CAZENOVIA, NEW YORK – One year after celebrating its 40th anniversary in Central New York, Marquardt is soaring into new territory. The local contract manufacturer and global technology supplier has entered into the drone technology industry, bringing new manufacturing business and jobs to Cazenovia. 

Marquardt is a major supporter of GENIUS NY, a $3 million business accelerator competition focused on uncrewed systems, Internet of Things, robotics and big data startups. Marquardt is offering its expertise and experience in manufacturing to companies in this competition, which includes access to its 115,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Earlier this year, Marquardt secured a partnership with the 2021 GENIUS NY grand prize winner, Airtonomy – a company focused on drone data management.  

To continue to support new business opportunities along with its other current projects, Marquardt is now actively hiring for several positions including Engineers, Production Associates, and Business Development roles. 

“We’re looking to hire people who are passionate, innovative, and want to be involved with shaping the future of drone technology and high-tech manufacturing in Central New York,” said Steve Maloney, Director of Human Resources at Marquardt. 

Marquardt is known as a leading manufacturer of complex systems in the automotive, off-road, and home industries; partnering with top corporations like Ford Motor Company, General Motors, John Deere, and Stanley Black & Decker - just to name a few. The company makes a wide range of products and solutions, including wireless communication systems, electronic components, and e-mobility technology.  
Marquardt has evolved throughout the years to stay competitive, and is not afraid to pursue business opportunities outside of its traditional scope. The sky is the limit, and Marquardt sees a big future in drone technology. 

New York State has invested heavily over the past five years to create a 50-mile Uncrewed Autonomous Systems Corridor and Advanced Air Mobility Proving Grounds, commonly known as the “Drone Corridor” between Syracuse and Griffiss International Airport in Rome, Managed by NUAIR (Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance, Inc).  

Marquardt's facility, located on Route 20, is just a short drive from this giant testing range. 

“Central New York has the potential to be the ‘Silicon Valley’ of drone technology. As these new drone start-ups look to build their businesses in our area, Marquardt’s goal is to help them launch products with a precise blueprint for success,” explained Chris Berry, Business Development Manager. 

Marquardt offers product development support, product-testing, assembly and testing equipment realization, injection molding, electronic production, assembly production, and lifecycle/supply chain support. In addition, a full staff of passionate design, validation, and industrial engineering staff, as well as equipment maintenance technicians. 

"Marquardt treats its partners as true extensions of itself, willingly sharing knowledge, expertise and resources – serving to help these companies bridge the gaps in their manufacturing processes,” Berry said.

In addition to local partnerships, Marquardt has extended its outreach to drone companies on a national level. Marquardt recently attended AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2022 in Orlando, Florida, an annual conference that attracts top minds and unmanned aerial system industry leaders. Marquardt made several new connections at the show, and is hopeful to attract these companies to the Central New York area in the near future. 

About Marquardt Switches, Inc.: 

Marquardt is a global leader in the field of electro-mechanical and electronic switches, controls and wireless communication systems. Major and emerging companies, worldwide, rely on Marquardt’s expertise and experience in several industries, including automotive, electro-mobility, off-road, and home appliances. In fact, you probably use Marquardt’s switches in your vehicle on a daily basis.
  
The company has remained competitive for 95 years due to its constant ability to evolve and innovate. Marquardt is shaping the future of mobility by drastically expanding its capabilities beyond the traditional flip of a switch or push of a button – introducing touch technology, lighting, and battery management systems to its product portfolio.  

Marquardt has over 10,500 employees in 21 locations worldwide. Marquardt's U.S. Division is comprised of its North American Headquarters, located in Cazenovia, NY, featuring a state-of-the-art, 115,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility. The company also has an office in Rochester Hills, MI, which focuses on growing and supporting Marquardt’s automotive business.  

For more information, visit marquardt.com/us/partners.

Zak Niazi was a student in the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester and asking the question: What if? What if he could find a way to show 360-degree video without the complicated and tedious stitching required to make a seamless stream?

The question led Niazi to find solutions in physics for that kind of real-time, spherical, 360-degree streaming video. In overly simplified terms, he used polygonal lenses and designed them to have polygonal fields of view, instead of circular lenses with circular fields, and stuck them together so that where they touch each other the fields of view line up.

Niazi let the person who assembled the first system name the product. He chose Hydra, after the mythical Greek character with multiple heads. In 2017, Niazi founded Circle Optics, which is now based in Rochester. Who might use Hydra and Circle Optics technology?

NASA and the Department of Defense, especially the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, are among customers. So are companies developing technologies for fields in UAS, the unmanned aerial systems commonly called drones.

What makes it useful in drone technologies?

“You get much higher quality data, and you don’t get the overlapping fields, which is what takes lots of post-processing and computer resources,” Niazi said. “On a small drone, an eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft), and other aircraft, it drains away your battery.
“Higher quality data then leads to better AI (artificial intelligence). That leads to better decision making from the drone. Better data also leads to a more complete visual perception of the drone’s surroundings for remote operators.”
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The drone application brought Niazi to the GENIUS NY program at The Tech Garden in Syracuse, where his company was a GENIUS finalist and won a $500,000 investment.
He’s learned that starting and leading a growing company requires giving autonomy to others. It can be hard for an entrepreneur: “When you start a company, it’s your baby, and so you’re very protective of it.” He said good leaders establish a bold purpose larger than themselves, creating a North Star for their company.

Read the full article from Stan Linhorst on syracuse.com, here.