Matrix 4 approaches​ ​ 'new phase'​ in resurgence

Injection molder Matrix 4 Inc. is getting enterprise resource planning software, upgrading capabilities and adding talent.

Software solutions provider IQMS is installing an integrated cloud-based version of its ERP program that will go live Aug. 5, said Patricia Miller, the owner, CEO and self-styled visionary of Woodstock, Ill.-based Matrix 4.

During 2017 alone, Matrix 4 invested more than $1 million in capital equipment. Equipment enhancements in recent years have included molding machines, dryers, conveyors and robotic systems.

Currently, Matrix 4 operates 25 injection molding presses of 75-850 tons, including two Haitian units delivered in September: an 845-ton Jupiter II servo-hydraulic two-platen molding machine and a 618-ton Zhafir Zeres all-electric press.

"We transitioned out two old presses," Miller said.

Matrix 4 is planning on asking sales ​ and service agent Absolute Haitian Corp. of Worcester, Mass., to deliver a 1,124-ton Haitian Jupiter II wide-platen molding machine in late 2018.

Matrix 4's presses include four other Haitian units. Miller said she wanted consistency with the control interface and the company's positive relationship and experience with the brand.

She said buying the Haitian machines at favorable prices enabled Matrix 4 to move forward.

In March, Sujit Sheth joined Matrix 4 as chief operations officer. Sheth has more than 20 years' experience in the plastics industry, primarily in the caps and closures niche and custom molding environment in production, quality and operational positions. Among other things, he worked for employers experiencing growth modes, turnaround situations, consolidations and plant moves.

"We are approaching a new phase" in the company's resurgence and can utilize Sujit's knowledge, Miller said.

In May 2016, Will Scott joined Matrix 4 after owning a mobile application development company. He is chief financial officer and system integrator.

The CEO's sister, Holly Miller, coordinates the scheduling and materials functions.

Among its investments, Matrix 4 acquired conveyors and pickers from Molding Automation Concepts Inc. of Woodstock, seven robots from Yushin Precision Equipment Co. Ltd. and six energy-efficient dryers from Matsui Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

Director of Manufacturing Donnie Schaupp drove the purchase of the dryers, Miller said.

Following in his father's steps, Schaupp worked at Matrix 4 as his first job, went elsewhere for a decade and gained insights and experiences in automation and process systems. He obtained an RJG Inc. certification and returned to take the manufacturing position at Matrix 4 in 2016.

While focusing on top-line growth, Matrix 4 is diversified with its client base and key end markets: cosmetics packaging, 30 percent; appliance components, 30 percent; and medical device parts, 20 percent. Industrial and safety products account for the remainder.

The medical work includes plastic components, intravenous attachments and dental suction parts.

"We have grown with existing clients and added more," Miller said.

Miller took over the business from Raymond Wenk Sr., her grandfather, in mid-2014. As a tool and die maker, Wenk founded the business in 1976 and retired in 2012.

Matrix 4 had sales of $1.5 million for the fiscal year that ended Oct. 31, 2014.

During his tenure, Wenk used the Roman number IV as part of the name to represent the firm's capabilities in engineering, tooling, designing and manufacturing. Miller uses the Arabic numeral 4.

Miller applied her educational, political and biopharmaceutical-device-business experiences in an intensive effort to revive the once-strong plastics molding business.

Growth landed Matrix 4 on the 2017 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies. The ranking of 4,084 was based on growth of 67.72 percent and fiscal 2016 sales of $2.6 million. Matrix 4 recorded sales of about $8 million for the year that ended Oct. 31, 2017, and is "on a trajectory to approaching $15 million in sales during 2018," Miller said.

Matrix 4 employs more than 50 and occupies 90,000 square feet.

Among changes, Matrix removed an unneeded 5,000-square-foot warehouse, made internal physical changes and added cloud computing service for data storage.

For ambience, Matrix 4 installed Sonos-brand wireless speakers in each work zone and empowered each area's employees to choose a preferred genre of piped-in music.

ABS Group of Cos. Inc. of Houston certified Matrix 4 to the ISO 9001:2015 standard in September 2016 and recertified the site in 2017.

"We threw away the old quality manual and built to ISO standards in-house," Miller said.

In May, the Washington-based Women's Business Enterprise National Council recertified Matrix as a woman-owned, -controlled and -operated entity.

An article in the May 4 issue of Crain's Chicago Business featured Miller and two other women, each of whom runs a manufacturing company in northern Illinois and has her own experiences while functioning in the business world of today.

"I am happy to continue representing in that space as long as it is reaching a bigger purpose," Miller told Plastics News. "We are in a male-dominated segment [of business and can experience] moments of not being taken seriously as a woman [executive] and at age 35. It means that we have work to do in changing people's minds."

Miller continues on the board of the Washington-based National Association of Manufacturers and was among a dozen executives — including three from the plastics industry — at a March 31, 2017, "listening session" with President Donald Trump. She was seated next to the President.

The event in the White House's Roosevelt Room included a photo opportunity in the Oval Office.