Glastonbury, CT – HABCO Industries, a leader in supporting the commercial and defense aerospace industries with engine and airframe tooling solutions, support and test equipment, as well as logistics and warehousing, announced the appointment of Richard Levesque to the role of Chief Operating Officer. With extensive management experience spanning nearly three decades, Levesque brings valuable leadership to HABCO’s executive team during a period of rapid growth. As COO, Levesque will lead operations, focusing on planning, executing, measuring and driving accountability.

“It is such an exciting time at HABCO and I couldn’t be happier to have Rich join the team,” said Brian Montanari, HABCO’s President and CEO.  “His decades of experience will help bring our operations to the next level as we continue on this path of rapid growth.  With Lean as one of his key foundations, Rich will focus on continuously improving our operations in pursuit of providing the ultimate customer experience.”

Prior to joining HABCO, Levesque has utilized Lean principles to drive operational excellence and transform organizations across multiple industries including Healthcare, Commercial & Military. Most recently, as Operations Director at Radio Frequency Systems, Levesque was able to reduce lead times by 75% and costs by 35% resulting in increased market share. Prior to that, Levesque had a significant impact in achieving double-digit improvements in productivity, quality, lead time reduction and cash flow improvements as Vice President of Operations at both MAAX Bath and The Wiremold Company.

“I’m very excited about joining the HABCO organization. The production of quality products, dedicated workforce, and strong executive leadership are all examples of a commitment to growing the business. I’m looking forward to working with the team to take the organization to the next level.”

When Rich isn’t working, you can find him either on his boat on the Connecticut River, or spending quality time with his wife, children and grandson.

About HABCO Industries:

Founded in 1970, HABCO has steadily grown to be one of the premier support & test equipment and engine & airframe tooling solutions for the commercial and military aerospace industry. HABCO has partnered with several large OEM aerospace companies, and has been recognized with numerous industry achievements and awards.

In 2020, HABCO will celebrate 50 years of serving the commercial and defense aerospace industries with engine and airframe tooling solutions, support and test equipment, as well as logistics and warehousing. HABCO pledges to continue to innovate, grow and support their partners throughout the lifespan of their equipment. HABCO takes great pride in keeping the customer operationally ready. “It Matters” is a way of thinking and acting across every customer engagement. If it matters to you, it matters to HABCO.

Press Contact
Wendy Burnham
Director, Marketing & Communications
HABCO Industries
wendy.burnham@habco.biz
860-430-5192

Glastonbury, CT – HABCO Industries, a privately held engine tooling and ground support equipment manufacturer for the commercial and military aerospace industry, has secured 25,000 square feet of additional logistics and warehousing space in East Hartford, CT.

Brian Montanari, President and CEO, said: “In true HABCO fashion, we reacted quickly in order to provide the ultimate customer experience.  A key customer had a warehousing need and we wanted to meet their need.  Within six weeks of being notified of the opportunity, we identified a location, negotiated a lease, and closed on the deal. The entire facility was cleaned out, repaired and updated with a security system and cameras.   We accomplished a lot in 45 days, bringing HABCO to another level of trusted and dedicated support to our valued aerospace customers.”

The warehouse facility will free up critical manufacturing space to allow for planned growth in the headquarter location in Glastonbury, CT.  Warehousing and logistics of engine tooling and ground support equipment continues to reinforce the commitment we have to our customers in providing all-encompassing solutions of their maintenance needs.

Brian, a strong believer in Lean principles, also said, “Within the next couple of weeks, the entire Glastonbury manufacturing facility will be set up with a new operational layout. This is all being done to reduce waste and improve flow, to be more effective in our execution and to set-up production lines for our new contracts.”

Glastonbury, CT – HABCO Industries, a leading manufacturer of aerospace support and test equipment and engine tooling, has received certification from the FAA to begin operations as a Certified 14 CFR part 145 FAA Repair Station, CRS#: 5HBR906C. The stand-alone business offers maintenance, repair and overhaul services under Limited Accessories for Airframe and Engine components. There will be additional product categories added in the future as the HABCO MRO business continues to grow and evolve.

