Rep. Srinivasan checks out a piece of manufacturing equipment during a tour at Flanagan Industries in Glastonbury
State Representative Prasad Srinivasan spent time on Wednesday speaking with Kevin and Ken Flanagan, owners of Flanagan Industries in Glastonbury. The company specializes in the manufacturing of complex cases, machined components and assemblies ranging in size. They manufacture aerospace and land-based gas turbine engines that are marketed all over the world.
Flanagan is a family owned company that currently employs 104 people but has had some difficulty in recent years with sky-rocketing costs and lack of skilled labor available in the workforce. The Flanagan’s said health care is their expense and its cost is a growing concern. While they have utilized the apprenticeship program through Asnuntuck Community College, it is difficult for them to find employees trained in their industry.
“The problems facing Flanagan Industries are the same problems facing businesses throughout the state,” said Srinivasan. “It is imperative that we lower costs to help encourage new business and protect the ones we already have.”
One area that does not trouble Flanagan that does present a growing problem to many other businesses is the cost of energy. Flanagan Industries is off the power grid and produces all of their own power by converting exhaust from their generators into heat for the building.
“I am so happy that I had the opportunity to tour this business today,” Srinivasan said. “They truly do things the right way and set a great example for other businesses trying to succeed. I just hope those in Hartford can listen to their concerns and the concerns of other businesses in Connecticut when forming policy.”
