Bead Industries Marks 100 Years of Manufacturing Innovation
New Haven, CT – Bead Industries, Inc., global manufacturer of electronic contact pins for the telecom, automotive, and connector industries and supplier of Bead Chain® and McGuire commercial plumbing products, celebrates its 100th year in business this year.
Founded in 1914 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Bead Industries developed and manufactured Bead Chain® for electric light pulls. Using the same innovative metal-working process, it fabricated products for the electronics market in the mid-1920s. McGuire, one of Bead’s loyal customers, was acquired in 1972.
Today, Bead maintains a solid customer base, including many Fortune 500 companies, despite recent economic pressure in the U.S. manufacturing sector. In fact, growth continues with its latest achievements: the launch of a new, online 3D CAD catalog, a $75,000 technology grant and the 2013 SBA Family-Owned Business of the Year Award.
Ken Bryant, CEO and fourth generation family member, relocated the company from the four-story factory in Bridgeport, to a single story facility in Milford in 2003. In the last six years, all three of his daughters and one son-in-law have joined the business.
The company is planning series of activities to celebrate its first 100 years and events will be taking place throughout the year, including an open house tour of its’ Milford-based factory, the release of a centennial book chronicling the captivating history of Bead, and a variety of event sponsorships and community charity events.
