N. Britain robotics manufacturer gets OK to build new, larger facility in Bristol
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An architect's drawing of the buildings to be constructed by Force Automation Inc. on Lot 3 on Business Park Drive in Bristol.
An application to build a manufacturing facility for robotic products was unanimously approved Monday night by the Bristol Planning Commission.
The application by Force Automation Inc. sought approval for a site plan to construct two buildings in two phases on lot 3 on Business Park Drive in Bristol. The 6.53-acre lot is in an industrial park zone and is owned by the city, but the applicant has agreed to acquire it for $288,000 contingent on approval of the site plan.
Force Automation takes robotic arms that are manufactured as generic parts, programs them to do what the end-user requests and then builds specific machines around the arms. The company currently is located in New Britain, at 100 Production Court, but wants to build and own a larger space for manufacturing.
The commission Monday evening reconvened a public hearing on the proposal that began on Feb. 25, but was continued in order to allow the applicant to address issues raised by city staff, as well as to allow the Bristol Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission to review and rule on a permit for the property. That commission approved the permit on March 3.
Under the site plan approved by the Planning Commission, the applicant will erect two buildings — a 30,000-square-foot industrial building and a 12,000-square-foot structure described as a “tenant building,” though a tenant has not yet been determined.
According to Timothy Furey — an attorney with the Bristol law firm Furey, Donovan, Cooney & Dyer PC, that is representing the applicant — the larger building will include 13,000 square feet of manufacturing space, 2,800 square feet of office space for front office and engineering staff, and a 3,000-square-foot training facility for “future workforce development.”
The remainder of the building will be offered as industrial tenant space, to be leased to a similar type of business.
According to the application, Force Automation expects to employ 15 people and to have up to 36 people in its training facility.
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