Bentley Manufacturing: A Preserved Plant Record
This archive preserves the history of Bentley Manufacturing Company, Inc., a precision die-cut manufacturer that operated from 1955. It is not a live vendor and does not offer current quoting or successor status.
A Legacy Rooted in Entrepreneurship
The story of Bentley Manufacturing is closely tied to the entrepreneurial spirit of its leadership. Kevin P. Crampton, President and CEO, demonstrated a keen eye for business from a young age. His mother often wondered what his next business adventure would be, as his imagination and determination were evident early on. From grade school through college, Kevin pursued a variety of ventures, including a lemonade stand, paper route, dog walking, picnic coordination, and even a limo and messenger service. At age nine, he achieved one of his most successful ventures: selling his old toys. He carefully stored toy boxes, polished and painted the toys when needed, and packaged them in their original boxes for a neighborhood garage sale. The event was popular, with kids getting the best deal and Kevin earning all profit.
Throughout his formative years, Kevin's business acumen developed by tagging along with his father during family business activities. From his parents, he learned the meaning of a good work ethic, integrity, patience, honesty, and an understanding of people. Many of his business profits were spent helping other kids his age. In high school, he befriended neighborhood boys who were often left alone. Realizing they were headed in the wrong direction, Kevin used his own money to take them to sporting events, hoping to cultivate their interest in participating on school teams. He spent time encouraging them and exposing them to positive activities. This early commitment to hard work and community would later shape the culture of Bentley Manufacturing.
Precision Products for Diverse Industries
Bentley Manufacturing produced a wide range of precision components, including gaskets, washers, spacers, and diaphragms. These parts found their way into an astonishing variety of applications. As the company's own product literature asked, what do space suits, irrigation systems, pharmaceutical valves, syringes, faucets, mechanical pumps, fastening systems, and gages have in common? Most likely a Bentley gasket, washer, spacer, or diaphragm. This diversity of end uses reflected the company's ability to adapt its precision die-cutting capabilities to many sectors.
The company's history of quality products earned award-winning recognition among worldwide customers. Bentley viewed the world as its marketplace and its customer as every industry needing its product line. To keep pace with evolving materials, Bentley maintained associations with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), Western Aerosol Information Bureau (WAIB), and the National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NAPM). These affiliations helped the company stay informed about new raw materials and analytical techniques. Bentley certified the content of raw materials using testing laboratories that offered a full range of analytical techniques, ensuring compliance with exact product specifications.
Materials and Manufacturing Capabilities
Bentley manufactured precision products from a variety of raw materials, including TPE, TPR, plastics, Teflon, and elastomers. The company also offered a variety of metallic washers and was innovative in its use of new materials. Bentley worked with customers to find the perfect compounds for unique needs, including those with talc or siliconized finishes. In fact, Bentley had a variety of registered proprietary compounds that could be suitable for specific applications. Whatever material was selected, the company ensured it would meet or exceed specifications, and could supply Certificates of Compliance or chemical and physical analyses.
The company was capable of producing million-unit part orders while also being geared for short-run production and willing to produce modest quantities. Regardless of order size, Bentley handled each job expeditiously. Its on-site tooling department designed each die to required specifications. Tooling charges were eliminated in most cases because of an extensive in-house inventory of multidimensional dies. The production department assembled each job for maximum efficiency, and the ability to closely intermesh cutting tools provided excellent yield for added material cost savings. Inspections were made throughout the stamping process to ensure compliance with specifications. Bentley guaranteed a product that was clean cut, burr free, and without fracture marks. As a final effort, orders were inspected using state-of-the-art Statistical Process Control measuring equipment, and the vigilant Quality Assurance Team adhered to processes defined in Bentley's Quality Assurance Manual.
Quality Assurance and Industry Recognition
Since 1955, Bentley's tradition of superior quality, service, and price made it the manufacturer of choice for countless industries serving customers worldwide. The company was a premier supplier of precision gaskets, washers, and products to businesses of all types and sizes. Its products were in high demand because of unsurpassed quality. From the arrival of raw materials at the plant until the time a customer received an order, quality assurance was of utmost importance. From the time the first part was stamped, Bentley met expectations and sustained exact specifications. The quality inspection process was so comprehensive that many customers accepted Bentley's high standards as their own.
Bentley Manufacturing Company, Inc. was known as a technological pioneer in the die-cut industry. Its unequaled tool design and proprietary stamping process allowed the company to maintain precise tolerances on outside, inside, and thickness dimensions. Square cut and thinwall parts were manufactured without the industry standard concave edge. Sales and service departments were available to assist with inquiries on the array of products and technology. Understanding the importance of value obtained, Bentley offered competitive prices for all gasket and washer needs. This preserved record captures the company's commitment to quality and its lasting impact on the industries it served.