Molding Solutions, Inc. (MSI) of Spring Lake, Michigan cites “safety, honesty, integrity, and professionalism” as core company values. MSI’s commitment to the latter three tenets was exemplified by a recent incident involving a client who accidentally paid a nearly $90,000 bill twice. MSI quickly realized the customer had made a mistake and rectified the situation.
“Within a few minutes of catching it, we called them and said, ‘You double-paid this. We’re sending your money back,’” notes MSI Managing Partner Jon Riley.
The customer, who admitted they might not have spotted the error themselves, was deeply grateful. For Riley, the speedy refund was simply a reflection of MSI’s customer-first focus and values-based approach.
“It’s a mindset we instill in the organization and the people within the organization: always do the right thing. We run our business this way,” he explains.
Key competencies
That business entails custom injection molding and assembly. Injection molding, insert molding, engineering assistance, and account support are core MSI competencies. Of these services, injection molding “is our primary process,” says Riley, while secondary processes include assembly work.
The company’s main markets include agriculture, automotive, defense, medical, furniture, and food and beverage, with the team making components and assemblies for skid steers, excavators, bulldozers, point-of-purchase displays in convenience stores, engines, seat belts, air bags, and even gas masks.
MSI works primarily in the United States but given the global nature of many of its clients’ operations, the firm has shipped its wares to China, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, India, and Canada, to name a few.
In addition to its Spring Lake headquarters, MSI has plants in Grand Haven and Norton Shores, Michigan, and Washington, Illinois. The Michigan locales run three shifts while Spring Lake runs a single shift. All told, MSI’s facilities comprise roughly 195,000 square feet and include about 70 molding machines. Using these machines, MSI staff perform precision molding, insert molding, vertical rotary molding, two-shot molding, and gas assist molding, among other duties. MSI’s equipment also includes CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines and sonic welding gear, plus infrastructure for post-mold assembly.
On the grow
MSI traces its roots to a business named Advanced Molding Solutions that was founded in Grand Haven, Michigan in 2000. This molding enterprise was purchased in 2016 by Tom Wallace and two other partners and then converted to Molding Solutions, Inc.
“The company actually had a pretty significant book of business and was somewhat successful prior to [Wallace and partners] purchasing the firm and changing the name,” recalls Riley, who came on board the ownership group in 2018.
Over the years, the business has expanded through thoughtful acquisitions. A Norton Shores, Michigan firm called Seabrook Plastics, Inc. was purchased in 2021, followed by SAC Plastics in Spring Lake a year later, with the Spring Lake facility becoming home to MSI’s head office. In 2023, MSI purchased IVP Plastics in Illinois, and rebranded the firm as Illinois Valley Technologies (IVT). At present, IVT is MSI’s biggest location, accounting for over a third of the company’s entire square footage.
An eye on quality
Most work at MSI is self-performed, explains Rick Eustice, COO and Managing Partner. The three Michigan plants have ISO 9001:2015 certification for injection molding and plastic component assembly, while the Illinois plant has IATF (International Automotive Task Force) certification. Almost all MSI products are put through the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP—a comprehensive and highly detailed quality assurance procedure that’s frequently mandated by automotive and aerospace manufacturers).
“From a day-to-day standpoint, there are a lot of checks and balances that we do. All of those are based on customer requirements… For some, we make checks every shift; some we do daily. And some we check every four hours,” says Eustice.
New technology
These days, Molding Solutions is investigating the possibilities raised by 3D printing. MSI has contracted out 3D work on some of its injection molds and is looking to grow its in-house expertise in this field.
Initially, the company used 3D printing for prototyping purposes but is now considering its use in mass production for the agriculture and heavy equipment markets. Whereas an automotive program may entail anywhere from 300,000 to 1.5 million parts (far beyond the capacity of the relatively slow 3D printing process), a heavy equipment manufacturer might only build two dozen mining earthmovers a year, notes Eustice. A set of 3D printers could easily accommodate conventional component production for such machines.
Building the team
Today, Molding Solutions has nearly 210 employees across all four branches, and in terms of new hires, MSI likes people who fit its values-based culture. “For folks that are out there doing assemblies and running molding machines, we’re looking for individuals that want to become part of a team, part of a family. I think we’ve got a really good culture here… We’re looking for folks that aren’t just going to come in and punch a clock; they’re going to come in, share their opinions, share things they’d like to change,” says Eustice.
Company leaders routinely visit the plant floors and interact with front-line workers. As Eustice says, “I’m a firm believer that you have to be on the floor, and you have to be involved to understand what’s going on. We treat everybody the same; we treat everybody well. We treat our employees the same way we treat our customers.”
Employee benefits include insurance programs, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and a 401(k) matching plan. MSI also emphasizes sharing (in times of prosperity, MSI shares its good fortune with staff in the form of bonuses) and team spirit. At the time of our interview, the MSI leadership team was preparing for a pasta feast at the Spring Lake plant. MSI also organizes a company picnic each year and gives away “swag” in the form of MSI t-shirts and the like, says Eustice. “You know you’re doing well with your team when you see people on the floor wearing their [MSI t-shirts],” he jokes.
The company even takes a forgiving approach to errant employees, frequently offering them second chances. If a worker who was previously let go can prove they’ve addressed the issues that led to their dismissal, they stand a good chance of being rehired. MSI also invites young people from local colleges to work as summer interns.
Company promotion is handled both online and in-person. Riley frequently meets with clients and potential clients and MSI participates in trade shows and industry events. A recent intern turned full-time staff member (several interns have rejoined the firm as salaried employees) is building MSI’s online presence with company profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, and other platforms.
Of course, MSI is no stranger to the workforce challenges impacting us all, particularly when it comes to demographics; as existing workers in the skilled trades reach retirement age, there is a notable dearth of young people entering the profession to take their places. It’s an industry-wide issue that MSI has experienced firsthand. When the firm posts ads for technical positions, “everyone answering those is 50 years or older,” notes Eustice.
The internship program was launched in part to remedy this problem and draw young talent into the company. In a similar fashion, MSI likes to promote from within, a strong enticement for young people thinking about applying for an entry-level position.
Forward momentum
Going forward, the plan is to maintain “good, consistent growth,” says Eustice. This might involve more acquisitions (MSI is open to the possibility, if the right opportunity arises), but that said, there are no plans to expand past certain limits. “We don’t want to be all things to all people. My philosophy has always been eight to 10 large core customers… I don’t want 400 customers. It’s too difficult to manage,” states Riley.
Likewise, the goal is to grow revenue to around $100 million—but not much further. “There are some companies in our area that did really well in the $100 to $150 million range,” Riley explains. “As soon as they got into the $200 to $400 million range… their culture fell apart. They couldn’t manage the operation—just too much to do, too much to manage. For what we do, I don’t think anything north of $150 million is anything that we want to try and manage.”
MSI’s commitment to integrity, quality, and strategic growth has positioned it as a leader in the injection molding industry. With a strong focus on customer relationships, employee development, and technological innovation, the company continues to expand while staying true to its values. By fostering a culture of trust, investing in new technologies, and maintaining a selective approach to growth, MSI ensures its long-term success without compromising its core principles. As it moves forward, the company remains dedicated to providing top-tier molding solutions while cultivating a workplace where both employees and clients can thrive.