“For over 40 years‚ countless aerospace customers have counted on HABCO to provide them with proven support and test equipment products. Many of these customers have asked us to develop an FAA Service business to support overhaul and repair of products. We’re building on this competency to have a deeper FAA service offering. HABCO MRO is borne out of the market need and request‚” stated Jeff Kretzmer‚ Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We began this journey to gain certification well over a year ago and have worked tirelessly with the FAA to meet all their stringent requirements. We’re excited about what this means for HABCO Industries‚” added Kretzmer.

The HABCO MRO business will be located in a separate facility within the HABCO operational footprint. All employees, from inspectors to technicians are totally focused and dedicated on the service aspects of the business. “HABCO MRO represents a major investment for the company. We’re building an employee base to meet the demanding requirements that being an FAA Repair Station entails for the aerospace community. Our plans are to rapidly grow the business,” remarked Brian Montanari, President and CEO.

The initial focus for HABCO MRO is going to be aimed at concentrating on the core competencies of the parent company HABCO Industries that involve the repair of products requiring actuation, temperature, pressure and air-flow/oil-flow. This is the product category where HABCO MRO can add the most value based on years of experience manufacturing and servicing these products.

Glastonbury, CT – HABCO Industries, a leading supplier of test and support equipment and tooling products to the aerospace industry, has entered into a license agreement with Pratt & Whitney as the exclusive authorized tooling supplier for Pratt & Whitney engine tooling on the GP7200 engine. This license agreement builds on the position that HABCO has established as an engine tooling supplier. Over the past year, HABCO has functioned as the exclusive Designated Service Supplier (DSP) of tooling for Pratt & Whitney legacy engines − JT3D, JT8D, JT9D, PW2000, PW4000 and PW6000.

“Throughout our existence, countless airline operators have relied upon HABCO for high quality, support and test equipment used throughout their operations. The addition of the Engine Alliance license agreement with Pratt & Whitney is a further demonstration of our engine tooling business offering. We’ve totally aligned the company from both an internal and external position to ensure that all Engine Alliance customers receive the Pratt & Whitney tooling support that they’ve come to expect. Our support will be unwavering,” remarked Jeff Kretzmer, Vice President, Sales and Marketing for HABCO.

“The license agreement with Pratt & Whitney for Engine Alliance tooling is another validation of the business that we’re building at HABCO. We’re working to build a business that end users can continually count on to get their engine tooling whenever and wherever they need it. We’re working hard to pay off the trust that major aerospace OEM’s are placing in us with these license agreements,” added Kretzmer.

Glastonbury, CT – HABCO Industries, a leading supplier of test and support equipment to the aerospace industry, has entered into a license agreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada to be an approved licensed supplier for commercial tooling in support of all Pratt & Whitney Canada engine programs (JT15D, PW100, PW150, PW100TS, PW200, PW210, PW300, PW500, PW600, PW800 and PT6, PT6A, PT6B and PT6C). Over the past year, HABCO has been functioning as the exclusive designated service supplier of tooling for Pratt & Whitney engines − JT3D, JT8D, JT9D, PW2000, PW4000 and PW6000. Plans are in place to be fully operational in support of the new Pratt & Whitney Canada license agreement at the beginning of 2017.

“Throughout our existence, countless airline operators have relied on HABCO for quality support and test equipment used throughout their operations. The tooling license agreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada is a further demonstration of our InnoGration™ business offering. We’ve totally aligned the company from both an internal and external perspective to ensure that all Pratt & Whitney Canada engine customers receive the tool support that they’ve come to expect. Our support will be unwavering,” remarked Jeff Kretzmer, Vice President, Sales and Marketing for HABCO.”

Located in Glastonbury, Connecticut, HABCO has supplied extensive product solutions to the aviation industry for well over 40 years. The company has a deep product offering that includes a comprehensive portfolio of support and test equipment. Over the past two years, the company has expanded their unique InnoGration™ value stream to include significant license agreements with several aerospace OEMs.

