Digital Foundry at New Kensington

What Digital Foundry at New Kensington does

Digital Foundry at New Kensington is a non-profit innovation space and Industry 4.0 technical assistance center operated as an initiative of Penn State New Kensington, located in a 15,000+ sq ft facility at 855 5th Avenue, New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2020 with a small staff (1–10 employees), the organization provides digital manufacturing training, workforce development, and hands-on technical assistance to regional manufacturers, early-stage startups, career seekers, and K-12 students in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Its core mission is to accelerate adoption of digital technologies and data-driven decision-making among regional industry, in partnership with the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland County.

The Foundry's technology stack spans the full Industry 4.0 digital thread, including industrial software (CAD, CAE/Simulation, digital twin, digital thread), robotics and collaborative robots with FANUC RoboGuide simulation, smart CNC machining and 3D printing, PLCs/HMIs/SCADA systems, OPC-UA/MQTT protocols with data historians, Manufacturing Execution Systems, and IIoT spanning edge to cloud. These capabilities are deployed as demonstration, training, and de-risking assets rather than as a commercial product. Programs include the Manufacturing and Digital Fundamentals Certificate Program, FANUC-certified robotics training, the Innovation Forge Startup Accelerator (jointly run with The New Kensington LaunchBox / The Corner), K-12 STEM programs, and student capstone projects pairing Penn State engineering teams with manufacturers such as Oberg Industries, MSA Safety, Mancini's Bakery, Pulva Corporation, JV Manufacturing, and Symmco.

The business model is grant-funded and membership-based, with services for manufacturers and startups provided at subsidized or no cost. Revenue streams include a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, tiered participant membership fees, fee-based technical training programs, and modest prototype grants (e.g., $7,500) to accelerator participants. The organization has reported 600+ training attendees and 150+ industry collaborations. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; engagement is contact-based and consultative. Technology partnerships with FANUC, Siemens (Solid Edge), and CS Automation underpin the demonstration stack, while strategic partnerships with Penn State, the Economic Growth Connection, and the New Kensington LaunchBox anchor the regional ecosystem.

Name

Digital Foundry at New Kensington

Legal name

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State Digital Foundry at New Kensington)

Website

https://digitalfoundrynk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Digital Foundry at New Kensington is a Penn State-affiliated non-profit innovation hub that delivers Industry 4.0 training, technical assistance, and startup acceleration to regional manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and students in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Technology Training and Technical Assistance

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Training & Workforce Upskilling (AM) (IMAAAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Additive Manufacturing Research & Innovation Labs (IMAAAJAA), Conferences, Workshops & Industry Events (AM Knowledge Sharing) (IMAAAJAL), CNC Plasma/Laser Cutting & Automated Fabrication Training (EDAOADAH)

Keywords

• Smart manufacturing training
• Industry 4.0 assistance
• Workforce certification programs
• Startup accelerator services
• Manufacturing technology de-risking

Headquarters

HQ city

New Kensington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Grant-Funded Non-Profit Operations: The Digital Foundry operates as a non-profit innovation space affiliated with Penn State University. Primary funding comes from grants, including a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community & Economic Development. Services for manufacturers and startups are subsidized or free, supported by public funding and university resources.
2. Tiered Membership Program: Participant membership with tiered options offering access to strategic and technical assessments, event/meeting space use, free or discounted training and event fees, and Penn State student collaboration opportunities. Membership fees support ongoing operations.
3. Technical Training and Workforce Development Programs: Fee-based technical training programs including certified training in robotics and automation (FANUC certification), career and workforce education, and K-12 student programs. Revenue generated through program registration fees.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Digital Foundry at New Kensington is a Penn State University-affiliated non-profit innovation space that delivers Industry 4.0 workforce training, technical assistance, and startup acceleration services. Core offerings include the Manufacturing and Digital Fundamentals Certificate Program, FANUC-certified robotics training, the 6-month Innovation Forge Startup Accelerator, K-12 student programs, and technical assistance / de-risking services for existing manufacturers. These are delivered through a 15,000+ sq ft facility in New Kensington, PA equipped with industrial software (CAD/CAE, digital twin), robotics, smart CNC machining, 3D printing, PLCs/HMIs/SCADA, IIoT, MES, and edge/cloud computing.

