TIGHITCO expands Navy composite manufacturing in Connecticut

TIGHITCO is expanding advanced composite manufacturing at its Berlin, Connecticut, facility to support current and future U.S. Navy programs. The effort includes a $500,000 state grant, a $1.8 million capital investment, and a federally funded initiative aimed at strengthening domestic defense supply chains.

Why it matters: - TIGHITCO’s expansion is aimed at improving production efficiency, quality, and capacity for defense customers. - The project is designed to support U.S. Navy readiness and modernization while strengthening the domestic defense industrial base. - The investment also supports high-skilled manufacturing jobs in Connecticut.

What happened: - TIGHITCO announced an expansion of its advanced composite manufacturing capabilities at its Berlin, Connecticut, facility. - The company received a $500,000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development to help support a $1.8 million capital investment. - TIGHITCO is also taking part in a federally funded advanced manufacturing initiative focused on next-generation composite technologies. - The expansion is intended to strengthen support for current and future U.S. Navy programs.

The details: - The project centers on the SQRTM® process, which TIGHITCO is implementing as part of the investment. - The company said the process is meant to improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, and capacity. - The federal initiative is focused on strengthening the Navy’s supply chain and improving domestic manufacturing capacity. - TIGHITCO said the combined state and federal support is accelerating deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies critical to national security. - The company said the work reinforces Connecticut’s role in advanced manufacturing and defense industrial development. - For more information, TIGHITCO directs readers to the company's website or to email info@tighitco.com.

Between the lines: - The grant is doing more than filling a funding gap; it is helping frame the project as a state-federal-industry partnership. - Connecticut is getting visible credit for supporting defense manufacturing, which can matter in future grant and industrial-policy decisions. - TIGHITCO is positioning the SQRTM® rollout as part of a longer-term push into advanced composite capabilities, not a one-off equipment purchase.

What’s next: - TIGHITCO will implement the expansion at the Berlin facility. - The company is expected to continue deploying advanced composite technologies tied to Navy and defense aerospace work. - The investment is meant to support future manufacturing capacity, supply chain resilience, and long-term competitiveness in U.S. defense production.

The bottom line: - The Connecticut grant and federal support are helping TIGHITCO scale advanced composite manufacturing for Navy programs while deepening domestic defense production capacity.