Carey Manufacturing

What Carey Manufacturing does

Carey Manufacturing is a family-owned precision hardware manufacturer founded in 1981 by Jack Carey, a former Pratt & Whitney machinist, in Cromwell, Connecticut. The company operates a 30,000-square-foot facility producing latches, handles, catches, and case hardware under two brands—Carey Hardware Products (since 1985) and Amatom Electronic Hardware (acquired in 2003)—serving military/defense, aerospace, electronics, telecom, and automotive end-markets. Its catalog spans approximately 800,000 part types across more than 300 varieties of latches and handles, with materials including aluminum, brass, steel, and stainless steel offered in 35+ decorative finishes and 50+ powder coat colors.\n\nThe core technology stack is built around Trumpf precision metal-fabrication equipment: TruBend 5130 press brakes, TruLaser 1030 fiber lasers, a TruMatic 7000 combination punch/laser that processes 1,800–2,600 parts per 4x8 foot sheet and runs 24/7, CNC machining (including Swiss and multi-axis), and WAFIOS wire bending. Custom modular tooling enables high-mix, small-batch production. Carey is ISO 9001:2015 certified, DFARS-compliant for defense contracts, RoHS III and REACH Annex XIV compliant, and publishes a conflict minerals declaration.\n\nThe business model combines catalog hardware sales—typical order volumes of 5,000–10,000 units through a direct e-commerce platform with online quoting, plus phone/email sales—with quote-based custom contract manufacturing services that leverage excess Trumpf capacity. Distribution flows through enterprise distributors (McMaster-Carr, Bisco Industries, DB Roberts) and direct-to-OEM accounts. Between 2015 and 2017, Carey invested nearly $5 million to reshore approximately 80% of production from China to Connecticut, reducing customer lead times from 18–26 weeks to 8–10 weeks and cutting issue resolution from weeks to one week.

Name

Carey Manufacturing

Legal name

Carey Manufacturing Inc.

Website

https://careymfg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carey Manufacturing is a family-owned Connecticut precision hardware manufacturer producing latches, handles, catches, and case hardware under Carey and Amatom brands for military, aerospace, electronics, telecom, and automotive customers, with ~80% of production reshored from China since 2017.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cromwell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales (Catches, Latches, Handles): Sale of manufactured hardware products including catches, latches, handles, and case hardware under both Carey and Amatom brands. Products sold in quantities typically ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 units per order. The company does $8 million annually in sales from items like fasteners, catches and latches.
2. Custom Manufacturing Services: Contract manufacturing for CNC machined parts and assemblies, including punch press, laser cutting, bending, Swiss machining, multi-axis machining, and wire bending services. Quote-based custom manufacturing for parts that can be machined.
3. Contract Manufacturing / Laser Cutting Services: Extra capacity from TruLaser 1030 fiber is available for contract work cutting flat patterns for other manufacturers who need downstream processing

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Carey Manufacturing produces and sells an extensive catalog of precision catches, latches, handles, and case hardware under the Carey brand, plus electronic hardware (spacers, standoffs, captive panel screws, washers, ferrules) under the Amatom brand, for military, aerospace, computer, electronics, telecom, automotive, and consumer applications. The company operates an ISO 9001 certified 30,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Cromwell, CT, using Trumpf precision equipment, and also offers custom CNC machining, laser cutting, bending, and wire-bending contract manufacturing services.

