Manufacturers in Philly Are Diverse And In Need

The Philadelphia region has a surprisingly broad and deep manufacturing base, spanning sectors from high-precision optics to life sciences to heavy metal fabrication. These diverse manufacturing sectors anchor jobs, innovation, and exports in the region. Below is an exploration of seven sectors operating in or around the greater Philadelphia area, followed by discussion of workforce needs, and a glance at some of the region’s oldest manufacturers.

Seven Key Manufacturing Sectors in the Philadelphia Region

1. Metal parts / fabricated metal / metal processing
The Philadelphia metro and its suburbs host robust metal fabrication and component-part shops. For example, Germantown Tool & Manufacturing specializes in stamping, welding, assembly and sheet metal work in Huntingdon Valley. FBF Inc., located near Philadelphia, handles precision metal stamping, forming, and electro-mechanical assembly. There are many smaller shops, in addition to service centers like Alro Steel or Metals USA in the greater region. Bonney Forge, while broader in operations, also operates components and fittings tied to metal manufacturing historically in Pennsylvania.

2. Optical / photonic / precision optics / opto-electronics
Avo Photonics, in Horsham PA, designs and manufactures photonic modules, lasers, and optical systems. There are also optical equipment manufacturers like Warren Knight making survey equipment, telescopes and optical tools with custom designs. There are also optical lens makers, and imaging suppliers in the region supplying medical, industrial, defense, and research markets.

3. Pharmaceutical / biopharma / contract drug / life-science manufacturing
The Greater Philadelphia area is recognized as a life sciences hub with a large pharmaceutical and biotech presence. Medical Products Laboratories (MPL), located just northeast of Philadelphia, is a full-service contract pharmaceutical manufacturer (liquid, semi-solid, solid dosage, packaging). AstraZeneca has a site in Philadelphia and they are one of the largest companies in the world. In addition, multiple pharma/biotech firms and contract development/manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) operate in the Pennsylvania/Philadelphia corridor.

4. Chemical, coatings, specialty chemicals, polymers
The region supports chemical and coatings manufacturing—e.g. DuPont has substantial operations in or around Philadelphia.  Axalta Coatings is headquartered in Philadelphia (which manufactures coatings). Also, the region’s chemistry, plastics and chemical intermediates industries support many midsized firms.

5. Industrial machinery / precision instruments / tool & die / equipment manufacturing
The Philadelphia region hosts companies that build machine tools, custom instruments, and industrial equipment. Warren Knight (Warren-Knight) is a precision instrument maker. In the greater region there are also plenty of tool & die shops, CNC equipment manufacturers, and precision instrumentation firms that supply aerospace, measurement, control, and industrial markets. The Select Greater Philadelphia “advanced manufacturing” cluster includes conventionally recognized precision instruments in the advanced manufacturing domain.

6. Food / beverage / processing & packaging
In Pennsylvania and around Philadelphia, food processing and packaging remains a strong industry sector. At the state level, food processing is the largest manufacturing sector by employment. In the city and region, packaging operations, food ingredient processing, and associated contract packagers are quite active, especially given the proximity to agricultural supply in PA.

7. Electronic / electrical / medical devices / instrumentation electronics
As part of the “advanced electronics” sub-sector, manufacturers of medical devices, control electronics, instrumentation, and related assemblies are found in the region. The manufacturing cluster in Philadelphia includes electronics, medical devices, diagnostics, and instrument suppliers. Many medical device companies, biomedical instrument makers, and electronic component firms operate in the corridor around Philadelphia.

Because the region supports more than 5,600 manufacturers across several sub-sectors, the clustering supports multiple firms in each domain.

Workforce & Skills Shortages: The Need for a Skilled Workforce

While the diversity of sectors gives Philadelphia resilience, employers frequently report difficulty filling roles that require advanced or technical skills. Many of these industries are capital intensive and technology driven, meaning that traditional unskilled labor is insufficient. Specific skills in high demand include:

• * CNC machining, multi-axis milling, precision machining
• * Programming (e.g. PLCs, CNC controllers, industrial automation, robotics)
• * Metrology, quality control & inspection (optical measurement, coordinate measuring machines)
• * Electrical/electronics assembly, circuit board design, microelectronics
• * Cleanroom procedures, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) compliance, regulatory understanding
• * Calibration, instrument repair and maintenance (including repair for transits, precision instrument servicing)
• * Optical alignment, lens fabrication, photonic testing (for optics / photonic firms)
• * Welding, fabrication, metallurgy, materials science
• * Process engineering, chemical formulation, materials handling
• * Instrumentation, control systems, IoT / sensor integration
• * Data analysis, automation, SPC (statistical process control), digital manufacturing
• * Mechatronics, systems integration, robotics maintenance

Many firms in the region participate in collaborative initiatives (like the Southeastern Pennsylvania Manufacturing Alliance, SEPMA) to coordinate training and align curricula with industry needs.

Across these sectors, there is a consistent narrative: manufacturers must compete not only for capital and markets, but also for people who can work at advanced skill levels.

Historic & Legacy Manufacturers in the Philadelphia Region

Philadelphia’s manufacturing heritage is rich, with firms dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries still in operation (or with long legacy footprints). Here are several:

• * Warren Knight Inc. / Warren-Knight Instrument Company — Today known for precision alignment, distance and angle measuring instruments (including they are a manufacturer of angle measuring tools, boresights manufacturer, and offer repair for transits) (Warren Knight Instrument Company)
• * Ajax Metal Company — historically operated a brass and bronze smelting/refining plant in the Kensington area (now a historic site).
• * Bonney Forge Corporation — founded 1876 in Philadelphia, originally making hardware and hand tools; now a manufacturer of fittings and valves.
• * Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) — established 1904, one of the oldest roller coaster / amusement-ride manufacturers in the nation (though located in Hatfield, serving the region).
• * H. K. Mulford Company — a historical pharmaceutical company founded in Philadelphia in the late 1800s.
• * Cunningham Piano Company — founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, originally manufacturing pianos (later evolving into restoration and service).

These legacy firms help remind us that Philadelphia’s manufacturing roots run deep, and in many cases modern firms are direct spiritual successors to that tradition.

In the Philadelphia region, manufacturing spans metal parts, optics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery, food/packaging, and electronics. The region’s firms place high emphasis on precision, innovation, and specialized skills. To stay competitive, businesses must invest in recruiting, training, and retaining talent with advanced technical capabilities—from CNC machining to optical alignment to metrology and automation. And a strong sense of lineage connects present firms to historical manufacturers like Warren Knight Inc., which remains active in measuring instruments for aviation, boresights manufacturer and as a manufacturer of angle measuring tools  to this day.