Innovation takes the lead in New Hampshire manufacturing growth

According to new data compiled by MNI, publisher of the U.S. industrial data that powers IndustryNet, New Hampshire added a significant number of manufacturing jobs over the past year.

Gains were seen across a broad range of industries, including medical instruments and chemical processing, while a number of new and expanding advanced manufacturing facilities laid the groundwork for future growth in the state.

New Hampshire manufacturing: the year in review

New Hampshire is currently home to 2,276 manufacturers that employ 83,020 workers. The state added 2,776 jobs in the past year, representing a gain of 3.4%.

Employment in industrial machinery and equipment grew by 3% in 2018, and ranks as the state’s top manufacturing sector, employing 13,284. Second-ranked electronics remained steady at 10,636 jobs, while employment in medical instruments/related products rose 14% and currently accounts for 8,347 of the state’s jobs.

Additional gains were seen in food processing, up 12%; chemical processing, up 7%; and furniture/fixtures, up 3%.

Losses were seen primarily in transportation equipment; stone/clay/glass; and printing/publishing.

Most major industrial cities in New Hampshire posted gains over the year, with factory jobs in Manchester up 1.4% over the year. Manchester accounts for the most industrial jobs in the state, home to 7,592 workers or about 9% of the state’s total. Nashua jobs were also on the rise in 2018, up 2% to 6,150 of the state’s workers. Third-ranked Londonderry saw industrial jobs surge, up 10% over the year to 4,312.

Manufacturing job levels were virtually unchanged in fourth-ranked Portsmouth at 3,500, while Hudson posted a 5% loss in jobs, and is currently home to 3,600.

New Hampshire manufacturing: innovation takes the lead

A number of new manufacturing plant announcements were made in New Hampshire over the year, including EFI, which opened a new inkjet innovation and manufacturing center in Londonderry, adding to the many high-tech and advanced manufacturing facilities that call New Hampshire home.

Multinational company Revision Military announced plans to locate its U.S. headquarters and advanced manufacturing center in Portsmouth, while Advanced Solutions Life Sciences recently expanded, opening a new bioprinting facility in Manchester. In addition, Swiss company Lonza announced an expansion of its biologics plant in Portsmouth.

Meanwhile, GTAT broke ground on a new silicon carbide manufacturing facility in Hudson, and Pfeiffer Vacuum, established a new facility in Nashua. One the food products front, the founder of Shipyard Brewing announced plans to establish a brewing and co-packing plant in Hooksett and Nuttin Ordinary, a manufacturer of non-dairy cheese, established a processing plant in Peterborough.

Many of the state’s existing manufacturers announced expansions to their site, including investment casting company Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc, which announced construction of a new 85,000 square foot plant in Milford. Pre-fab home maker Bensonwood, and its sister company Unity Homes, expanded operations in Keene, breaking ground on a new panel production plant.

New Hampshire manufacturing: By the Numbers

New Hampshire’s 2,276 manufacturers employ 83,020 workers.

Here’s a further breakdown of the numbers:

New Hampshire’s top five industries based on number of jobs:

17% employed in industrial machinery and equipment
14% employed in electronic and other electric equipment
11% employed in instruments and related products
10% employed in fabricated metal products
7% employed in primary metal industries

New Hampshire’s top five cities for number of manufacturing jobs:

Manchester - 8,329 workers
Nashua - 5,543 workers
Londonderry - 4,577 workers
Portsmouth - 3,953 workers
Hudson - 3,739 workers

New Hampshire’s top counties for industrial jobs

Hillsborough - 29,531 jobs
Rockingham - 22,887 jobs
Merrimack - 9,259 jobs
Cheshire - 7,848 jobs
Grafton - 6,140 jobs

Top industrial companies in New Hampshire:

Insight Technology, LLC (Londonderry) - 1,200 employees
Sig Sauer, Inc. (Newington) – 900 employees
TE Subcom Integrated Systems, LLC (Newington) – 865 employees
C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (Keene) – 844 employees
GE Aviation (Hooksett) – 800 employees
United Natural Foods, Inc. (Chesterfield) - 800 employees

About this data:

MNI’s extensive manufacturing data powers IndustryNet, an industrial marketplace that connects buyers with suppliers. MNI’s team of more than 80 researchers scours hundreds of sources on-and-offline to zero in on every manufacturer in the U.S. Each manufacturer is contacted multiple times annually to ensure its information remains up-to-date and complete.

IndustryNet allows users to search and source more than ten thousand types of products, parts, supplies, and services for free. IndustryNet® lists every U.S. manufacturer plus thousands of wholesalers & distributors and industrial service providers. To connect with industrial suppliers in New Hampshire and across the U.S. start your free search on IndustryNet. Or, to access detailed profiles of New Hampshire’s 2,355 industrial companies and their 7,169 executives, learn more about MNI’s IndustrySelect database subscription.