Made in New Hampshire, Utilized Around the World
Andover Corporation of Salem is the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2026 New Hampshire Small Business Exporter of the Year. This honor recognizes the company’s exceptional success in expanding global markets through a worldwide network of sales partners in Asia, Europe and beyond. The company delivers precision filters to defense, aerospace, medical and astronomy customers. Celebrating 50 years in business, Andover Corporation oversees every stage of production from optical design and thin film deposition to fabrication and in house metrology – ensuring consistent quality, flexibility and rapid delivery. The company’s custom engineering capabilities and no-minimum order policy provide a major competitive edge in international markets.
Operating from a 44,000-square-foot facility on 17 acres, the company employs a team of 50. Andover Corporation leverage SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to retain its employees during the pandemic. The company also used State Trade Extension Program (STEP) grants to strengthen its international presence, exhibiting at trade shows in Japan, Spain, the UK, and Germany. Andover Corporation currently exports to Canada, China, Israel, and Australia, as well as broader markets across Europe and Asia.
Andover Corporation ships high quality thin film optics worldwide, powering innovations like NASA missions and LiDAR systems. Their testing capabilities are extensive, consisting of both automated spectrophotometers for broadband spectral measurements, and ultra-high-resolution spectrophotometers for narrowband measurements. Their optical metrology lab features a custom-designed, computer-controlled tunable interferometer.
“Andover’s global success demonstrates how New Hampshire manufacturers can make a big impact worldwide, “said Amy Bassett, NH district director. “This small and mighty team of 50 has built a 50-year legacy of precision innovation, proving that homegrown manufacturers in our state can compete on the world stage.”
Award winners will be honored at the SBA’s Small Business Week celebration on Thursday May 7, 2026 at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, 2 Institute Drive, Concord, NH 03301 from 4:30-6:30 pm. Register to join us at https://www.sba.gov/event/83083.