Vermont

Mack Adds Machining Centers to Build Ventilators

May 7, 2020 by Larry Hovish Leave a Comment

Image showing one of two new Haas three-axis machining centers is brought into Mack Molding’s Headquarters via a forklift in Arlington, Vt., on Monday, May 4, 2020.

One of two new Haas three-axis machining centers is brought into Mack Molding’s Headquarters in Arlington, Vt., on Monday, May 4, 2020.

The machines are set up on the factory floor.

ARLINGTON, Vt. (May 5, 2020) – Mack announced today the Company has acquired two new Haas three-axis machining centers to be used in the production of ventilator components.

“An existing medical customer asked if we could help them meet the increased demand for their ventilators,” said Mack Molding President Jeff Somple. “After a quick analysis the team determined the work would outpace our current capacity, so we jumped right in and immediately invested in the machines.”

Somple noted Mack’s metals department is supporting the project by making sheet metal parts, and the new machining centers will allow for machining of plastic components, as well as inserting. The machining centers were delivered on Monday, May 4, 2020, and the Company expects set up and testing of the units to last about a week before entering into production.

About Mack Molding
Mack Molding is a leading custom plastics molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services. Mack specializes in plastics design, prototyping, molding, sheet metal fabrication, full-service machining and medical device manufacturing. Founded in 1920, Mack is a privately owned business that operates 11 facilities throughout the world. Don Kendall is CEO and chairman. For more information, go to www.mack.com.

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MACK Molding and Southwestern Vermont Health Care Dive Deep in Search of Personal Protective Equipment

April 23, 2020 by Larry Hovish Leave a Comment

BENNINGTON, VT—April 21, 2020—Mack Molding and Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) have partnered to develop an innovative alternative for Personal Protective Equipment for the health system. Similar to the rest of the country, southern Vermont has not been immune to the challenges of acquiring PPE during the COVID-19 crisis, and most specifically disposable masks. Through their collaboration, Mack and SVHC began investigating alternative mask options that could be modified since N95s masks and 7700 respirators are in high demand.

Christopher Darby, RN, CEN, Emergency Department Clinical Coordinator, using the mask in the SVMC Emergency Department.

The collaboration arose out of personal connections. Kevin Dailey, the vice president of Administration/CHRO at Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) had led human resources at Mack until 5 years ago. He knew the type of specialty plastics manufacturing and rapid product development Mack was capable of. When it was clear that PPE would likely run short, he gave his friends there a call. Realizing the extraordinary tight time-frame and regionally important challenge, Mack—a leading supplier of contract injection molded plastic parts to companies in a range of industries—called on Adam Lehman, president of their subsidiary, Woodbridge, Conn.,-based Synectic, to identify immediately available options that could be redesigned to function as a respirator. Lehman located a snorkeling mask that the Synectic design team could quickly re-engineer into Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

“When I informed Synectic’s team about this project, they were ready and excited for the challenge,” said Jeff Somple, president at Mack headquarters in nearby Arlington, VT. “It was an opportunity for some groundbreaking innovation and to make a meaningful difference for our region’s front line healthcare workers.”

After only two weeks of design, testing, and manufacturing, Mack’s team at Synectic fabricated an attachment to a snorkeling scuba mask. The mask covers the entire face and denecessitates the use of disposable masks and shields. Their engineers removed the part that usually protrudes out of the water when snorkeling and replaced it with a new, custom-designed branched component equipped with cartridges containing P100 HEPA filters.

Karena Webber, PA-C, using the mask in SVMC ExpressCare

“Mack has always been a tremendous regional partner and an integral supporter of the health system for many years,” Dailey said. “As an essential manufacturer of health care products, I knew that they would want to help and came through with a brilliant solution for us.”

Each SVHC staff member is “fit tested” to ensure an adequate seal and assigned a mask. Each employee receives cleaning and storage guidelines, instructing how to disinfect and store their mask after each shift. The custom snorkeling branch modification and P100 HEPA filter casings can be easily removed for cleaning and screwed securely back in place. Before each use, staff conduct a positive and negative pressure test to ensure the masks are holding up for their protection. The fact that the air intake is above the wearer’s head improves the line of site and allows patients to see their physicians’ and nurses’ faces more clearly.

“Our priority is to ensure the safety of our staff while caring for patients during the pandemic,” said Shiela Boni, RN, MSN, a nursing director and PPE officer for SVHC. “The retrofitted scuba mask accomplishes this while decreasing our dependence on disposable masks.”

Unlike medically approved respirators, the scuba mask has been adapted to meet the filtration requirements of personal protective equipment (PPE). The risk assessment conducted by Mack’s design and SVHC showed that the mask fully seals around the face with silicone, reducing skin breakdown, and the N100 HEPA filters have a higher rate of filtration than the material in the traditional N95 masks. Less than three weeks after the initial request to Mack, their subsidiary Synectic delivered 500 scuba masks and 2,000 N100 HEPA filter casings to the hospital.

Thomas A. Dee, FACHE, SVHC’s president and CEO, expressed relief at having secured the adapted scuba masks to outfit those in the highest risk areas of the hospital. “This is a great example of how collaboration and innovation sustain us during challenging times,” Dee said. “Our gratitude for the hardworking teams at Mack and Synectic, who put many long hours into this project, cannot be overstated. This is another wonderful example of Mack’s continued support of SVHC.”

Additional photos of staff using the adapted scuba masks are available upon request.

About SVHC:
Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is a comprehensive, preeminent, health care system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVHC includes Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, and the SVHC Foundation. SVMC includes 25 primary and specialty care practices.

