Photo / Tim Greenway
Patti Maillette stitches boat shoes at Quoddy Shoes in the Pepperell Mill in Lewiston. The company’s 19 employees handcraft up to 10,000 pairs of shoes each year.
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Updated: September 1, 2025
Photo Essay
Beyond Vacationland: A Maine photographer captures manufacturing in the Pine Tree State
Photo / Tim Greenway
Tanner Wilcox grinds an axe head to refine the overall shape at Brant & Cochran. The company crafts handmade, heirloom-quality Maine wedge-pattern axes near Bug Light in South Portland.
By Tim Greenway
When people think of Maine, they often picture lobster, lighthouses, rugged coastlines and award-winning restaurants. But beyond this postcard-perfect image lies a state deeply rooted in tradition and industry — where skilled craftworkers preserve ways of life that have endured for generations, forming the backbone of Maine’s economy. The photographs aim to present a more complete portrait of the state — from the intricate craftsmanship of the workers to the raw power of the machinery — capturing the blending of tradition and innovation that creates Maine’s manufacturing landscape. I’m grateful to the businesses and workers who welcomed me into their spaces this year to help create this series of photographs.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Tanner Wilcox grinds an axe head to refine the overall shape at Brant & Cochran. The company crafts handmade, heirloom-quality Maine wedge-pattern axes near Bug Light in South Portland.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Garrett Veinotte welds a ventilation pipe for a pizza oven at Maine Metalcraft in Skowhegan. Maine Metalcraft is a sister company to Maine Wood Heat, which crafts wood-fired pizza ovens.
Photo / Tim Greenway
An approximately 80-year-old Littleway machine at Quoddy Shoes in the Pepperell Mill in Lewiston. The machine is used to attach soles to shoes.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Nolan Collins sands the rails using a fairing board in the shaping bay at Grain Surfboards in York. Grain Surfboards are hand-built from sustainable softwoods and designed using 3D modeling technology.
Photo / Tim Greenway
A double-cut Sanborn head rig bandsaw in the filing room at the Hancock Lumber Casco Sawmill in Casco. It’s one of three Maine sawmills operated by Hancock Lumber.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Belts hang outside the finishing room at Brant & Cochran. The different colors indicate the varying grits of the belts. These belts are used to shape and sharpen axe heads.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Jared Lebel, a welding instructor at the Bath Iron Works Training Academy, practices a complex weld to keep his skills sharp for teaching students at the academy in Brunswick Landing.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Continuous filament fiberglass yarn moves rapidly on a wide loom at Auburn Manufacturing Inc.’s Auburn plant. The company produces heavy-duty, heat-resistant textiles for industries worldwide.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Organic oats rest in a bin before undergoing final cleaning and sorting at Maine Grains in Skowhegan. Maine Grains manufactures locally grown, stone-milled grains using a traditional stone milling process that preserves both flavor and nutrition.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Core-spun aramid fiber yarn runs on a wide loom at Auburn Manufacturing Inc.’s Mechanic Falls plant. The loom produces heat-resistant fabrics used in safety apparel such as gloves and jackets.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Adrienne Benegoss groups the ends to make rope at Yale Cordage in Saco. Yale Cordage manufactures synthetic rope for a variety of users, including arborists and marine companies.
Photo / Tim Greenway
An aluminum chip hangs from a manual lathe used for machining parts at ODAT Machine in Gorham. The machine shop serves a variety of industries, including the Department of Defense and aerospace.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Janis Marriner picks and packs plastic tray covers from a thermal former at Thermoformed Plastics of New England in Biddeford. The company specializes in custom thermoforming for diverse markets, including medical, retail, and food.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Bill McDonough, a composite technician, lays out dry carbon fibers on a carbon fiber prototype hull mold at Custom Composite Technologies in Bath. Epoxy resin will then be introduced through a vacuum infusion process. The family-owned business builds composites specializing in the marine and renewable energy industries.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Tungsten carbide end mills, cutting tools used for milling steel and cast iron, at Harvey Performance Company in Gorham. Harvey Performance Co. manufactures precision industrial cutting tools for industries worldwide.
Photo / Tim Greenway
Brandon Gosselin operates a panel press to build a large walnut panel, using wood glue and clamps to bond the boards together at Thos. Moser in Auburn. About 70 craftspeople use sustainable North American hardwoods to create the handcrafted furniture. To view a photo essay on Maine manufacturing, see page 98.
About the photographer
Photo / Tim Greenway
Tim Greenway is a commercial, editorial and fine art photographer with a career spanning 29 years, including being the primary photographer for Mainebiz. His Maine-based clients are as diverse as his photographic subjects, ranging from large corporations and small businesses to individual entrepreneurs. In recent years, Tim has showcased his fine art photography in solo exhibitions at venues including Cove Street Arts, the University of New England and in the Portland City Hall rotunda. To view more of Tim’s work, visit timgreenway.com.
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