The Rising Tides initiative has concluded. Thank you to all partners. For related opportunities or questions, please contact us using the information below.

Rising Tides

Collaboration is at the heart of Rising Tides. By working with key regional partners, we provide manufacturers with the resources, expertise, and connections needed to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape. Join us in shaping a stronger, more competitive manufacturing ecosystem in Ohio with these manufacturing resources!

Have questions about Rising Tides or looking for similar support?

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RISING TIDES MANUFACTURING RESOURCES

Advancing Manufacturing | Strengthening Innovation | Expanding Opportunities

Commercialization Services

Accelerate Market Success – Our team helps manufacturing companies develop new technologies by providing:

✔ Product Development & Market Assessment

✔ Funding Strategies & Financial Projections

✔ Market Channel Expansion

SBIR/STTR & Federal Grant Proposal Writing

Turn Ideas into Commercialized Products – Rising Tides will assist in securing federal funding to develop new intellectual property and boost competitiveness.

Technology Adoption

Bring Cutting-Edge Technology to Your Business: Manufacturers can receive up to a 50% reimbursement on technology adoption pilot projects valued at $15,000. These projects serve as an “entryway” into larger-scale, de-risked innovation.

Eligible technologies include:

Eligible technologies include:

✔ Additive Manufacturing (e.g., 3D printed tooling & prototyping)

✔ Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)

✔ Advanced Energy & Sustainability Solutions

✔ Robotics & Automation

How We Help: The Rising Tides Partnership can provide expert support in project identification, design, engineering, technical specs, supply chain management, production planning, and proposal writing.

Supply Chain Opportunities

Tap into High-Growth Industries – This partnership connects businesses to Aerospace, Defense, Microelectronics, & Advanced Energy supply chains.

✔ Educational & Networking Events

✔ Materials Development & Industry Insights

✔ Direct Assistance in Capability Building

21st Century Workforce Programs

Future-Proof Your Workforce – America Makes will host half-day seminars to help manufacturing facilities attract, train, and retain top talent. A follow-up workforce development workshop (9-12 months later) will assess progress and refine strategies for long-term success for the next generation.

Workshops & Seminars

Stay Ahead of Industry Trends – Our program partners offer regular workshops, both virtual & in-person, to equip manufacturers and small businesses with the latest knowledge and skills.

Topics include:

✔ Emerging Manufacturing Technology Capabilities

✔ Cybersecurity for Manufacturers

✔ SBIR/STTR Grant Opportunities

✔ Design for Additive Manufacturing (D-FAM)

✔ Additive Manufacturing 101 & Industrial IoT 101

✔ Energy Cost Reduction Programs (US DOE & US EPA)

Learn from industry experts and gain actionable insights to enhance your operations’ efficiency, security, and innovation.

America Makes Nation Online Courses

Flexible, On-Demand Learning for Manufacturers – America Makes provides free online asynchronous training, allowing workers to upskill at their own pace.

Programs include:

✔ Micro Learnings for Incumbent Workers

✔ Training for Trainers

✔ Scaled Deployment for Small Businesses & Medium-Sized Manufacturers

Cluster Activities & Industry Networking

Building Connections – Program Partners will:

✔ Host Workshops

✔ Provide Networking Events

✔ Establish industry tours to highlight Rising Tides initiatives and foster collaboration between manufacturers, universities, and industry leaders

✔ Promote Business Attraction

✔ Support Site Preparedness

Additive manufacturing equipment in use in an advanced manufacturing facility.

Real Results. Real Manufacturers. Real Impact.

What Our Partners Are Saying About YBI’s Advanced Manufacturing Program

Testimonials

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Mark Peters, Director of Engineering - Fireline, Inc.

“To assist our efforts in designing and testing a new Automated Mixer Control System, YBI provided nearly $15,000.00 in project support across two separate IIoT/ SMART manufacturing initiatives. This support helped Fireline select an optimal technology solution that prevents costly operational errors resulting in equipment and material damages. As an added benefit, this system transmits equipment data to a remote dashboard for management and operational efficiency. Via initiatives like these, YBI continues to exemplify its determination to engage and elevate the regional manufacturing community.”

Erica M. Bokisa, Human Resources Manager - Maradyne Corporation

“Maradyne is ready to move into the future of manufacturing! With the support of YBI, we implemented Harmoni in our Turbo PreCleaner product line, taking a significant step toward enhancing efficiencies while maintaining and safeguarding our optimal quality standards. YBI’s SMART^2 grant was key in this advancement, enabling us to adopt a state-of-the-art shop floor data collection system. This system has been instrumental for us to streamline operational accuracy, reduce errors, and minimize material waste. Moreover, it transmits real-time data to a central dashboard, giving our team better insights and boosting overall management efficiency.”

Kyle Kiraly , Controller - Kiraly Tool and Die, Inc.