A COVID-19 information hotline is available for community members. The number, 802-440-8844, is answered 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekdays. A recorded message provides the most frequently requested information. Telephone numbers and other COVID-19 information, including frequently asked questions and helpful resources, are available at svhealthcare.org/covid-19.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center provides exceptional care without discriminating on the basis of an individual’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.

Media Contacts:

Ray Smith	Larry Hovish
Director of Marketing & Communications	Director of Communications
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center	Mack Molding Company
(802) 447-50003	(802) 375-0772
ray.smith@svhealthcare.org	larry.hovish@mack.com

Mack Molding Celebrating 100th Anniversary

February 11, 2020 by Larry Hovish 2 Comments

ARLINGTON, Vt. (Feb. 11, 2020) – Mack Molding is making history as it prepares to celebrate a century of service to its customers.

Picture of Mack's first Vermont plant in Arlington, Vt.

Mack’s first Vermont facility in Arlington, Vt., circa 1942.

Founded in Little Falls, N.J., in 1920, Mack originally manufactured bottle caps and the first ever plastic part used in a commercial product for the Otis Elevator Company. Today, Mack is a leading custom plastic injection molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services to a range of industries, including medical, industrial, transportation, energy and environment, computer and business equipment, consumer goods, robotics and 3D printing.

“A lot has changed over the past 100 years,” said Mack Molding President Jeff Somple. “When Mack started there were three rebuilt injection presses and we molded with UF and Bakelite. Today we have a multitude of materials to choose from with highly engineered characteristics, and Mack itself has more than 120 injection molding machines ranging from 28 to 4,000 tons.

Picture showing some classic parts manufacturing by Mack Molding

Some classic Mack products, including milk crates, Schick razor displays, measuring spoons and battery jars – the latter of which the Company still molds today in Arlington, Vt.

“Of course, while plastic injection molding is the core on which Mack was built, today we truly are a vertically integrated product development and manufacturing partner that can help take ideas from inception through prototyping to manufacturing and distribution.” Somple added. “Some things, however, haven’t changed, like our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.”

Mack Molding is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the privately-held Mack Group Corporation, which also includes Mack Technologies, Mack Prototype and Synectic Product Development. With annual revenue of $482 million, Mack Group has approximately 3,000 employees working in 11 locations throughout Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Mexico. Mack Group has a total of 1.5 million square feet of manufacturing space.

Mack Molding’s centennial festivities include the unveiling of its 100 Year Logo, sharing historical highlights, and several other activities throughout the year, the highlight of which will be a celebration for employees at all locations on March 17, 2020 – the actual anniversary of the Company’s incorporation.

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Merry Mackmas 2019

December 24, 2019 by Larry Hovish Leave a Comment

Mack Molding’s carolers are at it again with their fifth annual installment of the Company holiday song – this year it’s Wonderful Mackmas Time! Happy Holidays and all the best in 2020!

Mack Molding Puts the E in STEAM at Arlington’s Fisher Elementary

November 13, 2019 by Larry Hovish Leave a Comment

Company Helps Fourth Grade Science Class Procure Robotics Kit to Learn About Engineering

ARLINGTON, Vt. (Nov. 13, 2019) – The fourth graders in Charlie Cummings’ Fisher Elementary School class are filled with a love of science, and members of the community along with Mack Molding are fostering their interest by funding the purchase of robotic blocks.

Fourth graders in Charlie Cummings Fisher Elementary School Class watch a Cubelets robot created by Mack Molding Engineering Team Leader Ann Weddell drive across the floor.

Mack Molding engineers Ann Wedell and Scott Rishell recently visited Cummings’ classroom with Mack Group Chief Financial Officer Florence Belnap to join students in opening the classroom’s newest teaching tools, called Cubelets. Cummings’ class raised money, including $1,796 from Mack, through DonorsChoose, which allows individuals to donate directly to public school classroom projects. While visiting Wedell and Rishell also discussed what they do at the leading custom plastics molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services, as well as how their love of science, engineering and learning helped shape who they are today.

“As a Company Mack has always been focused on making a difference in the communities where we have facilities by supporting access to high quality education and healthcare,” Belnap said. “Seeing the excitement on the students’ faces as they discovered the wonders of design and engineering was truly rewarding, and hopefully we have even inspired some future Mack employees!”

From left, Mack Molding Sr. Design Engineer Scott Rishell, Fisher Elementary School Fourth Grade Teacher Charlie Cummings, Mack Group Chief Financial Offer Florence Belnap, Mack Molding Engineering Team Leader Ann Wedell and Fisher Elementary School Principal Deanne Lacoste at the unveiling of new classroom materials designed to inspire interest in design and engineering.

According to the website of manufacturer Modular Robotics, Cubeletes harness of the power of play to help users explore big ideas like robotics and coding while teaching the value of problem-solving, persistence and communication. The devices will be integrated into the class’ MakerSpace style design center, as well as in a specific unit on engineering. According to Cummings, the ability to plan, manipulate, observe and redesign in real-time is an invaluable experience for students.

“Living in beautiful Southern Vermont our students have access to inspiring natural resources that really reinforce the biology, life science and earth science lessons they learn at school,” Cummings said. “Providing meaningful technology-related experiences can be more challenging, however, and Cubelets Robotic Blocks will meet that demand. By providing hands-on, flexible thinking activities, students will be able to explore the process of design and engineering, trial and error, data collecting, observation and critical thinking. They are a naturally curious class, and we are grateful to Mack and all our donors for feeding that curiosity.”

About Fisher Elementary School
Located in the southwest corner of Vermont, Fisher Elementary School is part of the Battenkill Valley Supervisory Union and offers a pre-kindergarten through grade five education to 220 students living in the communities of Arlington and Sandgate. As a community school, Fisher prides itself on students not getting lost in the shuffle and their ability to realize their full academic potential.

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