Glastonbury, CT – HABCO Industries, a leading supplier of test and support equipment to the aerospace industry, has entered into a license agreement with Pratt & Whitney to be the exclusive designated service supplier for commercial tooling in support for Pratt & Whitney legacy engine programs. The agreement covers current Pratt & Whitney commercial engines in operation, including: JT3D, JT8D, JT9D, PW2000, PW4000 and PW6000 engines.

“HABCO has demonstrated the quality that we are looking for in a strategic sourcing resource of tools and tooling solutions,” said Rick Pianka, General Manager – Commercial Engines Global Procurement & Licensing, Pratt & Whitney. “They proved their capabilities and credentials through a vigorous vetting program. HABCO has achieved UTC Supplier Gold status, which is United Technologies’ highest supplier rating. The company also is an AS9100 certified facility with a commitment to great quality and rapid response. We’re confident that HABCO has the right programs and people in place to make this transition seamless for our customers.”

Located in Glastonbury, Connecticut, HABCO has supplied extensive product solutions to the aviation industry for well over 40 years. The company has a deep product offering that includes a comprehensive portfolio of support and test equipment.

“Countless airlines have always relied upon HABCO throughout the years to deliver support and test equipment to assure their assets remain in revenue service. The license agreement with Pratt & Whitney is a further commitment to delivering on this capability. We’ve aligned the company both internally and externally to ensure that Pratt & Whitney airline customers receive the engine tool support to which they are accustomed. It is a responsibility that we take seriously,” remarked Jeff Kretzmer, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for HABCO.

Beginning second quarter of 2015, all new orders for commercial tooling to support Pratt & Whitney legacy engines were transitioned to the responsibility of HABCO Industries. Customers were alerted to the change by Pratt & Whitney through a service letter. Contact information is habcotooling@habco.biz

Hartford, CT – Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced today that HABCO Industries, which builds test and ground-support equipment for the aerospace industry, is expanding its Glastonbury operation and plans to increase its workforce from 42 to 79 over the next four years.

"Today is another example of Connecticut's commitment to the aerospace industry, leveraging this strategic relationship to benefit our state. HABCO is one of hundreds of small aerospace manufacturers that will be hiring over the next several years, and Connecticut is pleased to be a partner in its growth," Governor Malloy said. "Last year we grew more jobs than any time since 1998 - and it's because we're making smart decisions today for a brighter Connecticut tomorrow. We're investing like never before, and our state is making progress as a result."

Aerospace industry original equipment manufacturers like Pratt & Whitney, General Electric, and Boeing forecast 29,000 new passenger and freight aircraft being built at a value of $4.4 trillion over the next 20 years. This unprecedented growth means increasing demand for HABCO's test and support equipment services, which currently serve many of Connecticut's leading aerospace industry suppliers.

"We are proud to have the confidence of, and partnership with, the state of Connecticut. We're now in position to make the investments in our manufacturing and IT infrastructure we need to pursue our ambitious business strategy and realize the tremendous growth potential that the aerospace industry presents going forward," stated Brian Montanari, President and CEO. "It demonstrates that Connecticut is creating a business-friendly environment that attracts investment, spurs job growth, and helps companies such as HABCO to become more competitive in the global marketplace."

"I recently toured HABCO, and Brian told me about his plan to double his workforce over the next few years and how the State of Connecticut can help with that," said State Senator Steve Cassano (D-Manchester), whose 4th State Senate District includes Glastonbury. "Habco's not moving down South. They're not moving overseas. They're staying and growing right here in Connecticut with the help of Governor Malloy and the state legislature.  This investment is great news for Glastonbury and great news for Connecticut's bedrock, booming aerospace and defense industries."

The state will support the project with a $2 million loan from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), at an interest rate of 2 percent for a term of 10 years. DECD funding will be used to purchase manufacturing equipment such as computer numeric controlled (CNC) lathes, five axis milling machines, a tube bender, a powder coat system, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software as well as training for current and new employees.

"This funding will provide HABCO with the employees, equipment, training, and infrastructure to remain a strong partner in Connecticut's future aerospace growth plans," said DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith. "And a strong manufacturing sector is crucial to a strong overall economy."

