Bristol ID Technologies

Bristol ID Technologies

Bristol ID Technologies began in 1975 as Bristol Graphics Inc., a family-owned business in Bristol, New York. In 1998 a group of investors acquired the company and renamed it; in 2004 it moved to a custom-built facility in Lima, New York. Joshua Hellman, who joined in December 2005, serves as President and CEO. The underlying wealth origin is not publicly disclosed. The company manufactures custom plastic cards using PVC and Teslin, with a focus on RFID credentials for secure access and identification. It serves at least seven verticals: education, government, healthcare, hospitality, sports and leisure, transportation, and travel and entertainment. The firm also sells HID Fargo printer consumables. Its team emphasizes meeting ANSI/ISO specifications and maintaining short lead times. Geography is limited to a single plant in Lima, New York; the 2008 acquisition of Cards by Dart brought operations from Dallas to Lima but did not create a second site. The management team includes Diane Morsch (SVP Sales & Marketing, since 1998), Edward Schroeder (VP Operations, promoted 2024), Jim Morsch (VP R&D, since 1996), and Jessica Heatly (Director of Marketing, since 2022). The company does not disclose total employees, AUM, or annual revenue. It maintains an active membership in the International Card Manufacturers Association. Bristol ID’s structural differentiator is its investor-owned, manager-run model: a private-equity-style ownership group that acquired a family business and retained operational leadership. This hybrid structure allows the firm to operate as a standalone manufacturer without a family office overlay, while the investors provide capital and governance oversight.