For fabricators seeking a visionary contract manufacturer that delivers sophistication, quality, and service to match, Cirtronics Corporation in Milford, New Hampshire is perfectly positioned to provide a game-changing level of custom technology and support to its partners. The company primarily serves the industrial, medical, defense, and robotics industries, and all engineering and intellectual property rights remain with its clients while the Cirtronics team handles printed circuit board assembly, subassembly, and full systems integration alongside co-building (building in collaboration with a customer), supply chain management, component counting, testing, and delivery on customers’ behalf.
Cirtronics also offers a tremendous number of upfront services such as documentation handling, engineering reviews, and document preparation, making the process significantly easier for its customers. Serving the New England area along the East Coast, the company has been expanding its reach to include the Pittsburgh area and the Midwest. Soon, the team will also attend their first exhibition on the West Coast.
Cirtronics Corporation’s ownership model helps ensure its long-term success. As an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) company, the entire Cirtronics team is invested in the company’s success, and staff members are proud to have longstanding customers—relationships spanning more than two decades in some cases. But the company’s longevity and continuity are just one of the reasons customers stay for so long. By contracting aspects of their fabrication processes to Cirtronics, these customers can free up resources and time to commit to mission-critical project elements.
As many components used in printed circuit boards and subassemblies are minute, Cirtronics’ capabilities for accurate counting and careful material handling are some of the added benefits customers come for. “Most contract manufacturers do not have the equipment that we implemented this year, investing about $1.5 million,” explains Stephanie Gronvall, Director of Marketing. New software also provides the team with improved accuracy in its quoting processes as well as far better software protection—especially valuable in the defense sector—while secure cloud hosting is now on offer as well.
The company’s superior quality has earned it a reputation for excellence and as a result, its products are hugely sought after. “There are lots of things that our products go into, and they have to work right the first time,” says Gronvall, highlighting Cirtronics’ ability to provide customers with the utmost care throughout every fabrication process. As a result, the team takes accuracy seriously, taking every opportunity to continuously improve its systems in this regard.
Always evolving, Cirtronics is introducing some new advanced contract manufacturing technology this year. By investing in AI-integrated software upgrades, equipment, and securing customer documentation with increased certified cybersecurity measures, the company has its sights set on vigorous expansion over the next few years.
With a roster of around 40 customers, building and maintaining trust remains an important aspect of growing the business. As Cirtronics acts as an extension of its customers’ operations by building—and sometimes even co-building—products on their behalf, maintaining a harmonious work environment is a key factor in the relationship’s success. The Cirtronics team is well-versed in meeting customers where they are—both on their business journey and in their product development process.
“Customers have different needs,” says Gronvall. “Some might need a little more direction along the way.” The Cirtronics team develops a tailor-made service for each customer, planning processes according to their unique needs for the successful conclusion of their project. For this reason, the company goes to great lengths to consult with each customer, ensuring effective communication.
This process provides guidance to customers, some of whom may discover that they need to outsource their fabrication only much later in their process than they initially thought. “There are multiple conversations that happen; we have a very long sales cycle,” Gronvall explains. “This is not a transactional business; it’s a true partnership. We’re very transparent.”
The initial introduction phase when working with Cirtronics includes in-house tours of its 175,000-square-foot facility with as many members of the customer’s team as possible. Facility audits are conducted, and conversations with key decision makers take place. For those unable to travel, virtual tours and meetings over Zoom and Teams bridge the gap. While the company typically works with established firms, it does welcome two or three startup companies per year on average. “We’re a small business. We want to make sure that we bring partners on board [annually] that look at us as a solution and a partner rather than a vendor,” Gronvall shares.
The company’s approach of finding a good cultural fit and creating a supportive environment extends to its internal culture as well. Committed to treating employees well since it opened its doors nearly five decades ago, being a great place to work goes beyond just good salaries and benefits. Personal and professional development go hand-in-hand with building a culture of care among staff members. In turn, this care is extended to the broader community with the team’s support of local organizations like the National Children’s Home, Boys and Girls Clubs, and several other charitable endeavors.
Part of Cirtronics’ approach to both business and philanthropy includes honoring the “Six We Serve,” which means serving Customers, Community, Suppliers, Environment, Employee Owners, and the Corporation. To this end, the company has a series of committees in place to help staff navigate these aspects of service by remaining aware of each and maintaining a healthy balance between them. The approach has resulted in a wholesome servant leadership style that maintains a connection with the human aspects of the business. “We value every one of our employees and so it’s important to us that we have reciprocal relationships—not only with them but also with customers and with our suppliers,” Gronvall says.
Stephanie Girard, Marketing Communications Specialist, agrees. “We seek to serve and continuously improve,” she says, pointing out that the company is committed to developing its technological capabilities, its teams, and all the other aspects that enable it to treat its customers with the respect and consideration they deserve. “We take pride in what we do,” she adds. “I think that’s a huge piece of why we work so well together and take so much pride in our work.”
Gronvall cites the team’s ability to scale up to match customer needs—fast—as one of the company’s greatest strengths. “We pride ourselves on being able to scale and grow with our customers,” she says.
One case in point saw the team increase delivery from 100 printed circuit boards to 37,000 assemblies annually across five individual product lines—in a space of two years—for the same customer as they grew and expanded. This is just one example of how this Tier 2 contract fabricator can adapt in ways many businesses think are only possible for larger organizations. The main difference is that the Cirtronics team cares, and it shows. From supply chain management to delivery, this company can provide the goods on time and on budget.
Technology remains critical heading into the future as the company maintains its foothold in manufacturing while adapting to changing market demands. For this reason, continued investment in the latest hardware and software will continue to be a priority. Another goal is clear for Gronvall and the entire Cirtronics Corporation team: “We want to stay who we are,” she says of the company’s resolute commitment to retaining authenticity in all its undertakings.
