On October 2nd, Maryland’s manufacturing community came together at the Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel for the 2025 Maryland Manufacturing Technology Summit — a day filled with innovation and collaboration. Hosted by Maryland MEP, in partnership with the CESMII Manufacturing Roadshow, the event officially kicked off Manufacturing Day and Maryland Manufacturing Month, setting an inspiring tone for the weeks ahead.
The day began with Maryland MEP CEO, Mike Kelleher, welcoming attendees and setting the tone for what would be an energizing exploration of innovation and collaboration. “Technology and talent are the backbone of manufacturing’s future,” Kelleher reminded the crowd, encouraging everyone to connect, share, and discover new ways to strengthen Maryland’s industrial landscape.
Kelleher then welcomed Xometry CEO, Randy Altschuler, to the stage to deliver the keynote address—and he immediately captured the room. Drawing from Xometry’s 2026 Manufacturing Outlook, Altschuler painted a vivid picture of a sector in transformation. He spoke about the power of AI, digital tools, and resilient supply chains, and the manufacturers already embracing them to drive growth and agility.
Following the keynote, the Summit shifted into a series of immersive sessions that brought Altschuler’s themes to life. Rob Schoenthaler, Director of CESMII SMIC, kicked things off with a practical deep dive into how traditional Lean and Six Sigma methods can be elevated through Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies. Using tools like value stream mapping and digital twins, Schoenthaler demonstrated how manufacturers can bridge the gap between proven process improvement and modern, data-driven decision-making. Attendees left his session with lists of actionable ideas and renewed excitement for continuous improvement.
Next, Sudhi Bangalore, CTO and Global VP of FullBore, invited participants into the real-world of Smart Manufacturing in action. Through live use cases drawn from actual production environments, Bangalore showed how digital systems are capturing data from even the most manual operations—like assembly and welding—and turning it into meaningful insights. His session was both technical and inspiring, offering a clear picture of how manufacturers are achieving greater visibility, speed, and quality through connected technologies.
The momentum continued with Bryan Thyken, Chief Revenue Officer at SORBA.ai, who demonstrated how no-code industrial AI is lowering barriers to entry for manufacturers of all sizes. Thyken shared compelling stories of companies that reduced downtime, cut energy costs, and improved first-pass yield—without a dedicated data science team. His message was practical and empowering: AI is not a far-off dream, but a ready-to-use tool that can make an impact in 90 days or less.
As the day moved into its final discussion, the tone shifted from “what’s possible” to “what’s next.” Mike Kelleher moderated a thought-provoking panel featuring George Tunis, CEO of Hardwire LLC, Matt Hicks Sr., Director of Foundries, Test & Advanced Packaging at Northrop Grumman, Daniel Scott Mitchell, Co-Founder of Takton, and Sara Keith, Center Director of Maryland MEP.
Together, they reflected on the real challenges of technology implementation—change management, workforce adaptation, and scaling innovation sustainably. But there was optimism too. Each panelist emphasized Maryland’s unique ecosystem of manufacturers, technology partners, and public support as the state’s competitive advantage.
Throughout the day, the Technology Exhibit area drew constant attention. A showcase of cutting-edge solutions from Takton, RFID Ready, Applied Controls, CEMSII, ThinkIQ, Mindgrub, SORBA.ai, FullBore, Amtek, and Phoenix Contact, the exhibit was a hands-on demonstration of what digital transformation looks like today. From robots and sensors to industrial AI and connected platforms, attendees were able to see and touch the tools shaping the next generation of manufacturing. Conversations flowed easily, business cards changed hands, and partnerships began to form—exactly the kind of collaboration Maryland MEP aims to foster.
As the Summit came to a close, there was a tangible sense of excitement in the air. Attendees left with new insights, new contacts, and a renewed belief in Maryland’s role as a leader in advanced manufacturing. The 2025 Maryland Manufacturing Technology Summit wasn’t just an event—it was a reflection of an industry in motion, ready to meet the future with confidence and creativity.
As everyone in that room was reminded, manufacturing isn’t just alive in Maryland—it’s thriving.
As October unfolds, with Maryland Manufacturing Month in full swing, that momentum continues to ripple outward—through factories, classrooms, and innovation labs across the state.
The 2025 Maryland Manufacturing Technology Summit would not have been possible without the support from this year’s sponsors.
Gold – Integris, Groove Commerce, SC&H
Silver – Advantage Industries, Magic Software, Data Networks
Bronze – Go-Lean-Six, Maryland Department of Commerce, Thomas
