Utah’s Entrepreneurial Spirit is at the Core of its Advanced Manufacturing Companies

Using innovation to advance technology and products isn’t anything new to Utah. The state’s advanced manufacturing industry includes more than 150 cutting-edge companies dedicated to expanding the advanced materials, manufacturing, technology development, and design sectors.

Utah’s Newest Targeted Industry Sector

Over a decade ago, Utah began a cluster initiative to emphasize key sectors with economic development opportunities.

“After a thorough analysis, GOED decided to elevate advanced manufacturing as our newest industry sector,” said Ryan Starks, managing director of Business Services at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “There is a strong manufacturing sector in Utah, and this diverse sector includes many state-of-the-art companies doing amazing work.”

A recent report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute showed that Utah’s manufacturing industry accounts for 7% of the state’s total employment and almost 10% of overall earnings. And while manufacturing is slowing in other parts of the country, Utah’s manufacturing industry continues to grow.

Advanced manufacturing continues to be relevant across various industries, including outdoor recreation, aerospace, defense, structures, and medical devices.

In 2018, the total economic impacts of Utah’s manufacturing industry, both indirect and induced, included 427,980 jobs and $26.4 billion in earnings. Overall, manufacturing supports one-fifth of all Utah jobs and one-quarter of Utah’s total gross domestic product (GDP) and earnings.

Utah Success Story

Utah company, ENVE Composites, went from a struggling business to a premier consumer-focused enterprise thanks to a new emphasis on passion-based performance for customers and employees. Previously a researchoriented company, ENVE is now known for its manufacturing of premium cycling carbon wheels and components.

Once ENVE’s executive team determined it was best to manufacture its products in the United States rather than off-shore, ENVE never looked back.

“It was the best decision we made. We had an uncompromising belief that we could do it,” said the company’s CEO, Sarah Lehman.

In 2016, the company was acquired by Amer Sports and now operates as a subsidiary, bringing more jobs and capital investment to the state.

Early Innovation

Utah companies Hercules and Thiokol Chemical both made their mark on the state by innovating manufacturing processes.

Hercules started supplying dynamite to the mining industry in the early 1900s, eventually producing all the U.S. Armed Services’ rocket propellant in World War II. Its work on solid propellants in the 1950s scored Hercules the chance to lead development of the third-stage engine for for Minuteman missile. In 1960, Hercules was awarded a $50 million contract to produce an improved second-stage solid-fuel rocket motor for the Polaris A-2 Fleet Ballistic missile. The company continued to work with NASA to provide retrorockets for the Ranger moon shot program. Hexcel Corp. purchased the company’s composite product division in 1996, but Hercules’ innovation legacy remains.

Thiokol Chemical started producing synthetic rubber and polymer sealants in 1929, becoming a significant supplier in World War II. Moving on to work with propulsion systems, the company built-out its rocket test range in Utah to support a contract to test Minuteman missiles. Through several acquisitions, including Morton Thiokol and ATK-Thiokol, the company most recently became part of Northrop Grumman, continuing its substantial presence in Utah.

Adding advanced manufacturing to Utah’s targeted industries is more than fitting for a sector that has been an essential part of decades of Utah’s economic growth.