EASTFORD – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that Whitcraft Group – an Eastford-based supplier of formed, fabricated, and precision machined components and assemblies that was founded in 1960 – is this week’s “Murphy’s Monday Manufacturer.” In 1998, current owners Colin Cooper and Jeffrey Paul acquired the company and have since expanded the operation into the business it is today. Whitcraft now operates out of three different facilities located in Eastford, Plainville, and Farmington, and provides a range of products and services to the aerospace and power generation industries, like high-pressure sheet metal forming and customized hydro forming, as well as bracket assemblies and retaining rings.

Whitcraft’s parts and components are used on some of the most advanced aerospace systems in the world supplying customers in more than a dozen different countries across North America, Europe, and Asia. Many of their products are even used by other Connecticut manufacturers, like by Pratt & Whitney on their F135 and PurePower engine families, by Sikorsky on their Blackhawk helicopters, and by United Technologies Aerospace Systems on their air management systems for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. With the help of 450 highly skilled Connecticut workers, Whitcraft has become known for their quality and cost-effective products, and the company has been experiencing rapid growth. In fact, earlier this year, Whitcraft announced that they have secured a 10-year $234 million contract with Pratt & Whitney; this contract enabled Whitcraft to hire 30 new staff and brings their annual revenues to nearly $100 million.

“During my visit to Whitcraft’s Eastford facility, it became clear to me that Jeffrey and Colin understand the value that their workers bring to the table,” said Murphy. “They take in pride in their Connecticut roots and invest time and resources into helping our state’s veterans and young students launch careers in manufacturing. I’m proud that Connecticut is home to such a community-conscious company – it’s good for their workers, their business, and our state – and I’ll do everything I can to support their efforts back in Washington.”

Jeffrey Paul, one of the owners of Whitcraft, said: The Whitcraft Group of companies are in CT because of the access to a highly skilled workforce and its central location relative to our largest customers in North America and Western Europe.  The aerospace industry’s emphasis on perfect quality, on time delivery, and low prices established in a competitive global market impose relentless pressure for companies to continuously improve their performance.  The CT river valley’s industrial history has provided a pool of talent; we further develop that talent by partnering with regional educational institutions like Ellis Tech, QVCC, MCC, Asnuntuck, CCSU, and UConn.  This ‘pipeline’ of talent will fuel the Whitcraft Group’s growth for many years to come.

The manufacturing industry plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating our state’s economic recovery. Today, Connecticut’s 4,602 manufacturers account for 10.2% of the state’s jobs and 87% of the state’s total exports. In order to protect and grow manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, Murphy has introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen existing standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods, the 21st Century Buy American Act and the American Jobs Matter Act.