December 2015 - In This Issue:
Hammond's Candies Hot Cocoa gift set and more in our
2015 Holiday Gift Guide!
UPCOMING
EVENTS
For a complete listing of events, visit our website 
Hannover Messe 2016

Join the U.S. Commercial Service in Denver for a seminar about the global opportunities at the world's largest industrial technology trade show.

Date: Monday, December 7th, 2015
Time: 8:30am - 10:30am
Venue: 1999 Broadway, Mezzanine Level Conference Room, Denver
Cost: Complimentary

This roundtable seminar will feature Deutsche Messe the trade show organizer, the Colorado Export Grant which may be available to support Colorado exhibitors at the show, and commentary from CoorsTek, a seasoned exhibitor at HANNOVER MESSE.

Register here
R&D Tax Credit
Lunch & Learn 

If your company has spent time, money or other resources to improve a product or production process, you may qualify for the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit. Find out if your company qualifies at this informative lunch and learn session.

Date: December 9, 2015
Time: 11:30am - 1:30pm
Event Location: CO Center Renewable Energy Economic Development

Register here
Swiss Turning Class
at Front Range CC  

Does your company have a Swiss Turning center? Are you planning to buy one? Do you want to cross-train your employees to raise shop productivity?
 
FRCC Swiss Class Starts January 11.
 
Find out more and register here
Manufacturer's Edge Welcomes Another New Face!
Erika Echols
We are excited to announce another new Manufacturer's Edge team member, Erika Echols. 

Erika has significant experience in quality auditing, regulation and compliance.  Her experience includes the medical device, printing, and aerospace industries in great organizations such as Ball Aerospace, NREL, and Covidien. 

Erika has worked on continuous improvement projects, ISO auditing and compliance, and documentation standards and control.  Erika's role will be to support the Denver and Northern Colorado manufacturers through account management and partner development as our Client Engagement Director. 
 
Many of you will work directly with Erika as we support the Denver and Northern Colorado region.  Please join us in welcoming Erika.  She can be reached via email or phone at 303.859.0950.

Global Opportunity Awaits Colorado Manufacturers at World's Largest Industrial Trade Show
It may be hard to believe, but the USA is making its debut as the Partner Country at the world's largest industrial technology event. For HANNOVER MESSE, winning the United States as the Partner Country is a great success - one which will further enhance the attractiveness of the next year's event. "President Obama has committed himself to strengthening America's domestic industry. The modernization of America's industrial sector and the digital integration of its production plants and equipment are proceeding there at a rapid pace," reports Dr. Jochen Köckler, member of the managing board at Deutsche Messe. "The goal of the U.S. government is to regain its status as one of the world's leading production locations, which predestines the United States as next Partner Country at HANNOVER MESSE."

Companies with high quality, leading edge technologies in the following sectors should seriously consider exhibiting at Hannover Messe:

* Factory and Process Automation, Systems Solutions, and Industrial IT
* Energy, Integrated Energy Systems, and Mobilitec
* Digital Factory, Integrated Processes and IT Solutions
* Industrial Supply, Industrial Subcontracting, and Lightweight Construction
* Research & Technology - R&D and Technology Transfer

Read more about US Involvement in this year's exhibition here, and then register for next week's seminar here to find out if your company may be eligible for the Colorado Export Grant to support your exhibiting at the show.
2015 Manufacturer's Edge Holiday Gift Giving Guide 
Find the perfect holiday gift and support Colorado manufacturers!
DaVinci Aromatherapy Dough from 
The Dough Source
The 2015 holiday season is in full swing! Our bellies are growing a little rounder and our wallets are becoming a little slimmer. And, if you are anything like we are, you may also be lacking a little in the gift-giving inspiration department... If so, the team here at Manufacturer's Edge has pulled together a handful of gift ideas that just might help you cross a few more items off of your list. And, the best part, is that they are all items produced by our manufacturing clients right here in Colorado!

Here is a fun and whimsical product from our friends at The Dough Source. Their  DaVinci Aromatherapy Dough  is fun to play with and has the added benefit of stress reduction and other health benefits, thanks to the healing powers of aromatherapy. Each set comes with one jar of Lemon Ginger scented dough, one Vanilla Orange, and one Rosemary Mint. And, at only $14.99 for the set of three, you can afford to slip one jar into each stocking hung by your chimney this Christmas.

Check out the rest of the 2015 Gift Giving Guide on our website.
myRA Officially Launches 
The United States Treasury seeks to help American
workers save more for retirement
Millions of people across the US have either not started saving for retirement or are not putting away enough money to insure a comfortable lifestyle. The US Treasury hopes to rectify that problem with a new program that will allow people to invest money directly from their paychecks, checking or savings accounts, or even from their tax returns. The goal of myRA is to allow all American workers the opportunity to invest in their retirement regardless of what programs are offered in the workplace. To see how we can start "building a nation of savers," please visit the website and find out more about myRA.
Kids Connection Updates
Seeking experts in renewable energy
& a recap of the 2015 NoCo Mini-Maker Faire
Calling all energy professionals...! Northglenn High School is looking for professionals with the following expertise:
electricians, energy resource professionals,  and renewable energy business professionals to help judge their upcoming "Share the Spark" presentations.

Northglenn freshmen physics students have been working with students in Tanzania, Africa on designing renewable energy sources for the school. Students have been studying energy transfer and are designing solar, wind, hydro, and kinetic solutions. On Friday, December 11, each team will have approximately 5 minutes to present their solutions and proofs of concept.

Please contact Kerry Glenn at 720.972.4629 or by email if you are able and willing to help out!
The 3rd annual NoCo Mini Maker Faire brought in makers and attendee to show their stuff from all over the Rocky Mountains. This year we introduced several new elements that are destined to grow into significant contributing pieces to the community as we grow - the proclamation of Colorado Maker Day by Governor Hickenlooper with participation from many maker organizations around the state, Makers After Dark distillery tasting and the Inventors Showcase.

The event was a big hit, hosting 130 different activities and exhibitors while bringing in nearly 4,000 participants over the course of the weekend. Hope to see you there next year for the 4th annual Faire!
Colorado Robotics Firm Sphero Awakens The Force
Photo © & ® Lucasfilm Ltd.
-from Company Week
At the  Disney Accelerator program in fall 2014, Sphero was approached with a concept that looked a lot like their flagship product, an app-controlled rolling robot: BB-8 from the upcoming Star Wars movie,  The Force Awakens.

Were J.J. Abrams and the other masterminds behind the new trilogy inspired by the original Sphero? "I think it was just a happy coincidence," says Berberian. "They come at it from a totally different angle. They want to create a character and make some movie magic."

For their part, Sphero co-founders Ian Bernstein and Adam Wilson have been creating magic since they mat at TechStars in Boulder in 2010. The robotics wizards' idea for phone-controlled toy droids captures the market's imagination since it first shipped in 2012. The follow-up robot, the Ollie, came out in 2014 and is like the SUV to Sphero's sports car, with tank like treads and enough toughness to roll through mud.
- Read More On Company Week