Since our last update in the letter dated May 14, 2020, I am pleased to state that HABCO continues to maintain 100% employee capacity, with our workforce split between 2 shifts operating between 4am – 2am. We continue to maintain our strict protocol of requiring a minimum of a one hour gap in between each shift, to ensure no overlapping of employees across shifts and also to provide essential time for daily cleaning and disinfecting protocols to be carried out.

Habco now has all employees back onsite safely working together in our Glastonbury facility. Although our non- production employees were able to be productive working from home for several months, over time, there was an impact to departmental efficiency rates. This led the executive team to find ways to get teams back together, but without jeopardizing the continuity of operations. Various zones were created throughout our facility, where specific teams now have their own private entrances, private restrooms and private breakrooms. This has provided the opportunity to bring all departments back onsite and regain efficiency rates, without jeopardizing all of our efforts to keep our workforce safe.

Habco’s Executive Team has also shifted its focus to identify opportunities to replace manual protocols initially put in place with more efficient and automated technologies available to create a safer work environment. Habco implemented automated temperature scanning kiosks to eliminate the manual temperature checks that were required daily at the start of each shift. The technology provides us good analytics about the health of our employees.

Air quality monitors were also implemented to measure the temperature, humidity, CO2 as well as particulate matter and TVOC counts in the air. The cleaner the air, the less likely any bacteria or virus has to attach itself to live longer. Habco has been monitoring air quality for over six weeks now and improvements have been made to the HVAC system, increased filter changes throughout the facility and many other tactical remedies were made to assist with ensuring the facility has the cleanest air possible. Habco has had a couple companies offer us free demonstrations of their portable air scrubbing machines to work in conjunction with our monitoring which we started to implement in pilot areas. Below is a snapshot of the quality of our air throughout our facility as of 9:30am today (13 Nov 2020). If the indicators are green, it is almost impossible for virus/bacteria to survive in the air. If the indicators are yellow, it is highly unlikely to survive in the air; and if our indicators are orange, red or purple - we increase our risk and we take further remediation action.

Each of the protocols referenced above has played a significant part in our continued efforts to keep Habco team members safe, and work hand in hand with what we believe was the most influential item that has truly set Habco apart from other companies - the self-administered COVID-19 tests we provide for our employees. To date, we have completed ~250 COVID-19 saliva tests and we remain convinced that having the ability to conduct this testing onsite has not only provided needed business flexibility, but is a primary reason that we have remained 100% operational throughout the pandemic. Given the success we’ve seen from our onsite testing efforts, we are officially moving forward with random pooled testing as a further step to ensure the safety of our employees. This will be particularly important as we are now seeing significant spikes in the virus throughout the country. Through the random test process, we’ll be testing small groups across the organization on a weekly basis. This will be particularly important in our efforts to identify any employee who may be positive for the virus, but also asymptomatic.

The executive team continues to meet daily to discuss COVID protocols, future pandemic risks, new products being launched, as well as what companies are out there that Habco can benchmark. As a result of our proactive approach and our continued due diligence, Brian and Carol have been panelists and guests on numerous podcasts, webinars, and trade association meetings. Habco has also been visited by other companies, as well as state and federal leaders and has been featured in various newspapers, industry publications and highlighted on local newscasts.

Besides focusing on only Habco business and employees, the Habco executive team is also committed to giving back to the community and the industry by assisting other companies as they develop protocols to protect their employees and their businesses. In addition to ongoing sharing of best practices through a combination of onsite visits and virtual platforms (podcasts and webinars), Habco has helped other companies set up their own internal COVID testing programs and COVID protocol playbook.

Managing a business through this pandemic has been a significant challenge, but the executive team has worked tirelessly since early in the first quarter to ensure we do everything in our power to keep employees, customers and suppliers safe - while providing flexibility on the home front for employees to be day care providers, teachers, and elder care givers – all the while doing this in a manner that doesn't affect our ability to meet customer demand.

At this time, we have not had any onsite employee confirmed cases of COVID-19 across our employee base. However, should we find ourselves in a position where a positive test is confirmed in the future, we remain confident that the expanded protocols we continue to put in place will significantly help to minimize any risk or exposure to our other team members, or our operational capabilities.

