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n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 13 LEGACY MANUFACTURERS "We bring in new technolo- gy, whether it is manufacturing equipment or the latest computer technology," Saint adds. Schwerdtle is a family company, and Saint says the company's values have been partly responsible for its success also. Company leadership has been passed down through four generations. "We do what is right for the busi- ness first," Saint says. "You have to protect and support it in good and bad times. You have to reinvest in the business." Schwerdtle thrived as a subcon- tractor during World Wars I and II, as well as the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. Early Schwerdtle family members managed to keep the busi- ness afloat during hard times, like the Great Depression and postwar recessions. e automobile era and post-World War II explosion in the cosmetics industry helped the company thrive, however. Another factor in the business' long-term health and stability, according to Saint, is that while it is a family-owned business, no family member can have ownership in it if they don't actively work in the company. "You have to have skin in the game to make the right decisions," Saint explains. "We have been successful through four generations. We never were so successful that we launched a 'brat' generation. We all take working for a living seriously." * * * Bevin Bells of East Hamp- ton, founded in 1832, was the second bell company in that small town, which is well-known for its bell-making history. Today it is the only one still in business there. Six generations of the Bevin fam- ily have been running the company, which makes every imaginable type of bell —whether it is for a sporting event, yacht, sleigh or shop door. eir bells are used by Salvation Army Santas around the holidays, and you'll hear them ringing from many an ice-cream truck on a hot summer day. Cici Bevin, the company's chief growth officer, isn't certain why Bevin Bells has survived for so long while so many others have fallen silent, but she does have theories. One reason for Bevin's stability is the variety of bells it makes — no single variety of bell accounts for a significant portion of the business, she said. "We don't have any one runaway category, so if we lost it tomorrow, we'd be in trouble," Bevin explains. By contrast, she notes that anoth- er company which made bells solely for toys is no longer in business. "In my opinion, this is a big rea- son for our longevity," Bevin says. "We have about 70 different sizes and styles of bell, in about a dozen categories." Another likely reason Bevin Bells has been around for 187 years? Family, according to Bevin. "I wouldn't be surprised if it is partly because we are a family com- pany," Bevin said. "You have your heart and soul in it." Like most manufacturers, Bevin has also weathered hard times, such as when imports of bells became commonplace and introduced more competition. e rise of electronic bells was also a challenge. "e key," concludes Cici Bevin, "is to just keep sticking it out." * * * Headquartered in North Haven, Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals is rapidly nearing its 100th birthday. Fred Ulbrich started a scrap metal reselling business in Wallingford in 1924. e family-owned company, now an international enterprise, is in its fourth generation. Aer its origins in scrap metal, the company manufactured cutlery. During World War II, Ulbrich secured a contract to supply steel knives for U.S. Army mess kits. e growth of the aircra industry increased the demand for metal, and Ulbrich has supplied metal for the B-1 bomber, jet fighters and the space shuttle. e company now produces metal used in a vast array of products, from airplanes to pacemakers. It has 11 locations in five countries with more than 700 employees. "One of the keys of our success and lasting all of these years has been the ability of our people to adapt and change," says Chris Ulbrich, the company's CEO. e company has employees who have been there for four decades, who have happily and successfully adapted to changing technology whenever it came along, he says. "We have people who are will- ing to learn and are team players," Ulbrich says. He estimated that about 20 percent of the company's business involves products that "come and Bevin Brothers employees pose for a group photo in 1885 (right). Below: Inside the bell manufacturer's East Hampton factory today. Continued on Page 14

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