What is your company niche, and what does your company do that is notable, unique or different?  

MGS Mfg. Group is an engineered solutions provider. We create cost-effective manufacturing systems by supplying all or any of the following: part & mold engineering/design for manufacture, tooling (prototype/pilot/production molds, end-of-arm tooling, inspection fixtures, degating fixtures, assembly fixtures…), complete mold & part qualification and process development services, production molding (injection, industrial blow and continuous extrusion shuttle blow), value-added secondary operations (pad printing, heat staking, hot stamping…), scaleable assemblies, automation, global program transfer & management, and complete turn key manufacturing systems. MGS has the engineering horsepower to evaluate our customers’ needs and develop robust, high performance system solutions.

When and how did you get into the industry, what attracted you to it?

MGS Mfg. Group CEO Mark G. Sellers started the business as Moldmakers Incorporated in 1982. At the time, he was a journeyman toolmaker who was working at a Milwaukee area tool shop that was closing its business doors.

Relate a notable "best time" for your company.

We are fortunate to have a very long list of “best times” including:

• MGS Mfg. Group has become the “to market and pipeline fill development partner” for several Fortune 50 companies. The delivery of this service level relies on our vertically integrated tooling, process & system development, and driven commitment to on-time performance. Each new program is validation of past performance.
• Successfully completing a 1500+ part/1100+ mold transfer program for a large North American OEM into our Germantown, Wisconsin molding facility, ahead of forecasted schedule.
• Being awarded long term / multiple product manufacturing contracts for a large North American OEM into our Libertyville, Illinois molding facility, while consistently maintaining best grades on quality and delivery.
• Launching Universal Multishot Systems in 2000 and growing it into the most complete multiple-material equipment and technologies product line in the industry.

Similarly, relate notable challenges that your company has overcome. 

One of our customers needed an assembly to produce a product that dispensed liquids and then resealed. We responded to the challenge by using our vertically integrated multiple-material technologies to marry a thermoplastic substrate with an injection moldable thermoset elastomer to produce an In-Mold-Assembled product.

We used those same capabilities, the “engineered solutions” mind set, with another customer’s challenge. They were experiencing product failure in the field when the current product, a latching device, would disengage from the housing battery door. We provided an In-Mold Assembled multishot locking device, resolving performance issues. 

In one instance a customer had painted themselves into a corner with a part design requiring A-side action. We engineered acceptable geometry adjustments to eliminate the costly actions and change them to simple fall-aways, resulting in monetary and calendar savings. 

Our biggest challenge takes place when customers fail to take the time to let us understand what the complete down stream fields of events are with regard to their product manufacturing and delivery plans. Without that information in a timely fashion, it is difficult to enhance value by eliminating post-press activities and costs. 

When you are working on projects with your customers, what aspects would you like them to better recognize?

Critical in the development of a successful manufacturing system is the upfront involvement of the MGS engineering, design, tooling, and program management teams. Our diversity of personnel, experience level, and in-house technological resources provide the ideal platform for our customer’s engineers, product managers, and purchasing departments. 

We ask our customers to early-on define what they want and ultimately need. As long as they don’t ask us to violate the laws of physics and chemistry, we will find ways to succeed.
 

List newly acquired technology, machinery or key personnel (in last year).

Our toolroom automation capabilities have literally evolved into a “mold printer.” We have engineered, designed, programmed and created an automated system of mold construction. We feed the machine steel along with a three dimensional database and it delivers a mold. 

We continue to develop new manufacturing models with regard to vertically integrated multiple material manufacturing cells featuring dynamic in-mold assembly. 

Our Universal Multishot Systems brand continues to lead the industry with its line of portable injection units, rotary platens, and modular molding systems. We have now developed technology and equipment to support multishot silicone molding.

Has your company recently expanded?  Plans to expand or form partnerships/alliances? 

In late summer of 2005, MGS Mfg. Group began offering class 100,000 clean room molding and assembly operations. The new capabilities provide immediate opportunities for new customers and markets. 

We have developed strategic partnerships to offer seamless transfer of manufacturing systems and technologies to Asia and Europe supported through global program management. 

Are you involved in any industry organizations or educational programs related to the trade?

MGS Mfg. Group is involved with the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), and the Society of the Plastics Industry, Incorporated (SPI).

We have also established the Mark G. Sellers Entrepreneurial Scholarship foundation, which provides scholarship opportunities, equipment donations, and financial support to educational institutions, including: Moraine Park Technical College, Waukesha County Technical College, Tri State University, and Germantown High School.
 

What do you think about changes occurring in the industry due to globalization?  How has it affected the way you do business?

Globalization has provided the opportunity to support our customers’ world wide manufacturing goals. We have successful manufacturing systems running in major manufacturing markets throughout Asia, Europe and North America. Typical installations include: standard and multishot molds, end-of-arm tooling, fixtures, rotary platens, portable injection units, automated assembly equipment, custom-built insert molding machines, and training programs.
 

What will the industry look like in 3 to 5 years?
 

This is a question whose dubious answer can only be supplied by over-priced consultants and pollsters. Our proactive strategy is aligning ourselves with customers we believe to be long-term winners. Our plan is to provide them with global leading value in every event we execute. We will continue to evaluate our customer base to add those that, through mutual success, can continue to fuel our growth and development.

Additional background information:

Number of years in business:
MGS Mfg. Group began operations in July of 1982 as Moldmakers Incorporated. 

Current number of employees: 600+

Current square footage (each location):

Website:      www.mgstech.com  &   www.multishot.com

Types of tools built and/or run: 

Standard (single shot), multishot (multiple material), auto-unscrewing, multi-cavity, thin wall, insert, in-mold form, in-mold label, thixo, die cast. 

Industries served: 

Healthcare/medical/dental, caps/closures/packaging/bottles, automotive, telecommunications, electrical/computer, disposable consumer items, industrial, hand tools (power, cordless)