The Beginning
Cardinal Systems was founded in 1976 by Warren “Mickey” Bradley as a small, simple business with a passion for manufacturing. The operation started in a modest 5,000 square foot garage with only one shear, a press brake, a punch press, and 2 employees. The business soon took off, and by 1984 Mickey’s son Walter “Skip” Bradley had joined the team. At that time, the company had 36 employees, and they soon relocated to a 15,000-square-foot building. Thanks to automation of the production process and other innovations across the business, Cardinal Systems flourished. In 2014, the torch passed to the third generation. Skip’s son and daughter, David and Rachel, along with Marc Schmitz, Cardinal’s CEO and Rachel’s spouse, are now in ownership roles.
As part of the constant, aggressive pursuit to seek out the best technology and manufacturing processes, Cardinal Systems has acquired several product lines and companies that ultimately have led to its powerhouse reputation in the pool industry. In 2009, the acquisition of Quaker Plastics, a brand within Cardinal, allowed the business to expand its offerings and strengthen its capabilities in new areas. Products provided from other partnerships such as Z PoolForm and Modern Moulding since then have allowed for even more opportunity to diversify our offerings among competition to satisfy an ever-changing market. The merger of Fox Pool under Cardinal Systems in 2018 nearly doubled the workforce in size and allowed business opportunities to extend to other areas in the US and Canada. With Fox came Fox Pool & Spa Services, a retail business that focuses mainly on the sales of cash & carry pool and hot tub products. This has opened business potential and product availability to a completely Homeowner-based clientele.
From the inception of Cardinal, we never wanted to be the biggest. We always had the desire to be the best company our customers could do business with. That means an awful lot of things. ‘Be the best you can be’ is something I preached.
Founder – Mickey Bradley
Investing in the Future, Building on Success
By 2021, Cardinal Systems, Inc. headquarters was a 300,000 sq ft. facility, further expanding its operations with over 340 employees between all divisions. Due to an overwhelming increase in demand from the COVID-19 pandemic, Cardinal Systems took the plunge to add a new office and warehouse space in July, 2021. The proposed additions allowed for upgraded efficiencies, more spacious and organized workflow, and in turn allow for more jobs in the Schuylkill Haven location. After receiving a grant from the Governor of Pennsylvania’s action team for new equipment and building expansion, the project took off and was completed by December, 2022.
We are excited to embark on this expansion of our manufacturing facility during this unprecedented busy time brought on by the pandemic. As a family-owned business, we believe strongly in investing in our people and our operation as a way to provide a solid foundation for our success as an American manufacturer. We look forward to using this opportunity for growth to pave the way for our future.
Rachel Bradley – Cardinal Systems, Inc., Owner
With the finalization of the Expansion Project by the beginning of 2023, Cardinal Systems, Inc Headquarters is now a 350,000 sq ft facility. The additional space has not only allowed teams to work in a more collaborative and open-communication environment, but has created new opportunities to add equipment and improve workflow efficiency for our operations. This will in-turn allow us to continue expanding our product offerings, improve our lead times, and allow adaptability for whatever the future may hold. With the Company’s progressive mindset and forward-thinking values, Cardinal Systems will continue to innovate and expand to meet the needs of a rapidly growing pool industry.
