Case Visits Local Manufacturers

WINSTED/TORRINGTON – State Representative Jay Case (R-63) recently toured two local manufacturers, East Coast Lightning Equipment Inc., located in Winsted, and Wittmann Battenfeld, located in Torrington as part of national Manufacturing Day.

East Coast Lightning has been operating in Winsted for 30 years, since the company was founded. Currently they have 30 employees, after adding 3 jobs over the summer, which represents the largest job growth in company history.

According to East Coast Lightning, they manufacture lightning protection systems mainly for commercial businesses, but also install their equipment on residential properties. Distribution of their product goes to over 100 installers throughout North American and the Middle East.

Wittmann Battenfeld has been located in Torrington for 20 years. Production is focused on plastics, which is the third largest industry in the world. Much like East Coast Lightning, Wittman Battenfeld’s products are mass produced and sold to a global clientele base.

Locally, there are about 100 Wittman Battenfeld employees in Torrington. However, according to company officials, they are looking to expand to a larger facility in order to accommodate increased business demands.

Although the two manufacturers produce completely different products, they both share grave concerns about the state’s economic trends.

East Coast Lightning company officials noted that businesses taxes are stunting the company’s overall growth. In a similar light, rising healthcare costs are a top concern for company leaders at Wittman Battenfeld.

“We need to support our manufacturers as best we can when we are coming up with financial policies in Hartford,” Rep. Case said after his tour. “The manufacturing industry has great growth potential, but rising operational costs may compromise that status if we continue to sit idle on increasing healthcare costs and taxes on business.

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