BDCC Helps Bradford Machine Become A Prince
More than a quarter century ago, David Bradford saw the need for a machine shop that could serve companies within a 30-mile radius of Brattleboro, Vermont. His fledgling operation, Bradford Machine Company, was essentially a job shop, producing small-run parts for local manufacturers. Little did Bradford know that, with the vision of Jim Hayssen and help from BDCC, his local start-up would become a globally renowned manufacturer of premium parts and components for aerospace and medical applications.
In those early days, Bradford Machine’s reputation for quality spread rapidly. By the late 1990s, the shop was producing more complex work for higher-volume, production-oriented orders, and in 2001 Bradford decided to sell the company. Enter New England businessman Jim Hayssen, who saw Bradford Machine not only as a successful company in its own right, but as an opportunity. Advances in technology were occurring at a rapid pace. Hayssen regarded machining and CNC manufacturing as areas that had huge potential for automation, where machines could produce precision parts in greater volume with minimal worker supervision.
In 2010, with business steadily increasing, Bradford knew Bradford Machine would need more capacity than its current facility allowed. He looked for a space that would not only meet the company’s immediate needs but had room to accommodate future growth. Hayssen found an ideal site at the BDCC Business Park, in the old Book Press building on Brown Court in Brattleboro.
As a non-profit, economic development organization, BDCC is more than just a landlord. It plays a critical role in supporting business incubation and expansion throughout Southern Vermont, providing a foundation for companies to both establish and scale their operations. It offers flexible lease agreements, direct technical assistance, workforce development programs, and access to key funding. For Bradford Machine, BDCC was able to provide not only the space it wanted but the necessary infrastructure, as well as financing for a facility fit-up, equipment acquisition, and operational expansion, ensuring that Bradford Machine would be able to meet its evolving production requirements.
Fast forward to 2023: Jim Hayssen, still vigorous but a few years past typical retirement age, decided to finally wind down and enjoy the fruits of his labors. In March of 2024, Bradford Machine was sold to Prince Industries, an Illinois-based company that grows through acquisition. Prince, which also began as a single-location machine shop, now has seven world-class facilities – two in Illinois, two in Florida, one in Shanghai, one Pepperell, Massachusetts, and now Brattleboro, Vermont. For Hayssen and the BDCC, one of the most appealing aspects of Prince’s acquisition model is its desire to allow successful companies to continue operating in their current locations, retaining local jobs and adding new ones as growth occurs.
“The Prince acquisition model is very hands-off,” says Aaron Tolman, Prince’s General Manager at the Brattleboro facility. “In my role as GM, I essentially operate as a business owner with very few guardrails.” While Tolman has been at Prince for less than a year, he is no stranger to Brattleboro, having previously served as Chief Engineer down the road at G.S. Precision. Tolman’s goal at Prince is to steadily grow sales.
“Expansion in our industry take two forms—headcount and capabilities,” says Tolman. “I intend to do both, and do them here in Brattleboro, in the BDCC Business Park.”
Tolman cites his strong relationship with BDCC Real Estate Director Al Claussen as an added reason for staying put. “BDCC is a great landlord, going on 15 years now. Al regularly keeps us in the loop so that we can take advantage of any expansion opportunities as soon as space becomes available.” Claussen also keeps Tolman up to date on any grants being offered in Southern Vermont. “When a piece of equipment can cost a million dollars,” says Tolman, “a 50% matching grant can be incredibly significant.”
“Bradford Machine has been a fantastic tenant,” adds Claussen. “And when they’re ready to expand, BDCC will be here to provide whatever services are needed.”
More about Prince
Prince excels in delivering high-quality, precision-engineered components for the medical, aerospace, and industrial sectors. Their wide-ranging, advanced manufacturing capabilities include both precision machining and sheet metal fabrication. Their facility in Brattleboro, Vermont, formerly known as Bradford Machine Company, primarily serves the medical and aerospace industries. With broad engineering and machining capabilities, Bradford Machine provides customers with trusted experience and top quality, consistently meeting their demands for highly precise, cost-effective parts. For more details, visit https://www.princeind.com
