Pennsylvania Manufacturers
Meet the startups building what’s next
When hardware start-ups and manufacturers work together, everybody wins. Innovation Works provides southwestern Pennsylvania manufacturers with the connections needed to push tech forward, mitigate risk, and provide opportunities to scale.
What founders need
Our robotics and hardware founders are looking for partners with these capabilities
Machining and fabrication
Precision CNC machining, sheet metal, and welding.
Electronics
PCB assembly, wire harness, and electronics manufacturing.
Injection molding and plastics
Tooling, molded parts, and plastic components at scale.
Packaging
Protective, retail-ready, and shipping packaging design and production.
Assembly
Final assembly, kitting, and contract manufacturing.
Design engineering
Design for manufacturability (DFM) and turning prototypes into production-ready designs.
Specialty materials
Composites, advanced alloys, coatings, and engineered materials.
Medical devices
Regulated manufacturing for healthcare products, including ISO 13485 shops.
HEALTHCARE DEVICES & EQUIPMENT
Medical device startups need production-ready, qualified partners
Our healthcare founders are developing devices that need a regulated manufacturing partner from day one. If your shop already has ISO 13485 certification and medical device experience, you’re exactly who they’re trying to find.
What our founders are looking for:
- ISO 13485 certification and an FDA-compliant quality system (QMSR)
- Cleanroom manufacturing and assembly
- Biocompatible materials and medical-grade molding or extrusion
- Sterilization and sterile packaging
- Design controls and documentation support (DHF/DMR, traceability)
- Process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
- Electronics for wearables and connected devices
“The Scale Program helped us formalize and standardize our communications with manufacturers, making the process clear, repeatable, and ultimately, successful.”
Programs for manufacturers
Funding to adopt new technology and grow your team
Innovation Adoption Program (IAP)
Manufacturers face increasing pressure to innovate. The IAP offers grants of up to $25,000 to help manufacturers adopt or develop technologies that can revolutionize a business. From doubling revenue to halving production time, these projects drive tangible improvements in efficiency, scalablility, and profitability.
62 projects | $2 million invested
Manufacturing Intern Program (MIP):
The MIP addresses the growing need for skilled talent in manufacturing. Eligible manufacturers can receive up to $2,500 to hire interns, providing students with hands-on experience while expanding their workforce. This program strengthens the region’s manufacturing pipeline by creating opportunities for the next generation of talent.
362 interns placed
Outside of PA?
We still want to hear from you, especially if you have hard-to-find capabilities that align with robotics, physical AI, hardware, and medical startups.
Built in Pennsylvania
Keeping production in Pennsylvania
As the Ben Franklin Technology Partner of Southwestern Pennsylvania, we’re invested in growing the region’s manufacturing economy. When our founders look for production partners, we connect them with Pennsylvania manufacturers first, so the jobs, supply chains, and growth stay here.
First look at founders
Pennsylvania manufacturers get priority when we match founders with production partners.
Funding access
Shops in southwester PA can apply for IAP grants and MIP intern funding.
Local partnerships
Working with nearby shops means faster iteration, easier site visits, and long-term relationships with growing companies.
Scale Expo
Where manufacturers meet the founders who need them
Scale Expo is Innovation Works’ matchmaking event connecting regional manufacturers with hardware founders looking for production partners. Our October 2026 event at Rockwell Park brought both sides together for a day of real conversations.
“I like this event a lot. The attendees were serious people that were seriously looking for manufacturers. It was great!”
Exhibitors
Attendees
Connections Made
Connect with us
Let's find your right-fit founders
Tell us about your shop. We’ll follow up by email with a link to book office hours with our manufacturing team.
What happens next:
- Submit the form.
- You get an email inviting you to schedule office hours.
- We talk through capabilities and programs.
