Made in Connecticut: AQUASGROUP

Each month, we profile a local manufacturer, showcasing the ingenuity and innovation driving the state’s economy. For December, we spoke with Dane Sheldon, director of business development at AQUASGROUP. 

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When was your company founded? 

1986

How many employees work for your company?

25

What products does your company manufacture? Who are your customers?

AQUASGROUP is a chemical engineering-based design and build manufacturer and service provider of Green Factory Series industrial process rinse water purification, recycling and treatment systems, as well as OASIS Series parts washers and metal finishing/chemical process lines.

Why did you choose manufacturing?

The New England states, most notably Connecticut, have a long history of manufacturing.

AQUASGROUP started out supporting local jewelry manufacturers in meeting regulatory requirements related to wastewater treatment.

Eventually, as we grew, we recognized the need for our systems and services in other precision manufacturing sectors such as gas turbine engine OEM and MRO, medical device, electronics and precision machining.

We primarily support manufacturers in meeting quality, efficiency and waste minimization objectives.

What makes your company unique?

Since our inception, AQUASGROUP has been a water-centric company recognizing early the important role that water plays in various manufacturing processes as well as its societal significance as a finite resource.

Through expertise developed over decades of practical experience and thousands of installations, we have developed systems that support our clients’ quality, efficiency and sustainability objectives, reducing or eliminating wastewater discharge and supporting the future of U.S. manufacturing.

Why did you choose Connecticut?

Located in Rhode Island, our close proximity as well as our focus on precision manufacturing makes Connecticut an obvious location to do business.

Over the past 35, years we have developed a significant presence supporting manufacturers in the aerospace, automotive, hardware, and medical markets, to name a few.

What is the greatest advantage to operating in Connecticut?

Connecticut is home to many great companies that manufacture products sent all over the world.

Where do you see your company in five years? Ten years?

We have seen a marked increase in the level of interest in systems that can efficiently and economically reduce waste generation and water consumption while also delivering on stringent quality requirements.

AQUASGROUP continues to grow locally and more broadly across the US as well as internationally and we expect continued growth in the years to come. 

Our future is bright as the value of pure water in manufacturing is only beginning to be understood.

Based on that alone, we have solutions to provide all manufacturers. Our challenge is managing growth while maintaining the quality in both equipment and service that we have become known for.

What’s the main thing policymakers could implement to make your company more competitive?

The best policies to both attract and nurture manufacturers in Connecticut are simply those that are fair, both recognizing and rewarding all who have chosen to reside in Connecticut.