in Stoughton, develops and manufactures high-performance composite materials and products for defense, marine, and industrial applications.
Originally founded as a rubber company in Boston in 1890, Globe has expanded into specialized composite manufacturing, combining material development, engineering, prototyping, and production.
Its capabilities include syntactic foams, which combine low weight with strength and can be used in subsea buoyancy applications. Through its specialized divisions, Globe also produces composite tooling materials used in thermoforming and other industrial processes.
These products may never be seen by the general public, but their ability to perform under demanding conditions makes them valuable in specialized applications.
The Paper Behind Everyday Transactions
Receipts, tickets, and product labels have something in common: many rely on specialty paper designed for a particular printing process.
Kanzaki Specialty Papers manufactures direct thermal papers and other specialty coated materials at its facility in Ware, Massachusetts.
The company’s Massachusetts operation has been part of the paper industry for decades, with its current ownership dating to 1986. Its products include coated papers used for labels, tickets, tags, and other applications.
Direct thermal paper produces an image when exposed to heat from a compatible printer, eliminating the need for ink or toner in that printing process.
It’s the kind of technology most people encounter without thinking about it, whether they’re receiving a printed ticket or looking at a shipping label.
Taking Metal 3D Printing Into Production
Metal 3D printing can produce complex parts that are difficult to manufacture using traditional methods. But producing those parts consistently, at a commercial scale, requires more than the right equipment.
Founded in 2017 and based in Woburn, Rennscot MFG specializes in metal additive manufacturing and precision CNC machining for industries including aerospace and defense.
The company uses laser powder bed fusion technology to build metal components layer by layer. With four industrial metal 3D printing systems, Rennscot focuses on using additive manufacturing for production, while also supporting prototype development.
Its precision machining capabilities also play an important role. Parts produced through additive manufacturing often require additional machining to achieve the dimensions, surfaces, and finishes needed for their intended applications. Rennscot combines these capabilities to manufacture and finish complex components.
From intricate internal passages to shapes that would be difficult to machine from a solid block of metal, Rennscot is helping expand what’s possible with metal manufacturing.
Helping Manufacturers Keep Production Moving
Some Massachusetts manufacturers make the equipment and systems that other manufacturers rely on.
Kadant Solutions Division, based in Auburn, is part of Kadant Inc., a global supplier of engineered technologies and systems used in industrial processing. The Auburn operation develops and manufactures doctoring, cleaning, filtration, and forming systems for process industries.
These products support manufacturing operations involving paper, tissue, food processing, engineered wood, and other materials.
For example, doctoring systems use specialized blades to clean or remove material from industrial rolls, while filtration systems help manage water and other process materials.
These systems may operate behind the scenes, but they can play an important role in maintaining product quality, reducing waste, and keeping production equipment running.
Medical Technology That Reaches Around the World
Based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, Hologic, Inc. is a global medical technology company specializing in diagnostics, breast imaging, and gynecological surgical technologies.
Founded in 1985, the company develops products used by healthcare professionals to detect, diagnose, and treat a range of medical conditions.
Its portfolio includes mammography systems, diagnostic testing technologies, and minimally invasive surgical products. These technologies support areas such as breast health, cervical health, and gynecological care.
Hologic’s work brings together engineering, medical technology, and manufacturing to develop products used in healthcare settings around the world.
From a diagnostic test to a mammography exam, medical technology plays a role in helping healthcare professionals make informed decisions about patient care.
Made in Massachusetts: A Series Wrap-Up
Over five installments, we’ve highlighted 26 MassMEP members and the range of products, components, and technologies connected to manufacturing across Massachusetts.
We’ve visited companies making familiar products, explored specialized manufacturing processes, and looked at technologies used in industries ranging from food production and healthcare to aerospace and defense.
While this series is coming to an end, the manufacturing taking place across Massachusetts continues every day. We hope these stories have offered a closer look at some of the companies and people behind the products we use and the systems we rely on.