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Regional manufacturers are invited to attend a free Manufacturing Crossroads event co-sponsored by the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities' Retool WNY initiative and Properly Works, a regional automation systems vendor, on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Northwest Arena's Arena Club.
The drop-in event from 2 to 5 p.m. will allow attendees to see automation solutions that solve manufacturing challenges and talk with business consultants about available grants and funding opportunities for equipment additions to their production lines. The solutions are designed to address production line challenges that can hurt a company's bottom line.
The event will include robotics demonstrations and opportunities to talk with regional experts about integrating this technology into production lines to improve efficiency.
The region's newest manufacturer, Electrovaya, will host a tour of its facility at One Precision Way in the Mason Industrial Park at 5 p.m. Electrovaya produces and assembles lithium-ion battery packs. The company is renovating the former Acu-Rite facility.
BPU General Manager Kristofor Sellstrom said the Retool WNY event celebrating Manufacturing Month will help regional manufacturers see how investments in automation technology could help increase productivity and efficiency.
"Our manufacturers need to take advantage of tools like robotics in order to maximize their output," Sellstrom said. "In addition, if some repetitive or dangerous tasks can be handled through automation, employees can be trained for more technical jobs on the production line."
Dominic Myers, president of Properly Works and chairman of the Buffalo Niagara Manufacturing Alliance, encourages regional companies to explore technology that can improve processes and their bottom line.
"Manufacturers need to see what's possible and connect with people who can help them take the next step. Manufacturing Crossroads brings working technology, practical expertise, and funding resources together in one place, helping manufacturers turn everyday challenges into opportunities to improve and grow," Myers said.
Participating companies and organizations include CS Automation, Insyte Consulting, Ganson Street Innovation Station, the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier (MAST), Straight Forward Consulting and Jamestown Community College's Workforce Development team.
The event is free, but pre-registration is required. Attendees can go to https://tinyurl.com/yk7th95m or contact Ellen Ditonto, BPU business development coordinator, at businessdev@jamestownbpu.com. Registration is open through Oct. 23. .