U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy on Monday cited Bead Industries in Milford as this week’s “Murphy’s Monday Manufacturer.”
Founded in 1914 and employing 48 people, Bead is a fifth-generation family-owned business that specializes in the manufacturing of contact pins for connector, automotive, medical and specialty lighting industries. Bead does work for companies like Amphenol, Molex, Lee Company and Light Sources.
All Bead products are manufactured in the company’s Milford and Cheshire facilities using a process called swaging, an alternative to machining and stamping, which allows the company to be quick, custom and cost-effective.
“For over a century, Bead Industries has been a pioneer in the metal-working process,” said Murphy in an announcement. “Bead has found innovative ways to stay competitive with the changing times over the last 100 years. I’m proud to highlight their work and applaud their commitment to training the next generation of Connecticut manufacturers.”
“As a Connecticut manufacturer who has been through depressions, recessions and industrial revolutions, we have had to learn to adapt,” said Bead CEO Jill Mayer. “We have an opportunity to provide not just a paycheck but a fulfilling career in manufacturing through assistance with education, training and personal growth.”
Despite its decline, the manufacturing industry remains a key driver of the state’s economy. Connecticut manufacturers account for 10 percent of the state’s jobs and 87 percent of the state’s total exports. Murphy has introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen existing standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods: the BuyAmerican.gov Act and the American Jobs Matter Act.
