Advanced Manufacturing
Montgomery County, Virginia is home to a growing cluster of manufacturers employing advanced techniques to increase output and productivity. These companies are leveraging our lower costs of doing business, strong entrepreneurial networks, talented workforce, and access to highly specialized equipment and researchers at Virginia Tech to gain a competitive advantage in today's global, knowledge-based economy.
|
Industry Cluster
|
Estab.
|
Empl.
|
Avg. Salary
|
U.S. Avg.
|
| Manufacturing Supercluster |
206
|
8,656
|
$48,531
|
$61,551
|
Source: IBRC, The Role of Regional Clusters, 2008
Note: Cluster data for New River & Roanoke Valleys |
Alliant Techsystems, Inc. (Radford) | It is the largest provider of ammunition to US armed forces, and allied nations around the world. The company is a leading provider of advanced, affordable precision munitions and strike weapons that put firepower where it is needed while limiting the risk of collateral damage to non-combatants.
Cobham Sensor Systems (Blacksburg, VA) | A division of British defense contractor Cobham plc, develops and manufactures critical technology for the aerospace and defence industry.
Corning, Inc. (Christiansburg, VA) | A the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics.
Federal Mogul (Blacksburg, VA) | world leader in the manufacturing of bearings, bushings and thrust washers for the automotive industry.
Eaglepicher Wolverine, LLC (Blacksburg) | Produces and sells performance-critical, specialty elastomer coated metals used in gaskets for automotive & industrial applications; automotive brake noise insulators and NVH (noise, vibration & harshness) damping solutions for automotive and NSV (noise, shock & vibration) for consumer electronics applications.
ESS Technologies (Blacksburg, VA) — Designs, manufactures, and integrates packaging machinery and robotics for the primary and secondary packaging of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, nutraceuticals, consumer products, and cosmetics.
Inorganic Ventures (Christiansburg, VA) — Supplies analytical chemists with high quality certified reference material and quality calibration standards. www.ivstandards.com
Moog Components Group (Blacksburg, VA) | Manufacturer of precision control components and systems. Moog’s high performance actuation products control military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, and automated industrial machinery.
Luna Innovations, Inc (Blacksburg, VA) | Luna Innovations develops and manufactures new-generation products for the healthcare, telecommunications, energy and defense markets.
Prestar Packaging (Christiansburg, VA)A family owned box manufacturing company that produces paper board set-up boxes and trays for many applications, such as game and candy boxes, and boxes for anything from pharmaceuticals to engine bearings.
Rowe Furniture, INC (Elliston, VA) | Manufacturer of upholstered and wood household furniture.
Center for High Performance Manufacturing:
Dover Laboratory For Manufacturing Systems Integration supports research in the study and analysis of manufacturing systems. The areas of research include both operational issues (such as production planning, material handling, and distribution) and design issues (such as facility layout and supply chain system design). The lab emphasizes the integration of operational and design issues through the application of operations research techniques.
Robotics and Automation Laboratory is both an instructional laboratory and a research facility. It supports undergraduate and graduate courses in industrial automation and robotics, as well as on-going projects for NSF, NASA and industry.
Electronic Manufacturing Research Laboratory provides a facility to support research in semiconductor and the electronics industry. In particular, the research in the lab focuses on the study and analysis of operational and control problems arising in the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing facilities, as well as the development of new and improved algorithms for their solution.
Modern Manufacturing Prosses Laboratory consists of a collection of individual labs, equipment, and support facilities for both instruction and research in manufacturing processes and metrology.
Regional Production Occupations (2008)
|
Occupation
|
Employed
|
Avg. Wage
|
U.S. Avg.
|
|
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
|
1,040
|
$13.42
|
$13.22
|
|
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Production and Operating Workers
|
1,200
|
$23.49
|
$24.25
|
|
Helpers-Production Workers
|
650
|
$10.43
|
$10.48
|
|
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
|
840
|
$14.47
|
$15.02
|
|
Machinists
|
860
|
$16.85
|
$17.41
|
|
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
|
342
|
$9.71
|
$11.72
|
|
Prepress Technicians and Workers
|
102
|
$12.47
|
$16.84
|
|
Team Assemblers
|
2,520
|
$12.84
|
$12.32
|
|
Tool and Die Makers
|
210
|
$20.07
|
$22.32
|
|
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
|
350
|
$15.35
|
$16.13
|
|
Total - All Production Occupations
|
22,040
|
$14.54
|
$13.99
|
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Note: Employment Statistics for Blacksburg & Roanoke MSAs |
Advanced Manufacturing Related Degrees Awarded from Area Universities and Colleges
|
Program/Degree
|
Certificate
|
Associates
|
Bachelors
|
Masters
|
Doctor
|
|
Industrial Engineering
|
-
|
-
|
120
|
49
|
22
|
|
Systems Engineering
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
17
|
-
|
|
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians,
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician
|
-
|
20
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Precision Metal Working, Other
|
4
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Welding Technology/Welder
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Total Degrees Awarded
|
10
|
25
|
120
|
66
|
22
|
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2008 - 2009
Note: Statistics reflect degrees awarded from Virginia Tech and New River Community College. |
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Our Community
Montgomery County, VA is a progressive, technology-driven community with an abundance of lifestyle amenities. Nestled in the beautiful mountains of Virginia, along the I-81 Corridor, the County is home to Virginia Tech and the Towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg. Read More