The Habco team remains committed to the mission we set at the start of our COVID-19 planning:

1. Ensuring the health and safety of our employees, suppliers and customers, while
2. Providing flexibility for Habco employees to manage their home life appropriately, and
3. Meet customer demands

Feel free to reach out to me with any questions. I am happy to share any of our protocols as I truly believe the faster all companies can adopt best practices, the quicker we can begin our new normal. Also, please feel free to share your best practices as we are continually looking for improvements to our processes.

Be safe,

Brian Montanari, President & CEO
HABCO Industries, LLC
(Download the letter here)

HABCO Industries has been at the forefront of Covid response in so many ways throughout the pandemic. Brian Montanari, President and CEO, shares some of the great things they've done both inside his company and in cooperating with the whole CT manufacturing industry during this time. Brian talks about the Covid testing process he developed for his employees (and shared with many other companies), the new air cleansing technology he will be implementing, and the communication that has been key to sharing what he's doing both internally and externally. Brian also talks about how Lean principles have been guiding every decision along the way to help the company stay strong and productive.
View the streaming podcast here

HABCO Industries LLC is once again leading the effort with employee testing and safety. Listen & watch the CBIA webinar: Battling Covid-19 in the Lab and on the Shop Floor, featuring HABCO's President & CEO Brian Montanari and VP of Human Resources Carol Boedicker (hint: they join in at about 37 minutes in).

HABCO Industries LLC President & CEO Brian Montanari was a panel participant in The Hartford Business Journal's Healthcare Leadership Forum: Getting Connecticut Back to Work- What Will It Take? (hint: Brian's portion begins at 36:16).

BizCast host Shannon King chats with HABCO Industries CEO and president Brian Montanari about the Glastonbury aerospace manufacturer's recent implementation of an on-site, voluntary coronavirus testing program for employees. Brian Montanari also discusses purchasing the tests, the process for testing employees, and in this era of "new normal," how he's kept the trust of employees during this difficult time.

HABCO Industries is featured in the 5/4 issue of The Hartford Business Journal. Our COVID-19 response is viewed by industry as being one of the best in the State.

The shortage of coronavirus tests across the country and in Connecticut has led some essential businesses in the state to seek out test kits on their own, so they can more quickly determine whether it’s safe for their employees to show up to work. In response to the testing shortage, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the development of various coronavirus tests on an emergency basis, including one that can detect the virus through saliva samples. Bozrah-based manufacturer Gilman Brothers, which makes foam board materials used for signage and exhibits, deemed an essential business by the state during the pandemic, recently purchased 10 saliva tests from Texas-based company MicroGenDX. John Uliano, director of operations at Gilman Brothers, said the kits give the company the capability to test its employees right away without them having to try to get a testing appointment and then wait several days for their results. “It’s comforting to have it as an option,” Uliano said. “There’s nothing stopping us from getting results in 24 hours.”

MicroGenDX can process 10,000 samples per day and can provide results within 24 hours, said Dominic Cuozzo, an account executive with the company. The test, which must be authorized by a physician, costs $99, plus $10 for shipping, Cuozzo said.   “Saliva testing for COVID-19 is a major advance because it reduces the need for swabs and health care worker PPE (personal protective equipment), both of which are in very short supply,” said Summer Johnson McGee, dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of New Haven. Collecting saliva samples is less invasive than using nasal and oral swabs and is self-administered. As with at-home genealogy tests, a patient spits into a vial then sends the vial to a lab for analysis. However, it is not considered an at-home test, since it still requires authorization from a medical professional.   Early data shows that the saliva test is as accurate and effective as existing nasal swab tests, McGee said, and if that continues to be accurate on a larger scale over time, “this testing may be key to ramping up our capacity and a critical part of our reopening of the economy nationwide.”

