Company History

Island Tool & Die was founded in 1996 by Lee and Cindy Swanson in Pine Island, Minnesota. What began as a small husband-and-wife operation in a modest building on Main Street quickly grew due to Lee’s expertise in tool and die making and his dedication to quality craftsmanship.

As demand from local manufacturers increased, the company brought on its first employee and moved to a larger facility in 1998. That same year, Island Tool & Die invested in its first CNC machining center, marking the start of a steady evolution toward advanced manufacturing. By the end of 1998, the company had added two additional machining centers, a new lathe, and CAM programming capabilities.

Like many in the industry, Island Tool & Die faced significant challenges during the 2001 recession. The downturn pushed many shops out of business, but thanks to the loyalty of our customers and the resilience of our team, we weathered the storm. By 2004, business began to rebound, and the experience only strengthened our commitment to quality and customer service.

We faced another major recession in the years that followed but emerged even stronger, having applied the lessons learned from the past. Today, Island Tool & Die boasts one of the most skilled and dedicated teams in our history. Our machinists are talented craftsmen whose commitment to quality sets us apart in the industry.

On December 31, 2023, founder Lee Swanson retired, and on January 1, 2024, leadership transitioned to his son, Brad Swanson. Brad is committed to maintaining strong relationships with our valued customers while seeking new opportunities for growth and innovation.