Month: April 2025

The Innovation Engine of Aerospace Manufacturing in Connecticut: CMSC’s Technological Empowerment and Future Prospects

Your career-minded editor here, ready to break down some cutting-edge advancements happening right here in Connecticut. Ever wonder how aerospace companies ensure the parts they’re making are not just good, but flawlessly perfect? That’s where the Connecticut Manufacturing Simulation Center (CMSC) at UConn Tech Park comes into play.

From a professional standpoint, the CMSC is a game-changer for small- to medium-sized Connecticut companies. They provide something these businesses often lack: in-house original equipment manufacturing (OEM) capabilities. Think of it as having a team of expert engineers and mathematicians on call, ready to tackle complex manufacturing challenges. The CMSC’s mission is to offer technical assistance and manufacturing simulation services, bridging the gap between innovative ideas and flawless execution.

Now, you might be wondering, how can they afford to give away these services? The answer lies in a combination of federal grants and matching funds from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. This financial backing allows the CMSC to offer its expertise free of charge to eligible Connecticut companies, a boon for businesses looking to innovate without breaking the bank.

One prime example of the CMSC’s impact is its collaboration with Aero Gear, a Windsor-based aerospace company specializing in gears and gearboxes. Aero Gear’s director of engineering, Pat Brueckner, is a UConn engineering program graduate, class of 2013. His connection with Jeongho Kim, the head of the CMSC, sparked a partnership that has proven invaluable to Aero Gear. Office folks will relate to this kind of networking, right?

Read More @ Forward Pathway

Engineering Takes Flight at Connecticut Manufacturing Simulation Center

An Aero Gear employee works on gearbox assembly

There are certain settings where manufacturing quality really, really matters. One of them is at a cruising altitude of 40,000 feet.

With such a low tolerance for error, airplane manufacturers must source parts from trusted, expert suppliers. Many of these companies are headquartered in Connecticut, and one of them boasts a double UConn connection.

Aero Gear, based in Windsor, specializes in the design and manufacture of gears and gearboxes for the aerospace industry. Pat Brueckner has worked at Aero Gear ever since graduating from UConn’s engineering program in 2013, and he’s now the company’s director of engineering.

In 2017, Brueckner got in touch with Jeongho Kim, who was leading the newly established Connecticut Manufacturing Simulation Center (CMSC) in the Innovation Partnership Building at UConn Tech Park — “and the rest,” Brueckner says, “is history.”

The CMSC is a free resource providing technical assistance and manufacturing simulation services to small- to medium-sized companies across Connecticut. Aero Gear was one of the first industry partnerships that the Center forged.

Read More @ UConn Today