Stafford lawmakers tour American Sleeve Bearing

Sen. Guglielmo and Rep. Vail listening to the owners of American Sleeve Bearing on a recent tour of the Stafford business.

STAFFORD — State lawmakers on Wednesday toured American Sleeve Bearing, the local manufacturing company specializing in sleeve bearings and bushings, to better understand Connecticut’s business climate for small manufacturers.

State Sen. Tony Guglielmo and State Rep. Kurt Vail, both of Stafford, joined the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) for the facility tour of ASB. The tour of the 13.7 acre location in downtown Stafford included meeting employees and discussing public policy with ASB President Howard Buckland.

“I was pleased to hear that business was good at this longtime local manufacturer,” said Sen. Guglielmo. “They are doing business all over the world from their location here in eastern Connecticut.”

“ASB is foundational to life in Stafford,” Rep. Vail said. “It is also the epitome of Yankee ingenuity and manufacturing in New England. I am honored to represent this business and some of it workers – and I want to make sure Connecticut becomes more business friendly.”

ASB boasts 30 employees and competes internationally in a strictly-commercial industry. It remains one of the largest manufacturers in the United States for metric bearings and bushings.

CBIA set up the tour as part of its continuous work of making employees, employers and industry professionals at the forefront of discussion in Connecticut government.