Product overview

Carey Manufacturing operates as a hardware manufacturer with two primary product lines: Carey Hardware Products (catches, latches, handles, case hardware) and Amatom Electronic Hardware (spacers, standoffs, ferrules, captive panel screws, washers). Both brands share manufacturing facilities in Cromwell, CT and are offered through a unified e-commerce platform for online quoting and ordering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carey Hardware Products Carey's flagship product line covering an extensive catalog of catches, latches, handles (MS), and case hardware (handles, ferrules, light/medium/heavy duty pull downs, hooked loop catches, spring hook catches, compression spring catches, adjustable catches, wing turns, strikes, and case/universal handles and recessed latches) for military, aerospace, computer, electronics, telecom, automotive, and consumer electronics applications. Products are offered in aluminum, brass, steel, and stainless steel with 35+ decorative finishes and 50+ powder coat colors.
• Amatom Electronic Hardware Electronic hardware product line acquired with Amatom in 2003 and now manufactured alongside Carey products. Includes spacers, standoffs (swage, male-female, hinged), handles, insulating washers, ferrules, positive locking handles, captive panel screws, washers, metric products, jack screws 3/16 hexagon, and captive panel retainers for manufacturers and assembly markets.
• Custom Manufacturing Services Contract and custom manufacturing services leveraging Carey's Trumpf precision equipment and CNC machining capacity. Includes quote-based CNC machining (Swiss, multi-axis, CNC vertical), laser cutting, TruBend press brake bending, and WAFIOS wire bending/bending for OEMs and other manufacturers that need to outsource fabrication or assembly, including use of spare TruLaser 1030 capacity for contract flat-pattern cutting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lead time reduced from 18-26 weeks to 8-10 weeks through domestic manufacturing
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CONNSTEP (Connecticut Manufacturing Extension Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019CONNSTEP is the Connecticut Manufacturing Extension Partnership center. Carey Manufacturing's Director of Quality and External Relations Alison Carey-Lynch serves on CONNSTEP's board of directors. CONNSTEP announced Alison Carey-Lynch as a new board member in 2022.
• Trumpf Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2014Trumpf Inc., a German-owned machine manufacturing company with North American headquarters in Farmington, CT, provided the automated punch and laser cutting machinery that enabled Carey's reshoring from China. Carey invested nearly $5 million in Trumpf equipment including TruLaser, TruMatic, and TruBend machines. This partnership was critical to bringing manufacturing back to Connecticut.
• Floyd Manufacturing Co., Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Floyd Manufacturing Co., Inc., a precision automotive parts manufacturer, shares the Cromwell, CT facility with Carey Manufacturing. Jack Carey partnered with Ed Floyd in 2006, bringing Floyd's operation into the Carey facility to share resources. Floyd Manufacturing operates mainly as a machining operation serving the automotive sector.
• Tunxis Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarey Manufacturing is represented on the Tunxis Community College Advance Manufacturing Advisory Council, contributing to curriculum development and workforce pipeline for manufacturing careers.
• Lincoln Technical InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarey Manufacturing has representation on the advisory board of Lincoln Technical Institute in East Windsor, CT, supporting manufacturing training programs.
• Hartford Job Corps AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarey Manufacturing works with Hartford Job Corps for workforce recruitment and placement of young workers in manufacturing careers.
• Advanced Manufacturing Employer Partnership (AMEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarey Manufacturing is a member and valued partner of AMEP, working to address workforce development challenges in Connecticut manufacturing. The company actively participates in industry ambassador programs and workforce initiatives.
• Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCAT promotes young women in manufacturing and selected Carey Manufacturing as a focal point for workforce development initiatives. CCAT visited Carey to spotlight women in manufacturing and workplace culture.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RAF Electronic Hardware: Producer of standoffs, spacers, captive panel screws, and washers for the electronics and computer industries. Direct overlap with Amatom's product catalog and customer base.
• Essentra Components: Global supplier of access hardware including hinges, latches, handles, and knobs for industrial, electronics, and aerospace applications. Direct overlap with Carey's general hardware portfolio.
• H.A. Guden Co. Manufacturer of hinges, latches, handles, and gas springs for industrial, aerospace, and military cases and enclosures. Closely comparable to Carey's case and universal handle products.
• Hartwell Corporation: Aerospace-focused manufacturer of latches, fasteners, and access hardware. Comparable to Carey's aerospace and military catch/latch/handle offering.
• DZUS Fasteners: Manufacturer of quarter-turn fasteners, latches, and access hardware for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. Comparable to Carey's military-spec fasteners and latches.
• Penn Engineering (PEM): Manufacturer of self-clinching fasteners, standoffs, captive panel screws, and washers used in electronics and sheet-metal assemblies. Directly comparable to Amatom's electronic hardware line.
• Southco: Global manufacturer of engineered access hardware — latches, hinges, fasteners, and captive screws — sold into aerospace, defense, industrial, and electronics OEMs. Closest direct competitor to Carey's core catch/latch/handle portfolio.
• Keystone Electronics Corp. Manufacturer of electronic interconnect hardware and components — standoffs, terminals, screws, washers, spacers — serving electronics and industrial OEMs. Comparable to Amatom's electronic hardware business.

Broad incumbents

• Howmet Aerospace (Fastening Systems): Major aerospace fastener and hardware platform (formerly Alcoa Fastening Systems). Serves the same aerospace and defense customers Carey targets but at vastly greater scale and as part of a broader portfolio.
• Bal Seal Engineering: Larger manufacturer of precision engineered components — seals, springs, and connecting hardware — for aerospace, medical, and industrial markets. Broader and more diversified than Carey but competes for similar access and fastening sockets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CareyManufacturing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carey-manufacturing-inc-

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carey Manufacturing