Maryland Public Television (MPT) brings back its original series Made in Maryland for half-hour episodes on three consecutive Wednesdays, starting May 1. The program tells stories of people and companies at the forefront of the current fourth industrial revolution, and the paths taken to secure Maryland’s future as a hub of innovation and economic success. A preview of the series’ May 1 episode is available at youtube.com/watch?v=_-
Made in Maryland episodes are broadcast on MPT-HD and available on the MPT livestream on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Viewers will also be able to watch full episodes of the series anytime from their TVs or mobile devices on the free PBS App and MPT’s online video player.
Encore broadcasts of episodes air on Sundays at 10:30 p.m. (May 5; May 12; and May 19) on MPT2 and the MPT2 livestream.
Maryland manufacturing, driven by a highly skilled workforce, contributes more than $27 billion to the state’s economy every year. Maryland’s manufacturers are embracing innovation. Gone are the days of smokestacks and manual labor. Today’s factories are high-tech hubs, where skilled professionals manage complex systems and ensure the smooth operation of advanced machinery.
Made In Maryland travels across the Free State to profile the forward-thinking individuals and organizations driving technological change, environmental sustainability, and social transformation in the state’s manufacturing sector.
Coming up in May on Made in Maryland:
May 1 episode (locations: Harford and Baltimore counties)
For nearly a century, Harford County’s Independent Can Company in Belcamp has served as the nation’s leading producer of custom tin packaging in the global specialty tin can market, projected to be valued at nearly $1 billion by 2032. Its eye-catching creations for businesses including The Hershey Company and Frito-Lay line the shelves of supermarkets across the country. But, staying competitive in a global economy requires innovation, and this family-owned business is investing in training, automation, and sustainability to modernize its production lines.
In Baltimore County, Watts Innovations is disrupting the multi-billion-dollar drone industry with American-made drones designed to combat the spread of wildfires, inspect critical infrastructure, and deliver packages to your front door. The technical integrity of these drones is made possible by modern innovations such as computer-assisted design, virtual test environments, adaptive engineering, and modular manufacturing – innovations that help this Maryland manufacturer maintain and grow its competitive edge.
May 8 episode (locations: Baltimore City and Baltimore County)
Direct Dimensions and Magma Build Studios are bridging the gap between art and industry by merging the real and virtual worlds.
Direct Dimensions in Owings Mills is a pioneer in the field of 3D scanning, providing solutions for a wide range of fields from design, engineering, and manufacturing to art, sculpture, and architecture. The company creates digital replicas of physical objects – spanning from people to buildings to fighter jets – for aerospace and defense firms, the U.S. military, movie studios, consumer products, and industrial artists.
Baltimore City’s Magma Build Studios turns complex concepts into tangible forms, fabricating mesmerizing artworks, high-end furnishings, and architectural fixtures from mediums such as metal, glass, and wood. The rapid development of digital tools and technology has paved new paths for collaboration between companies such as Direct Dimensions and Magma Build Studios, who are joining forces with renowned artist Joseph Sulkowski to construct a sculpture inspired by his works.
May 15 episode (locations: Ann Arundel and Baltimore counties)
Every summer, the Made in Maryland Festival in Anne Arundel County provides opportunities for artisans to showcase their wares and celebrate the creative spirit of the Old Line State. Viewers meet passionate entrepreneurs, skilled craftsmen, and small businesses that may one day become household names.
It was at a similar location, a farmer’s market in Montgomery County, that Michele’s Granola got its start. This Timonium-based, woman-owned business is now among the largest independent cereal producers in the nation, stocked on thousands of store shelves from coast to coast. The episode shows how Michele’s Granola has remained true to its origins, creating delicious cereals from hand in small batches, despite growing exponentially from its humble beginnings.
Michele Tsucalas of Michele’s Granola
For more information about the series, visit mpt.org/madeinmaryland/.
The Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland is MPT’s co-production partner for Made in Maryland.
Major funding is provided by CFG Bank.
Additional support is provided by Kaiser Permanente, the Maryland Marketing Partnership, Chesapeake Employers Insurance, Maryland Economic Development Corporation, and Sage Policy Group.
About Maryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. MPT creates and distributes local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards. MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through instructional events and Thinkport.org. MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range of topics. For more information visit mpt.org.