Connecticut has indicated its interest in the saliva test as a way to increase its testing capacity, which Gov. Ned Lamont said is a major consideration in his decision to begin to ease some of the social distancing restrictions he's put in place. Josh Geballe, the governor's chief operating officer, said at a news conference last week that given the global shortage of swabs, the state is looking at other testing methods, such as collecting saliva samples, to determine if someone has COVID-19.   "That would be a real game-changer and that should not be too far down the horizon,” Geballe said.   Brian Montanari, CEO and president of HABCO Industries, a Glastonbury-based aerospace manufacturer, said he believes his company, which has just under 100 employees, was the first in Connecticut to procure the saliva test. He ordered 200 tests from MicroGenDX a few weeks ago.   Thirty employees, including the six-member executive team and those who can't do their jobs from home, have provided saliva samples so far. The test is voluntary, and the company contracted with a nurse practitioner to authorize it and inform employees of their results. So far, no one has tested positive, Montanari said.

"This to me is the next step," he said, in addition to the host of other measures HABCO and other essential businesses have put in place, such as splitting operational employees into two shifts so there's no overlap and to give the company ample time for cleaning, and requiring any employee whose temperature is over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit to stay home.   Montanari said once Lamont begins to loosen some of his restrictions, the saliva test will enable him to start allowing employees working from home to come back on site and also provide "comfort" to employees, so they'll know it's safe to return to work.

Link to the subscriber article

April 16, 2020 

Since our last update, provided in the letter dated April 2, 2020, I am pleased to confirm that HABCO continues to be operating at 100% employee capacity. 100% of our direct labor workforce, which represents roughly 50% of our total employee population, continues to work onsite, split between 1st and 2nd shifts. The remaining 50% of our employee base continues to work remotely and at full capacity. Also during this time, we have been able to keep up with our renovation schedule and are putting the finishing touches on our third facility in CT, and plan to be operational in that facility by May 1st.

As the length of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to expand, we continue to explore other available protocols that will help to ensure the safety of our employees, customers and suppliers. By way of example, on April 8th, Governor Lamont issued new and expanded COVID-19 guidelines for “essential” employers. The list consisted of 12 categories and roughly 50 recommended guidelines. Having completed a side-by-side comparison, I am pleased to confirm that there were only 2 guidelines on that list that were not part of our current internal protocol. Both have been added and include the following:

• Providing Hand Sanitizer at all entrances to our facility (we had sanitizer at the main entrance, work stations, rest
  rooms, and other common areas, just not at all of our employee entrances).
• Removal of trash receptacle lids in order to further reduce the need for employees to touch common surfaces.

We have also completed the following actions referenced in our last update:

• Back-Up Coverage – We have successfully connected with former employees (in good standing) who have confirmed availability to provide temporary assistance as needed. This provides us with additional resources and/or back-up coverage as needed.
• 3rd Shift – As part of our back-up coverage planning effort, we now have the ability to run a 4 hour 3rd shift operation if needed, which will still provide us with the ability to continue our expanded cleaning protocols between shifts.

The most exciting news I can report related to our expanded protocol involves the implementation of voluntary onsite COVID-19 testing for our employees. We have been able to successfully secure COVID-19 test kits from a manufacturer who received FDA approval under the COVID-19 Emergency Authorization Act. It is the only approved test that can be  and doesn’t require finger pricks or swabs in the throat or nose – it is done through saliva / sputum and has a 99.4% accuracy rate. After working closely with the manufacturer of the test kits to develop a process for non-healthcare professionals to procure the kits, we worked with our attorney to develop the formal process and voluntary release forms. We then communicated the process to our employees and officially began testing employees on 4/13/20. I believe Habco is the first company in industry to start testing employees…I know that we are the first non-hospital/medical office to be able to procure saliva test kits in the country.

At this time, we have not had any confirmed cases of COVID-19 across our employee base. However, should we find ourselves in a position where a positive test is confirmed in the future, we are very confident that the expanded protocols we continue to put in place will significantly help to minimize any risk or exposure to our other team members, or our operational capabilities.

