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Empire State Development announces new leadership at Buffalo Manufacturing Works

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Wed, Mar 11th 2020 12:30 pm

Henry Cialone, president and CEO of EWI, relocating to WNY

Empire State Development announced Henry Cialone, president and CEO of EWI, will relocate to Western New York and directly lead Buffalo Manufacturing Works as it enters “an important growth phase.”

Buffalo Manufacturing Works was established with ESD funding in 2015 under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion Initiative and recently moved to its permanent home as an anchor institution in the Northland Corridor Redevelopment Area. It is operated by EWI, based in Columbus, Ohio, a leader in providing engineering services to manufacturers and suppliers across various industries to take on technology innovations, guiding them from proof-of-concept to production. 

Cialone was instrumental in working with ESD on the genesis of the business model for Buffalo Manufacturing Works; it is now successfully deploying assistance to manufacturing companies across Western New York and beyond. He will relocate and become a Buffalo-area resident. EWI is appointing a new chief operating officer in its Columbus headquarters.

“Manufacturing is a vital and growing part of our economy in WNY providing over 50,000 jobs,” ESD Chairman Howard Zemsky said. “Buffalo Manufacturing Works will continue to provide local manufacturers with access to the most modern technologies to help them remain competitive globally. With Henry locating to WNY, it will assure their continued success and best-in-class service.”

“EWI is embarking on a reinvigorated commitment to our mission of delivering innovative technical solutions in manufacturing processes that elevate our customers’ competitiveness,” Cialone said. “This is an exciting time in Western New York as we continue to invest in leading-edge technology development and talent. EWI understands the important role manufacturing plays in the region’s economic vitality and we are more committed than ever to helping manufacturers innovate and grow.”

Since 2015, Buffalo Manufacturing Works has been working together with local companies to foster excellence in its internal manufacturing, engineering and research and development teams. Buffalo Manufacturing Works' collaborative network is designed to give manufacturers of all sizes and market sectors the tools they need to grow their companies and expand economic development across the Buffalo-Niagara Region and beyond.

In five years, membership has grown to 47 companies across various industries with more than 350 initiated or completed projects for 134 companies representing nearly $150 million in economic impact.

In October 2019, Cuomo announced the expansion and relocation of Buffalo Manufacturing Works to the Northland Central Building at 683 Northland Ave., next to the Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC), along with additional private industrial tenants expected there soon.

Under Cialone’s leadership, EWI is implementing a new strategic plan that focuses on leveraging and extending applied research and development, as well as creating scalable commercial solutions. The new leadership structure supports EWI’s mission of delivering innovative technical solutions in manufacturing processes that elevate customers’ competitiveness, while achieving sustained profitability.

Cialone, who holds a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in materials sciences from Brown University, has a record of creating new business opportunities through technological innovation and building broad coalitions to develop those businesses. He joined EWI in 2005 and has shaped the future of manufacturing by helping establish Buffalo Manufacturing Works and new laboratories in Loveland, Colorado; expanded EWI’s portfolio of manufacturing technologies; created public-private partnerships such as the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (d/b/a LIFT); and increased technology commercialization to deliver broader market benefits. During his tenure, EWI has spun out several companies based on the technologies it developed.

Prior to EWI, Cialone was an executive at Battelle where he developed and managed its commercial energy technology portfolio. He led Battelle’s commercial energy business and served on the governing board of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Cialone has also served on numerous boards and advisory bodies.

A press release stated, “Buffalo Manufacturing Works is now located in a new, 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility at Northland Central that is double the size of its original location on Main Street. Now co-located now with other critical manufacturing resources such as Northland Workforce Training Center, Insyte Consulting, World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara, and the Buffalo Niagara Manufacturing Alliance, this is a realization of the vision for fostering collaboration at Northland Central.”

Buffalo Manufacturing Works was created through an initial $45 million state investment through the Buffalo Billion. Cuomo announced an additional $35 million phase II for Buffalo Manufacturing Works in his 2017 State of the State. That funding supported Buffalo Manufacturing Works’ move and expansion to Northland Central.

More information about Buffalo Manufacturing Works operated by EWI can be found here.

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