SIMSBURY/HARTFORD, CT — A Simsbury aerospace and defense manufacturer with roots stretching back nearly two centuries has been inducted into the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense, or EBAD, was inducted Tuesday, Sept. 1, during the Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Forum at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.
Lisa Brown, EBAD's market segment director for launch vehicles, accepted the honor on behalf of the company. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., presented the induction, with Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Chief Manufacturing Officer Kirti Patel also attending, according to the company.
The recognition highlights EBAD's 190-year manufacturing history in Simsbury, dating to 1836 and William Bickford's invention of the safety fuse.
It also recognizes the company's work as a supplier for NASA's Artemis II mission.
According to EBAD, hardware designed and manufactured by the company was used throughout the nearly 10-day Artemis II mission, which launched April 1.
Four astronauts traveled about 1.4 million miles during the mission, which marked the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years.
EBAD said it engineered separation hardware used to separate the Orion Crew Module from its Service Module ahead of the astronauts' return to Earth.
"From our beginnings here in Connecticut to our position today as an industry leader in Space and Defense across three different states, the constant throughout our history has been our people," Brown said.
"Generations of talent have brought ingenuity, craftsmanship, and commitment to EBAD — and today, their work supports some of the most demanding and critical missions in the world," she added. "We are incredibly proud of our Connecticut roots, proud of the legacy we've built here, and excited about what comes next."
The Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Forum brought together manufacturers, educators and state officials to discuss technology, workforce development and other issues affecting the industry's future. EBAD was among the event's sponsors.
The American Manufacturing Hall of Fame was founded in 2014 to recognize Connecticut's manufacturing and innovation history.
Headquartered in Simsbury, EBAD also has engineering and manufacturing operations in Moorpark, California, and Graham, Kentucky. The company produces aerospace and defense technologies and says its satellite hold-down and release mechanisms have flown on more than 500 platforms.
To watch a video on the event, click on this link.
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