“The SMART^2 project with the YBI is another great program that any manufacturer should not miss out on. With the expertise and knowledgeable staff, you can be sure that you are in good hands when exploring a project such as this. The YBI helped us identify where we can improve in terms of IIoT and Smart devices as they relate to our operations. Working with their team is always a pleasure and certainly an underutilized asset to our area.
We added two (2) new CNC machines to our arsenal with the assistance of this project, a DN Solutions Puma 2600SYB II lathe, and a DN Solutions VC 430 mill. These machines were applied to this project for their smart controls and their interconnectivity both on and off-site for better decision-making & production scheduling, tool & maintenance management, and monitoring of the shop floor in ways previously not accessible to our company. From sharing programs created in offline CAM software to importing direct models and programming in front of the machine, we gained a wealth of capabilities both in the machines themselves and with the ‘smart’ connectivity of the controllers.
We look forward to fully utilizing this equipment as we forecast future automation and lights-out machining prospects.
With the help available working with the YBI, we will continually seek to thrive and adapt advancements in smart manufacturing—especially with the programs and opportunities they can connect us to.
Please contact them and see how they can help improve your operations today!”

Cole Wolfe, Project Engineer – Dinesol Plastics Inc.

“YBI supported our automation growth by providing us with $12,500 in efforts to research and develop optimum new processes directly related to the IIoT/SMART manufacturing initiative. Financial support provided by YBI helped to fuel Dinesol’s imaging department’s automation development. On top of utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, it has made it more manageable for the engineering team and increased the volume of quality products being effectively manufactured and delivered to the customers. This generous program YBI has implemented has positively impacted us and others in the manufacturing industry, providing a better network of employees and businesses looking to improve tomorrow’s challenges.”

Conor Hawkins, 4th Generation - Vice President, Waterlox Coatings Corporation

Waterlox Coatings Corporation is now a 115-year-old, 4th generation paint and coatings manufacturer that has always been located in Cleveland, OH, since its incorporation as the Empire Varnish Company in 1910. We currently manufacture and distribute coatings, primarily for the wood finishing markets. Our manufacturing processes have remained unchanged for decades to provide the top-quality products with which the Waterlox brand is synonymous. While the physical processes remain unchanged, much progress has been made. It continues to be made to optimize all the supporting processes, including process monitoring/tracking, quality control, inventory management, formulation/process instructions, order fulfillment, and others. In a more data-driven environment, we have been looking for a solution to capture better and, ultimately, utilize the data with modern IT tools.

An ERP system is the cornerstone of a modern manufacturing business. An ERP system allows the company to act in real-time with accurate data and create a central source of truth and data that drives all business decisions. A cutting-edge ERP system like Odoo enabled us to fully digitize inventory management, manufacturing orders, order fulfillment, invoicing, and payment processing while capturing the necessary data for improved forecasting and utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Unfortunately, transitioning to a new ERP system requires a lot of upfront capital costs and time. By using the SMART^2 program, we were able to overcome the capital hurdles to get the project implemented.

Nivalon Medical Technologies Inc.

The Rising Tides Grant played a critical enabling role in transitioning Nivalon Medical Technologies from prototyping to a manufacturing-ready orthopedic implant platform. Ceramic fabrication, core tooling, and preclinical pathway activation have positioned Ohio as the center of Nivalon’s long-term production and job creation strategy. This advancement sets the stage for continued growth, clinical translation, and U.S.-based manufacturing scale.

Zachary S Courtright, President and CEO - LeapFast Manufacturing Inc

Words cannot describe how grateful we are for the generosity and belief of those who awarded us theRising Tides grant. If given the opportunity, we would like to personally thank each organization and individual involved. We are fully committed to growing LeapFast into a primary job provider for the Youngstown region while drawing in customers from around the country and world. As with anything new, the experiences and support in the beginning have rippling effects that are often immeasurable.

The Rising Tides grant is one of multiple contributions that have initiated that ripple for LeapFast, and we intend to drive our vision forward for decades to come, only feeling relief once a thriving Lunar economy is established on the merits of LeapFast technology.

Jon Gram, President & CEO - Minerva Welding & Fabricating, Inc.

The Rising Tides program has played a critical role in accelerating Minerva Welding & Fabricating’s digital transformation. While the project is still in the implementation and optimization phase, the early operational improvements and validated projections clearly demonstrate significant impact. This initiative represents more than a software upgrade — it is a strategic transformation of how the company operates, enabling faster response times, improved efficiency, enhanced accuracy, and long-term scalability.

As implementation progresses and systems are fully optimized, Minerva Welding & Fabricating is positioned to achieve substantial gains in productivity, profitability, and competitiveness within advanced manufacturing sectors.

Interested in learning more about how Rising Tides can aid your workplace?

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