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Lewiston-Auburn has long been a manufacturing powerhouse, and boasts numerous cutting-edge manufacturers. The manufacturing sector in L-A has remained stable over the last few years with about 6,200 manufacturing jobs. One reason manufacturing continues to be a source of strength for L-A's economy is because of the diversity, quality, and innovation of local companies. Manufacturers, many of them ISO-certified or nationally recognized, are in such growth industries as microwave technology, automated materials handling, environmental products, electrostatic powder paint coating, and laminates.

Among the major manufacturers in the area are Tambrands (a Procter and Gamble company), General Electric, Formed Fiber Technologies (a GM and Toyota vendor), Elmet Technologies, and Panolam Industries (formerly Pioneer Plastics).

In 1997, Industry Week ranked Lewiston-Auburn as the strongest manufacturing area in New England based on "productivity, specialization in manufacturing, and manufacturing growth." Lewiston-Auburn has long been considered the heart of manufacturing in Maine.

L-A prides itself not only on state-of-the-art manufacturing, but quality craftsmanship. Thomas Moser Cabinetmakers, located in Auburn, produces some of the most distinguished furniture in the country. Their pieces can be found in numerous museums, board rooms, and historic destinations across the country, while Maine Bucket Company makes wooden buckets and barrels for clients such as L.L. Bean and Bath & Body Shops. Lewiston-based Bell Manufacturing Co. makes cloth labels for some of the finest companies in the world, including Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Eddie Bauer. Pantheon Guitars makes custom-made folk and acoustic guitars for seasoned musicians the likes of Ricky Skaggs and Marshall Crenshaw. White Rock Distilleries is the maker of high-end liquors and vodkas, including Three Olives Vodka.

Auburn's Central Maine Community College, Maine's second largest community college, works with employers to offer courses at the worksite, on campus, or both specifically tailored to industry. From leadership development to technical instruction, CMCC offers credit and non-credit courses with an eye on cultivating lifelong learning to strengthen the local workforce. CMCC programs include architectural and civil engineering, automotive (in cooperation with Ford Motor Co.), electromechanical, mechanical drafting, and robotics. CMCC is also a Cisco Systems Regional Training Academy. Cisco is one of the nation's leaders in systems networking for the Internet.

The Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership is part of a nationwide network of more than 70 not-for-profit centers whose sole purpose is to provide small and medium-sized businesses with the help and solutions they need to succeed.
MEP has field staff located all over the state with an ability to assess where your company stands today, provide technical and business solutions, help you create successful partnerships, and help your firm keep learning through seminars and training programs.

MEP field staff have worked in manufacturing environments, so they know what red flags to look for and how to approach the problems you face. They are networked with a host of private and public resources in Maine and have an ability to tap into highly specialized skills nationwide.
Here are some examples of how MEP has helped Maine companies: