Celebrating Manufacturing Month in Colorado Springs
This month the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC is pleased to bring awareness to National Manufacturing Month, a month-long celebration of the industry to showcase the excellent opportunities manufacturing has to offer. Colorado Springs is a hotspot for talent and business in the manufacturing sector. Home to no less than 402 manufacturing companies and 11,600 employees, not to mention one of the largest Foreign Trade Zones in the country. Manufacturing continues to grow as an innovative and changing industry as the economy shifts, new technology is introduced, and a creative workforce looks to produce something new that resonates with the public or fulfills a need.
Diverse manufacturing sectors create an open opportunity for businesses and talent to change with the times. Here in Colorado Springs, we offer reasonable construction and labor costs, relatively inexpensive utilities, moderate weather, and a steady talent pipeline which contributes to manufacturing growth.
The Companies Defining Colorado Springs as a Manufacturing Hub
Colorado Springs’ array of advanced manufacturing companies label the region as the core of innovation uplifting this new era of modern manufacturing. Titan Robotics for instance, is a company that manufactures industrial 3D printers and provides 3D printing services, helping produce products from prosthetics to aerospace parts. Additionally, dpiX makes imaging devices for medical, industrial, and security applications. Digital X-rays are performed on one of every two patients around the world using dpiX technology. The company was established in 1999 in Silicon Valley before moving to Colorado Springs in 2007 to build their business.
For Manufacturing Month, Chief Executive Officer Scott White at Jaxon Engineering spoke with IndustryWeek on the future of manufacturing and the importance of this changing industry in the United States. Jaxon, a specialty manufacturer that creates military-grade EMP shielding materials, work to create custom-manufactured products for the Department of Defense (DOD) and commercial clients all over the world. During the interview, White commented: “Historically as an engineering company, we have focused on services, but have transitioned into manufacturing as a way of bringing our engineering concepts to life and providing more jobs in the community that we care about.”
Manufacturing Talent in Colorado Springs
In September 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there were 469,000 job openings in manufacturing and 362,000 new hires in the industry. Today’s advanced manufacturing sector requires a combination of innovative ideas that utilize a strong and stable workforce.
Colorado Springs boasts a one-of-a-kind aviation manufacturing sector from high-end luxury interiors to electromechanical assembly. Utilizing Colorado Springs’ unique amenities, aviation manufacturers can apply innovative services across industries. The region’s proximity to a robust network of military instillations only bolsters manufacturing companies access to a world-class talent pipeline. Did you know five of the state’s six military installations are all located within the Pikes Peak region? This makes Colorado Springs a hub for defense-specific talent.
Workers with higher skill levels are more likely to be sought out in manufacturing, for positions such as software developers, computer programmers, and engineers. Talent in Colorado Springs stems from top-notch educational institutions, such as Pikes Peak Community College and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS).
The region’s workforce is skilled and available to create the next breakthrough—sound interesting? Take a look into Manufacturing jobs in Colorado Springs and contact us to learn more about Colorado Springs as a manufacturing hub.