Every October, manufacturers across the country use Manufacturing Month to open their doors and show their neighbors what actually happens inside. For us at Fairchild Precision Parts, it is also a chance to look back at where we started and look around at where we are now. We have been machining precision parts in Winsted, Connecticut since 1944. The machines have changed dramatically over those 80-plus years. The commitment to getting every part right has not.
Whether you grew up in Winsted, commute through Northwest Connecticut on Route 8, or are a student in Litchfield County wondering what a career in manufacturing looks like today, this post is for you.
A Manufacturing Town With Deep Roots
Winsted has always been a place where things get made. Built where the Mad River meets the Still River, the town used water power to drive mills and factories through the 1800s and early 1900s, producing everything from clocks to pins to hosiery. Generations of families in Winsted, Winchester, and the surrounding Litchfield County towns built their livelihoods on that work.
Fairchild opened its doors in 1944, in the middle of that tradition. Like many Connecticut shops of the era, we started with conventional machining equipment and a skilled crew who knew how to set up and run it by hand and by feel. That foundation of craftsmanship, problem solving, and pride in the work is still how we operate today.
From Hand-Set Machines to Swiss CNC
If you pictured a machine shop as a dark, noisy room full of oil and guesswork, walking onto our floor today would surprise you. Modern precision manufacturing in Winsted looks a lot more like a technology company than most people expect.
What Swiss CNC machining actually is
Our core capability is Swiss CNC machining, performed on Citizen Swiss-type lathes. In simple terms, a Swiss lathe feeds a bar of metal or plastic through a guide bushing that holds the material right next to the cutting tool. Because the material is supported so close to where it is being cut, the machine can produce small, slender, highly detailed parts with remarkable accuracy, often in a single operation.
We pair that with Doosan CNC turning centers for larger turned components. Together, these machines let us produce parts that measure only fractions of an inch across, held to tolerances many times thinner than a human hair.
The technology behind the machines
Precision today is about more than the machine itself. Our shop runs on a fully digital ERP and quality system that tracks every job from order to inspection, so the right information is always in front of the right person. We use in-house 3D printing to build custom fixtures and production aids, which helps our team solve problems faster. And our AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certifications mean every process is documented, measured, and continuously improved.
Where our parts go
The parts made in our Winsted facility end up inside aerospace systems, defense equipment, fluid control valves, and precision instrumentation used around the country. They are small, but they are often mission critical. When a component has to work the first time, every time, it matters who made it, and a lot of those components are made right here in Litchfield County.
What 80+ Years in Winsted Has Taught Us
Lasting this long in manufacturing is not about standing still. A few principles have carried us from 1944 to today:
- Invest in the right technology. Every generation of equipment we have brought in has allowed us to make better parts, more consistently, for more demanding industries.
- Invest in people even more. Machines do not set themselves up. The knowledge our machinists, programmers, and inspectors carry is the real reason our customers trust us.
- Stay rooted in the community. We are proud to be a Northwest Connecticut manufacturer and to keep skilled, technical work here in Winsted.
- Earn trust one part at a time. Long-standing customer relationships are built on consistent quality and on-time delivery, year after year.
Why Manufacturing Careers in Northwest Connecticut Are Worth a Look
Manufacturing Month exists largely to change the way people think about manufacturing careers, and that message matters here. Precision manufacturers across Winsted, Torrington, New Hartford, and the greater Litchfield County area need skilled people, and the work is more technical, more stable, and more rewarding than many people realize.
The kinds of roles in a modern precision shop
- CNC machinists and operators who run and monitor production equipment and make sure every part meets specification.
- Swiss setup technicians who prepare complex machines for new jobs, one of the most valued skills in the industry.
- CNC programmers who translate engineering drawings into the code that drives each machine.
- Quality inspectors who use precision measuring tools and data to verify every part before it ships.
What it takes to get started
You do not need to know how to run a CNC machine on day one. Mechanical aptitude, curiosity, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic go a long way. Many people in our industry learned through hands-on training on the shop floor, technical high school programs, or community college manufacturing courses here in Connecticut. If you like solving problems, working with your hands, and seeing exactly what your work produces, precision manufacturing is worth a serious look.
For parents, teachers, and school counselors in Litchfield County, we would love to be a resource. Showing students what a modern machine shop looks like is one of the best ways to help them see a future in it.
Celebrating Manufacturing Month Together
Manufacturing Month is a reminder that the things we use every day, and the systems that keep people safe in the air and on the ground, start with someone making a part carefully and correctly. In Winsted, that work has been happening for generations, and we are proud to be part of it.
To our team: thank you. Your skill and dedication are why Fairchild is still here, still growing, and still making parts that matter. To our neighbors across Northwest Connecticut: thank you for supporting local manufacturing.
Get to know Fairchild
Curious about a career in precision machining, interested in a tour for your school or student group, or looking for a dependable local manufacturing partner? We would be glad to hear from you. Contact the Fairchild Precision Parts team to start the conversation. Proudly machining in Winsted, Connecticut since 1944, and certified to AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015.
Contact Our Team → Sales@fairchildparts.com
Explore Careers → Careers@fairchildparts.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Manufacturing Month?
Manufacturing Month takes place every October in the United States. It grew out of Manufacturing Day (MFG Day), held on the first Friday of October, and gives manufacturers a month to open their doors, connect with schools, and show their communities what modern manufacturing looks like.
What does Fairchild Precision Parts make in Winsted, CT?
Fairchild Precision Parts manufactures small, tight-tolerance turned components using Swiss-type CNC lathes and CNC turning centers. These parts go into aerospace, defense, fluid control, and instrumentation equipment, often in quantities from the thousands to the tens of thousands.
How long has Fairchild been manufacturing in Winsted?
Fairchild has been manufacturing precision parts in Winsted, Connecticut since 1944, making it one of the longest-running machining companies in Litchfield County.
What is Swiss CNC machining?
Swiss CNC machining is a turning process in which bar stock is fed through a guide bushing that supports the material right at the cutting tool. That support allows very long, slender, and small-diameter parts to be machined to extremely tight tolerances, often in a single operation.
Are there manufacturing careers in Northwest Connecticut?
Yes. Precision manufacturers across Winsted, Torrington, and the greater Litchfield County area need machinists, CNC setup technicians, programmers, and quality inspectors. Many roles offer on-the-job training for people with mechanical aptitude and a strong work ethic.
Is Fairchild Precision Parts certified?
Yes. Fairchild holds AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certifications, the quality management standards used across the aerospace and defense supply chain.