Product overview

Digital Foundry at New Kensington is a Penn State-affiliated non-profit innovation space that provides workforce training, education, and technical assistance rather than a traditional product portfolio. Its core offerings include the Manufacturing and Digital Fundamentals Certificate Program and Technical Training Programs for workforce development; the Innovation Forge Startup Accelerator for early-stage entrepreneurs; K-12 Student Programs for future workforce pipeline; and Technical Assistance Services for existing manufacturers and startups. These offerings are delivered through a 15,000+ sq ft state-of-the-art facility featuring industrial software (CAD, CAE/Simulation, Digital Twin), robotics and cobots, smart CNC machining, 3D printing, PLCs/HMIs/SCADA systems, IIoT/edge/cloud computing, and Manufacturing Execution Systems. The organization also hosts educational video series (Smart Manufacturing for Business Success and Tech Talk Tuesday recordings) and provides a Participant Membership Program with tiered access to assessments, project direction, training discounts, and Penn State collaboration opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Innovation Forge Startup Accelerator: A 6-month accelerator program for early-stage/pre-revenue teams to validate, shape and prototype product and technology-based ideas, run jointly with The New Kensington LaunchBox (The Corner).
• Manufacturers Technology Assessment & De-Risking

Products and services

• Manufacturing and Digital Fundamentals Certificate Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ training attendees and 150+ industry collaborations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability16 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary strategic partner in the Digital Foundry's mission to drive economic growth and competitiveness in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The partnership focuses on accelerating adoption of digital technologies and data-driven decision-making among regional manufacturers and the workforce.
• The Corner / New Kensington LaunchBoxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in the Innovation Forge Startup Accelerator program, which is jointly run by the Digital Foundry and The Corner (New Kensington LaunchBox). The LaunchBox provides startup support resources, co-working space, and entrepreneurial programming that complements the Digital Foundry's technical capabilities.
• Penn State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Digital Foundry is an initiative of Penn State New Kensington campus. Penn State affiliation provides student talent (capstone projects), faculty expertise, institutional branding, and access to the broader Penn State innovation ecosystem.
• CS AutomationsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner that supported Penn State students working on the Symmco automation capstone project by providing expertise with the Mitsubishi SCARA robot integrated into the solution.
• FANUCsupportingTechnology or IntegrationRobotics technology partner referenced for certified training in robotics and automation. The Digital Foundry offers FANUC certification training and uses FANUC RoboGuide simulation software for robotics programming validation.
• Siemens (Solid Edge)supportingTechnology or IntegrationSiemens was featured in a Tech Talk Tuesday session on 'The Power of Digital Design & Simulation with Siemens' Solid Edge', indicating a technology partnership for CAD/CAE and digital design capabilities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Catalyst Connection: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit manufacturing assistance organization serving SW Pennsylvania manufacturers with technology adoption, workforce, and growth services. Highly comparable as a regional manufacturing innovation partner serving overlapping customers and geography.
• Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI): West Virginia-based nonprofit innovation center providing advanced manufacturing technology, training, and technical assistance. Comparable regional manufacturing innovation hub model serving Appalachian manufacturers with similar program structure.
• ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute: Pittsburgh-headquartered manufacturing innovation institute focused on robotics and workforce development, funded in part by the Department of Defense. Comparable in mission to accelerate robotics adoption in U.S. manufacturing and develop the workforce.
• NextManufacturing Center at Carnegie Mellon University: University-affiliated research and innovation center focused on additive manufacturing and smart manufacturing, also in the Pittsburgh region. Comparable in academic-affiliated innovation hub model and Industry 4.0 focus, with deeper AM specialization.

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute: Premier academic robotics research institute in Pittsburgh with extensive industry collaboration and workforce development programs. Comparable in Pittsburgh academic-industry nexus for robotics and automation, though as a large research university rather than an applied innovation hub.
• Invent Penn State: Penn State's broader innovation and entrepreneurship network, of which Digital Foundry is a part. Provides startup support, co-working, and accelerator programming across the university system—comparable in mission though broader in scope.
• Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers: NIST-funded national network of manufacturing assistance centers providing consulting, training, and technology adoption services to U.S. manufacturers. Comparable service model and customer base, though as a broader national program.
• New Economy Collaborative (SWPA): SWPA regional coalition funded by the Build Back Better Regional Challenge focused on robotics, autonomy, and additive manufacturing. Overlaps in mission and regional economic development focus, though operates at a larger regional scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DigitalFoundryatNewKensington
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/digital-foundry-at-new-kensington
• Instagraminstagram.com/digitalfoundrynk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Digital Foundry at New Kensington