Be safe,
Brian Montanari, President & CEO
HABCO Industries, LLC

April 2, 2020 

As an update to our previous letter dated March 23, 2020, I am pleased to confirm that HABCO is still operating at 100% capacity. In addition to the pro-active approach we took to start putting Covid-19 protocols in late February, we have continued to modify our internal guidelines in order to ensure the highest level of protection and safety for our employees, customers and suppliers. A highlight of our protocols introduced over the last four weeks include the following: 

• Work from Home – all employees that do not touch product (or supervise those that do) are not allowed to come into the office. IT hardware was purchased to ensure all can work from home (started 3/16/20) 
• Temperature Readings – all employees and external visitors to the facility are required to have a temperature reading taken on a daily basis by the onsite Shift Manager (started 3/9/20) 
• Masks & Gloves – all employees and external visitors are required to wear an N-95 mask and gloves at all times within the facility (we purchased our supply on 3/3/20, encouraged use 3/9/20, mandated 3/23/20) 
• Internal Cleaning - all employees are required to wipe down their work areas, equipment and tools at the beginning and end of each shift (started 3/9/20)
  • Managers have been assigned to wipe down all common areas at the beginning and end of each shift.
  • We have increased the frequency of visits from our cleaning vendor and have added new protocols to align with current recommended Covid-19 cleaning guidelines.

• 2 Shift Operation – we split our production team into two shifts to ensure even greater opportunity for social distancing (started 3/16/20) 

We are relentless in our pursuit to stay ahead of the curve and remain willing to help others. We have consolidated all components of our current Covid-19 protocol into a 9 page document that has been shared with members of the CT manufacturing community and it is being referenced as a best practice for companies in need of developing or improving their own protocol. Our Executive Team continues to meet on a daily basis to discuss new opportunities to better ensure our ability to remain fully operational. Two specific items that are in process include the following: 

• 3rd Shift – In order to provide even greater social distancing and assist us with maintaining required productivity levels, we are putting plans in place to add a 3rd shift to our operation. 
• Back-Up Coverage – In order to maintain required staffing levels throughout the entire course of the pandemic, we are actively reaching out to former employees to confirm interest in working extra hours, or full-time hours if their current employer is not currently open for business. 

At this time, we have not had any confirmed cases of Covid-19 across our employee base and we remain dedicated to implementing policies to do our best to continue this trend. However, should we find ourselves in a position where a positive test is confirmed in the future, we are very confident that as a result of the pro-active approach we have taken, and the expanded protocols that we have put in place, that we have significantly minimized any risk or exposure to our other team members, or our operational capabilities. 

Be safe,
Brian Montanari
President & CEO, HABCO Industries, LLC 

March 23, 2020

As the current situation regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has driven us into unprecedented times locally, nationally and globally, we want to assure you that we have been keeping the health and well-being of our associates, suppliers and customers at the forefront of our planning.

We began putting measures in place three weeks ago and have aggressively increased those measures as the spread of the pandemic continued.  Habco’s planning has been focused around the following 3 principals:

1. Ensuring the health and safety of the employees, suppliers and customers, while
2. Providing flexibility for Habco employees to manage their home life appropriately, and
3. Meet customer demands

The measures that have been put in place have allowed us to navigate through the past few weeks and have allowed us to do so in a manner with continued throughput.  As the landscape continued to change, concern of state and federal shutdowns moved from a possibility to reality.  On Friday, March 20, Governor Lamont announced that all non-essential businesses in Connecticut were to close, effective Monday the 23^rd as part of his “Stay Safe, Stay Home” program.

Habco is part of the Defense Industrial Base that directly supports contracts with the Department of Defense, which is confirmed through the letter received from the Undersecretary of Defense (Ellen M. Lord) on March 20, 2020.  As such, Habco is essential under both the Federal and State guidelines and will continue to be open to support our customers and the country’s national security.

We have rolled out even more aggressive measures to do our best to ensure the safety of our employees as they focus on meeting customer demand and we will continue to adjust our hours, schedule, and policies during this uncertain time.

Our supply chain team is working with our key suppliers on a daily basis to ensure continuity of materials and the entire Habco team is focused on doing everything we can to meet delivery requirements.

Be safe,

Brian Montanari, President & CEO
HABCO Industries, LLC