Page 32 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 56 Autumn 2025

October is

Manufacturing
CELEBRATE WALLINGFORD!
CELEBRATE WALLINGFORD!
Month

October is Manufacturing Month,
celebrated both nationwide and
in Connecticut. Wallingford’s
economy has always been driven
by manufacturing, most notably its
silverware industry. While today’s
manufacturing economy is far more
diverse, it still contributes both
thousands of jobs and a wealth of
taxes that help keep our residential
property taxes reasonable.

In past columns, we have discussed
the EDC’s efforts to attract more of
these valuable businesses. Given the
“challenging” business climate that
our region is known for, the larger
enterprises rarely if ever locate in the
northeastern United States. So, our
efforts center on attracting smaller,
entrepreneurial firms that prosper
because of the sophistication of the
products, the need for the most
talented, hands-on employees, or a
need to be closer to the enormous
consumer market located within a
400-mile radius of Wallingford.

An example of these firms is
Component Engineers, aka CEI,
located on North Plains Industrial
Road. Owned by Ron Hansen Jr.,
this manufacturer builds high-
precision parts for the aerospace,
energy and medical industry, among
others. Another example is Hobson
& Motzer, recently acquired by
Vantedge, that currently centers its
capabilities on making parts for a
variety of sophisticated medical uses,

32 WALLINGFORD MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2025