Charles Cohen, Fotofab

Charles Cohen, Fotofab

From Manufacturing Tomorrow by Ohio Manufacturing Institute

December 8, 2025 · 17 min

About this episode

Charles Cohen discusses his role at Fotofab and the advancements in photochemical machining.

Charles Cohen serves as president of Fotofab, a Chicago-based specialty manufacturer recognized for photochemical machining and the production of high-precision metal components. Founded in 1967 and later becoming the first company acquired by The Partner Companies (TPC), Fotofab serves critical industries, including aerospace, defense, medical devices, and electronics. Charles joined Fotofab in 2000 as Chief Financial Officer and was named president in 2010. He has been instrumental in modernizing Fotofab’s operations, expanding its customer base, and guiding its integration into TPC’s network of specialty manufacturers. Under his leadership, Fotofab continues to push innovation in photochemical etching to meet emerging market needs for lighter, thinner, finely detailed components with fast turnaround.  Most recently, Charles was elected to the Board of Directors of the Photo Chemical Machining Institute (PCMI), where he helps advance technical exchange, education, and benchmarking across the photochemical machining community.  Keywords: Photochemical Machining, Precision Metal Components, Manufacturing Innovation, Aerospace & Defense, Workforce Development

People in this episode

Guest: Charles Cohen

Topics covered

  • photochemical machining
  • precision metal components
  • manufacturing innovation
  • aerospace and defense
  • workforce development

Keywords

  • Photochemical Machining
  • Precision Metal Components
  • Manufacturing Innovation
  • Aerospace & Defense
  • Workforce Development

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Fotofab, The Partner Companies, Photo Chemical Machining Institute

Places: Chicago, aerospace, defense, medical devices, electronics

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