Home

Welcome to FLATE

The Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE), a National Science Foundation Center of Excellence in high-technology manufacturing, is the go-to organization for manufacturing and advanced technical education, best practices and resources supporting the high performance skilled workforce for Florida’s manufacturing sectors. FLATE provides exemplary industry partnerships, workforce opportunity, and educational synergy throughout the state of Florida by connecting industry and workforce needs to targeted educational endeavors at many community and state colleges across Florida.

Made in Florida

FLATE has built a web portal for students in middle and high schools where they can learn about the wonderful, profitable opportunities in considering manufacturing as a career choice. Every day, we enjoy things that many people don’t realize were made in Florida. Behind every product and technology we use, there is a world of manufacturing. Today, in Florida, more than 20,000 different companies and 380,000 people work in the manufacturing field. The site has areas of information and resources for students, educators and industry. Visit MadeInFlorida.org

Florida Manufacturing Month – 2020

WHAT’S NEW

NEWSLETTER

Robotics Camp Information

FLATE Impact Video

FLATE Videos Page

Post Visit 2019 MFG Day Survey Results Cumulative Report

Miscellaneous Resources & Professional Development Opportunities

EXPLORING ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FREE online course open to all.

Resources for ET CORE and Machining NIMS Alignment

WHITE PAPER: Manufacturing Day Tours: Student Feedback Shows Huge Impact

Sustainability in Manufacturing Lessons

Be a Judge!

FLATE and FM are encouraging manufacturers and other STEM professionals to sign up to judge the 2021 spring statewide virtual CTE student competitions:

TSA (Technology Students of America) February 22-26, 2021)

Skills USA Florida April 12,-26, 2021

You can learn all both the different competitions and sign up to judge specific events on their websites. These are events you will want to experience, and working with students is very rewarding. Check them out and sign up today!

ET Forum Tech Talks

ET Forum Tech Talks webinar series starts in Jan 2021! This series focus on important, emerging technologies that manufacturing 2-year technician programs should be including in their programs. industry experts present the technical side of emerging Industry 4.0 technologies and provide techniques and tools for technician educators to use in their classrooms. The series is co-hosted by Dr. Marilyn Barger, Director of FLATE, a part of the FloridaMakes Network, and Ms. Lara Sharp, Program Director of Engineering, Manufacturing, and Building Arts at St. Petersburg College, and in partnership with the Florida Department of Education. You can find out more on the FLATE Calendar of Events

TECH TALKS Session 1: Friday Jan 22, 9-10 am (Eastern Time) will feature Mr. Pete Cirak, Director of Quality at Seal Dynamics presenting on the ins and out of CMM (Coordinate Measurement Machines).

TECH TALKS Session 2: Friday Feb 23, 9-10 am (Eastern Time) will feature Bill Mazurek, president and managing director of Maz-Tech & Associates, LLC, who will provide educators with some practical tools to better implement root cause analyses in their courses.

TECH TALKS SESSION 3: Friday April 23, 9-10 am (Eastern Time) with Mike Ennis, Business Advisor, Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, who will explore OSHA for Manufacturing.

FLATE’s Educator Webinar Series

FLATE’s Educator Webinar Series provides resources for all STEM educators and anyone interested in outreach for manufacturing. Topics including facility tours, summer or after school programs, specific manufacturing education and/or career resources. If you have suggested speakers or topics for the series, please submit them to Danielly Orozco-Cole

FLATE’s EDUCATOR WEBINAR SERIES – 1: Thursday, Jan 21, 4:00-4:30 pm (Eastern Time) Getting started: Tools and Tips for Virtual STEM Summer Camps with Desh Bagley, Director of the IT/Coding Academy at the State College of Florida.

FLATE’s EDUCATOR WEBINAR SERIES – 2 Thursday, Feb 18, 4:00-4:30 pm (Eastern Time) Tools and Tips for Funding Technology Summer Camps

President Biden's Executive Order: USA Manufacturing Comes First

12 May 2021 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

President Biden's Executive Order: USA Manufacturing Comes First is a post from News

GrowFL Announces 50 Florida Companies Worth Watching

25 February 2021 - craig.london@ocoa.com

GrowFL, as part of the FloridaMakes Network, is pleased to announce the 50 companies selected as this year’s GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch honorees, a statewide competition that identifies companies expected to see significant growth over the next several years. The 2020 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch awards celebration is brought to you by Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation. Read More

Seize the Moment, Grow Smart

27 January 2021 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

Does your current capacity accommodate new growth? Are you using the latest technologies to increase your capacity to grow? Do you know the minimum sustaining revenue your company needs to ensure resiliency? Take our short Market Changes and Growth Plans: Post-COVID Survey to understand potential gaps in your resiliency and growth plans, and to help the FloridaMakes Network better serve you Read More

Communications Request For Proposal: Florida Defense Cybersecurity Training Program

8 January 2021 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

FloridaMakes is seeking a Marketing/Communications agency that can promote our Florida Defense Cybersecurity Program through targeted outreach, social media ads, and content pieces to promote the Florida Defense Cybersecurity Program. Bidders must provide a plan for outreach to promote education and awareness of Florida Defense Cybersecurity Training Program and Events to target businesses in the Florida Defense Industrial Base, particularly small and medium-sized businesses. Plan will promote 8 regional defense cybersecurity training events through September 2021 that will assist small and medium-sized defense Florida manufacturing contractors to become aware and compliant with the Department of Defense’s (DoD) new standards and requirements for cybersecurity and help them manage cyber risks. Read More

FloridaMakes Network Reports New Impact Numbers Totaling $2.18 Billion Through Q3 2020

5 January 2021 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

We’re excited to report that Florida manufacturers who received services through the FloridaMakes Network have reported a combined total of $2.18 billion in measurable impacts (total survey data through Q3, 2020). On average, $4.8 million in total impact and 29.9 jobs were created or retained per client. The findings were reported directly by manufacturers through an independent third-party survey conducted on behalf of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP). Read More

Governor Ron DeSantis Recognizes Accomplishments of CareerSource Florida Network in 2020

28 December 2020 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

Governor Ron DeSantis today recognized the exemplary work of CareerSource Florida and the state workforce system in 2020, an extraordinary year of challenges and opportunities. “The adaptability and innovation of our neighbors and our business community are accelerating Florida’s recovery, and the CareerSource Florida network is here to help,” said CareerSource Florida President and CEO Michelle Dennard. “With Governor DeSantis’ leadership, we are working with partners and stakeholders in education, industry, government and more to craft, execute and administer Florida’s roadmap to a robust, growing economy.” Read More

FloridaMakes Board Member Ray Aguerrevere Appointed to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Advisory Board of the National Institute of Standards and Technology

11 November 2020 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

Ray Aguerrevere, Vice President of Custom Metal Designs in Orlando, has been named to the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) Advisory Board. The MEP Advisory Board is a national board, that is legislatively mandated and established pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Read More