Business Profiles
Sanford Springvale residents are employed in large numbers at some of the most successful businesses in the country, representing many industries and sectors of the economy that add value and trade globally.
They include high-tech manufacturers serving biotechnology and life sciences, precision manufacturing, and leading service-providers in healthcare, and other elements of Maine’s “Targeted Technology Sectors” such as information technology and engineered materials. Together these local companies of varying sizes add value as manufacturers of industrial pumps, furniture, fabric buildings, wood pellets, toothpaste, lumber, soap, acrylic sheets, stadium seating, rugs, safety cabinets, flashing products, cutting tools, yarn, retread tires, automation machinery, non-woven fabrics, filtration products, silicone colorants, custom shelters, sponge rubber products, plastic injection molding and building products.
These employers understand the unique advantages of having a business in the Sanford Region:
“Our business location in Sanford offers a small-town lifestyle with big-city availability. Close to Portland, the hottest restaurant scene north of Boston, fresh seafood, and beautiful landscapes, Sanford Maine residents are nestled right up against Boston’s thriving metropolis, New Hampshire’s White Mountains, and countless quaint New England villages.” – The Baker Co.
Scroll further down to read more information about these leading regional businesses.
Leading Employers
Tom’s of Maine
Yes, there really is a Tom, a very successful, serial entrepreneur who with his wife Kate built the company on high-quality, natural, personal-care products. Tom’s of Maine still retains its identity and is now a flourishing division of the Colgate-Palmolive Company, with its major manufacturing facility in Sanford. Today Tom’s continues the founding mission of helping people live a more natural life, using effective natural ingredients, being transparent, and supporting related charitable causes with company time and money.
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units, for commercial aviation and the Department of Defense. A Raytheon Technologies Company, Pratt is one of Maine’s leading employers, with over 1400 workers employed at its North Berwick plant. At one million square feet, the plant is the largest manufacturing facility in Maine under one roof
GVS North America
GVS Life Sciences is a fully integrated producer and supplier of membrane-based solutions for the life sciences, environmental monitoring and process filtration markets. The GVS North America Sanford facility is a global, sustainable and responsible business providing creative, value-added solutions and specialty manufacturing for precision-molded plastic, filtration, membrane and biological technologies. The company, formerly known as Maine Manufacturing, was purchased by the GVS Group of Bologna Italy in 2013.
Roehm America
As of August 1, 2019, the former Evonik CYRO site in Sanford is now part of Roehm America LLC, a subsidiary of Roehm GmbH. Roehm GmbH is the new independent company that operates one of the largest acrylic plastics business in the world. The Roehm America manufacturing site on Main Street in South Sanford has been manufacturing acrylic sheet products since 1962; it is the largest site in the Americas. The photo on the right shows a Sneeze Guard made out of PLEXIGLAS® which is being used to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Hussey Seating
If you are a patron of the arts, or attend sporting events or spend any time in university lecture halls or corporate facilities, chances are you’ve probably have had a very close interaction with products from one of the Sanford Region’s most successful businesses and the global leader in spectator seating solutions. In fact, you may recognize the picture on the right from the brand-new Sanford Performing Arts Center! From schools and universities to auditoriums, arenas, sports stadiums, performing arts centers and places of worship, Hussey Seating is famous for comfort, style, and reliable performance. Founded in 1835 and located in North Berwick, Hussey Seating Company boasts one of America’s longest histories of uninterrupted family ownership. In 2019, Hussey Seating opened a new facility in Sanford where it has installed state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrades as part of a major high-tech initiative that will help the 185-year-old company gain market share, increase revenue, and expand employment.
Flemish Master Weavers
Flemish Master Weavers is a state-of-the-art rug manufacturing facility which produces finished textile products for North American markets. Its product line features oriental-style rugs, mats and accessories. With over 300,000 square feet, 10 high speed looms and fully automated packaging and finishing, FMW is one of the largest employers in Southern Maine. The company has invested heavily in automated manufacturing technology allowing it to compete both in quality and price across a broad product line with many low-labor-cost countries. These investments have borne the fruit of increased employment and a strong commitment to the Sanford Region. FWM is part of Natco Group, a family-owned business established in 1917. FMW has maintained successful operations in Sanford for over 25 years.
The Baker Company
The Baker Company is the world leader, and leading innovator in air containment technologies. For 60 years Baker has been at the forefront of engineering, testing and production of reliable laboratory contamination control equipment. The company has been an innovator, pioneering the design and manufacture of biological safety cabinets, clean benches and fume hoods, for a wide variety of industries including biotech, pharmacy, governmental, clinical and medical education research. The company continues its growth trajectory having recently added a new division and expanded its facilities at the Sanford headquarters.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s (PNSY) primary mission is the overhaul, repair and modernization of Los Angeles-class submarines. PNSY provides the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine fleet with quality overhaul work in a safe, timely and affordable manner. This includes a full spectrum of in-house support–from engineering services and production shops, to unique capabilities and facilities, to off-site support–all of which serves the multifaceted assortment of fleet requirements. The Shipyard makes significant economic contributions to the region; for 2022, the total economic impact was $1.46 Billion. Sanford-Springvale employees number 513 and continue to have the highest-paid workers at PNSY, with their payroll exceeding $40 million. Overall PNSY employed 7,356 civilians during the year. PNSY Economic Impact Report CY 2022
Partners Bank
Partners Bank, formerly known as SIS Bank, is a Mutual Savings Bank founded in 1933. It became Partners Bank in 2019. Headquartered in downtown Sanford, Partners Bank has branch offices in Springvale, South Sanford, Limerick, Buxton, Waterboro, Wells and York. The Bank is justifiably proud of its long history of helping families and businesses achieve their financial goals. Truly a regional asset, Partners Banks offers state-of-the-art internet banking, telebanking, and an extensive ATM system.
Southern Maine Health Care
Southern Maine Health Care (SMHC) is a national award-winning healthcare system, with an acute care medical center in Biddeford, Maine licensed for 150 beds, and 24/7 emergency room services in both Biddeford and Sanford. SMHC offers excellent clinical care and a multi-specialty physician services group with medical offices providing outpatient care located in Biddeford, Kennebunk, Saco, Sanford, and Waterboro. Eldercare services are provided through four sites located in Sanford. Non-emergency care is available at Walk-In Care centers in Kennebunk, Saco, Sanford, and Waterboro. SMHC is Joint Commission accredited, state-licensed, and is part of the Maine Health system.
Rubb Building Systems
Rubb Buildings Systems designs, manufactures and constructs high quality code-compliant fabric tensioned buildings. Headquartered in Norway, Rubb Building Systems is a global supplier of specialty buildings and building components. It provides quality products and services to over a dozen different markets. Rubb’s operations in Sanford have expanded over the years at its modern facility, located at the Sanford Airport Business Park. In 2019, Rubb Building Systems, with other local contractors, built the new maintenance and office building for the Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (pictured on the right).
