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An e-publication from Modern Machinery of Beaverton
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Hello and happy summer from Team MODERN in Beaverton, Michigan!
Here at MODERN, we are wrapping up a very busy second quarter. May and June have been especially busy. As we transition to third quarter, we’ll be focusing on a few machine refurbishments and upgrade kits as well as supporting three complex equipment launches in Michigan, Texas and Indiana (see details below).
In May, we attended the SPE Thermoforming conference in Atlanta and met with both new and current customers. We were proud to watch our mechanical design engineer, Ryan Whiteman, represent MODERN in a discussion on best practices in the heavy-gauge aerospace industry.
Read on to learn more about the latest developments at MODERN and how we are growing to serve you better.
As always, we welcome your ideas and invite you to tell us more about what you’d like to see. Share your feedback by sending an email to info@modernmachineinc.com.
Regards,
Corey Pohlman, Co-Owner
Vince Hicks, Co-Owner
The Face of Modern
May & June Employee Spotlights
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Missy Pohlman
Office Manager
Missy Pohlman has been integral to Modern since the very beginning – you might say she’s the mom of Modern Machinery!
“I have always loved working in an office position. I love working with numbers and get so satisfied when everything balances.
“My husband, Tom, started this business in 1982. I joined the company in 1989 and have enjoyed many years here at my position. We sold the company to our son, Corey, and his business partner, Vince, in 2013 and I stayed on as I’m not ready to retire.
“I’m always learning and try to keep up with new technology. I remember the early days when we used paper ledgers. So I’ve gone from ledger to ‘the cloud.’ I seem to be keeping up for an older employee!
“I have a great office staff – they are like family, they know their job and do it well. I also enjoy that I get to work with my son (and before that, my husband).
“I love spending time with family, sewing, quilting, reading and looking for agates, Petoskey stones and yooperlites in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. And we go to all of my grandson’s sporting events. His enthusiasm to do the best he can makes my heart happy.” |
Mike Stillwagon
Mechanical/Head Plumber
”I’ve worked at MODERN for 30 years total now in the mechanical department. I’m also the head plumber, which means I work on everything that has to do with air or hydraulics. We just shipped out a 100-ton machine and did all of the hydraulics in house. I also train the younger guys coming in to build our machines and hydraulic systems. My son joined me at MODERN three years ago and I’m so proud to have him work alongside me. Next to that, starting from a blueprint and seeing a machine completed is the best part of my job.
“Throughout the years, I’ve had a lot of fun and a lot of great experiences. Especially with ‘road work,’ traveling around the country and to Canada, Mexico and even China for big installations. I’ve lost count of how many!
“Family is so important to me. I have four kids, eight grandkids and four great grandkids. We have property on Bois Blanc Island with great views of Mackinac Island. I enjoy hunting, fishing and camping and we’ve been all over Michigan. We haven’t yet hit our goal of seeing all the sights but we are working on it!”
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Company Updates
Recent MODERN Installations
We tested, shipped and installed three complex equipment projects in the last couple months.
- Large continuous inline compression forming machine for a client in Michigan (shown in the Equipment Feature section)
- 4-station rotary compression molding machine for a client in Texas (image shown below)
- Female vacuum forming machine for a client in southern Illinois (image shown below)
All three machines support the automotive industry. Two will produce underbody parts and one will be used to produce interior trim products.
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Vacuum Forming Machine
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4-Station Rotary Compression Molding Machine
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T-Tool Capabilities Continue to Grow
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Following our acquisition of T-Tool Company, we’ve added several new faces to the T-Tool staff, including machinists, CAM programmers and shipping/receiving support.
In addition to these hires, we’ve installed two newer Fadal CNC machining centers at the Livonia facility to increase capacity and improve throughput. Recently awarded metal stamping projects will supplement the steady machine shop work.
Capabilities in our newest MODERN division include:
- Tool and die services
- Small- and large-batch machining
- Metal stamping
- Laser cutting
- Fabrication and welding
- Powder coating
Call us today at 989.435.9071 to discuss how we can support your projects!
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Learn More
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Equipment Feature: Continuous Inline Compression Former
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The continuous inline pressure former allows ‘Fabric-style’ material to be pulled from a roll, through a multiple stop IR oven, and into a double-acting Form Station built for the appropriate tonnage. Material is then indexed down the line for further processing. Finished parts are then knocked-out of the system at the end of the line where they can be packaged for shipment, or staged for further processing.
The oven itself utilizes IR panel heaters, the most durable heating product available. Heaters are wired and programmed into controllable zones per the customer‘s request.
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Ready-to-Go Rotaries
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Featuring a state-of-the-art machine control system and the latest in IR oven technology, our rotary vacuum thermoformers are available in a variety of sizes and strokes. Standard features include servo-driven platens, rotating carousel and lift table. We have rotaries that are available and ready to go to our customers and can also be customized to your exacting specifications.
Learn More
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Trade Shows
As we wrapped up another successful SPE Thermoforming conference event in Atlanta and we were pleased to have had the time to meet with both new and current customers. We were proud to watch our mechanical design engineer, Ryan Whiteman, represent MODERN in a discussion on best practices in the heavy-gauge aerospace industry.
You can view the presentation here. (PPTX format)
A few photos from the conference! We’ll see you again in 2027!
Ryan Whiteman is in the far-left chair
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Now Servicing Sencorp Machines
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Good news for Sencorp equipment owners and operators: Modern can help with maintenance and troubleshooting, replacement parts and more. Our extensive menu of services and products includes:
- Automation and safety upgrades
- Drive systems
- Form and trim station rebuilds
- Machine control systems
- New oven and oven controls
- Pin-chain rails
- Spare parts
Call us today at 989.435.9071
Learn More
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ABOUT US
State-of-the-art manufacturer of custom thermoforming machinery, equipment and controls.
Modern Machinery of Beaverton, Inc. | 3031 Guernsey Road | Beaverton, MI 48612
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