Custom thermoformer Universal Plastics Corp. and its sister company Mayfield Plastics Inc. of Sutton, Mass., have gained certification as minority-owned business enterprises.
“Companies today are implementing diversity initiatives as a component of their sourcing strategy. We are pleased to be officially recognized as a minority-owned enterprise,” said Jay Kumar, president of Holyoke, Mass.-based Universal Plastics, in a news release.
The companies were certified by the Supplier Diversity office of Massachusetts.
Pia Kumar, the director of corporate development for both companies, said the lengthy process was demanding and consisted of fact checking, multiple site visits and plenty of paperwork. It means that they are owned, operated and controlled by a minority member. The couple, who are married, are first-generation Americans whose parents came from India, and both have grown up in American manufacturing.
She said the certification was not targeted at a certain industry.
The companies have made kayaks, air ducts for the Space Shuttle, New York City bus stops and bows of submarines. They serve the aerospace, medical device, transportation, consumer product, food packaging and electronic industries.