After a year of record-breaking growth, you might expect Hamilton to double down on expansion. But here’s the twist: 2026 isn’t about growing faster. It’s about growing better.
“We grew so fast in 2025 that some of our goals got pushed to 2026,” said Hamilton President Mark Lippert. “This year, we’re focused on getting more disciplined, more efficient and making Hamilton easier to run. That’s how we keep winning.”
2025 brought massive wins: record sales, major new business and aggressive hiring. But with it came some good problems to have: systems working overtime and longer queues in production that affected our lead times.
So for 2026, our marching orders are clear: upgrade the infrastructure, lock in the improvements and finish what we started. From smarter processes to sharper tools, this year is about strengthening the foundation.
Enter Hamilton Academy
One of our biggest moves? Investing in people. Hamilton is launching a full-scale training center right on campus, complete with a product showroom, classroom and safety training setup. It’s designed to help new hires ramp up faster and give distributors hands-on access to Hamilton hardware. This is more than onboarding—it’s an engine for excellence.
Systems that actually serve us
2026 will also see the rollout of a long-planned paperless factory system. New powerful CAD software for customers will go live. We’ll also be standardizing our parts and simplifying our product offerings. More simplicity. Better throughput. Happier customers.
In-house, in control
Hamilton will also continue to expand with more vertical integration, including in-house heat-treating of kingpinless raceways—a gamechanger for speed and quality. We’re also investing in new automation for rig welding and machining, and replacing two legacy machines—one CNC and one mill—with one powerhouse machine that will slash runtimes and allow for seamless changeovers.
New products, same obsession with quality
Product development stays red hot with the launch of:
- • Hamilton-designed ZPI precision bearings
- • A new, all-domestic ErgoTech™ polyurethane wheel
- • An upgraded foot brake system
Culture shift, leadership lift
All of this is being supported by a cultural evolution happening on the floor: more ownership, more autonomy and a renewed push for accountability. As new team leads and systems come online, this family-run company is learning how to scale without losing its soul.
“It’s all about empowering our people,” said Mark Lippert. “Especially the people on our shop floor.”
So yes, Hamilton is still growing. But this year, the real milestone isn’t size. It’s flow. Clarity. Precision. Strength in the systems. Because long after the confetti settles from last year’s wins, Hamilton is building something better: a company that can run smoother, scale smarter and keep outperforming for our customers.
Big growth is great. But smart growth? That’s what lasts.