Why American Manufacturing Is Crucial To U.S. Technology Growth

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Rich Breault, president of Haverhill, Mass.-based electronics manufacturing contract company Lightspeed Manufacturing, explained to a crowd at the Massachusetts State House why firms like his are key to the growth of technology companies across the country.

Beault has been in the electronics manufacturing game for quite a while.

’My first manufacturing job was at Apple building the original Mac Classics. So yes, we’ve seen a lot change over the years,’ he said.

Today, Lightspeed partners with small and large technology companies to closely engineer hardware solutions. Because of its domestic presence, Lightspeed can have a hands-on approach with startup technology companies, like Bounce Imaging, which has developed a solution for first responders.

The Bounce Imaging Explorer is a heavy-duty ball equipped with six cameras, which first responders can toss into a room before entering it themselves. The camera transmits immediate images and data about the environment, so SWAT, police and FBI members know exactly what they’re walking into.

’We could toss a ball like this in, at a very low price point, under a couple thousand dollars. We can record the images, and actually watch what’s happening in the room,’ Beault said.

The Explorer, which was developed in Massachusetts, continues to be manufactured just miles away in Haverhill.

Lightspeed also offers services in electronic prototype development, so young technology companies can have in-person meetings to test out early product designs.