Uniforce first firm in MCA's focus on 'legacy' manufacturer investments

Nashville, Tenn.-based Manufacturing Corp. of America has acquired family-owned Uniforce Plastics and Technologies LLC, a Conway, Ark.-based company that serves the RV market, as part of a mission to invest in legacy manufacturers.

MCA and its parent company, American Revitalization Co., also based in Nashville, said they are developing companies committed to preserving historic properties and decades-old business operations.

Started about six months ago by a group of industry veterans and entrepreneurs, MCA founders share a vision to rejuvenate American manufacturing, according to Greg White, MCA's president of manufacturing operations who has worked for Tesla and Toyota.

The Uniforce deal is the first for MCA. Terms weren't disclosed.

Uniforce Plastics was started along with Uniforce Technologies LLC and Uniforce Composites LLC in the 1980s and early 1990s. The companies specialize in wire harness assemblies and fiberglass components, serving mostly the sports boat market.

MCA acquired the plastics and technology companies. White said the composite business had been scaled back and wasn't part of the deal.

"The acquisition team reviewed the capabilities of Uniforce as a whole and found a company with an excellent product selection within their technologies and unique plastic thermoforming. Then, once we understood the employee base here, that was huge," White said in a phone interview. "Not only did they have a good strong foothold in supporting the majority of sport boat manufacturers, and they do some small work with a vehicle manufacturer, we saw it as truly a legacy company."

The trio of businesses was founded by Ken Burks and they had an uncertain future with his pending retirement.

"Once I recognized my declining health would diminish Uniforce's future, I began searching for an experienced manufacturing team that would continue to produce quality products in Conway for our impressive customer base while retaining all of our long-term employees," Burks said in a news release.

Burks' search yielded a good initial response with many easy to reject.

"Other interested parties wanted to relocate the company to other regions of the country, which would not benefit our great customers or outstanding employee team," Burks said. "MCA came in with a plan to invest in the company and make it even more successful. They saw the growth potential and the value of what we built."

MCA officials were impressed.

“This is a legacy company built by Ken Burks. He owned it over 40 years. That’s what we’re looking for — companies that have been around a long time and survived. They’ve seen all the highs and lows of manufacturing and their employees have been here 15- to 20-plus years.”

At Uniforce, the founder's son, Kenny Burks, will remain plant manager of the Arkansas operation and all 50 employees there will be retained with plans to hire more and start an employee stock ownership program (ESOP) within about five years.

"Manufacturing is heavily dependent on people, and having an employee-owned company aids in attracting and retaining quality workers," White said. "The programs help employees from a retirement standpoint, giving them confidence to know that retirement is possible at some point."

ESOPs also give buyers an advantage in acquiring companies, White said.

"For sellers to know a buyer will take care of their employees is significant," White said. "We're not promising the world, but everyone knows if we collectively work hard and grow the business, there's great opportunity."

Most Uniforce products currently go to the sports boat market.

"We have a majority of the key players," White said, adding Uniforce forms the large majority of dash panels, cup holders and compartment covers in addition to full boat wire harnesses and wired dash panels.

"We're going into the market to chase other opportunities," White added. "I can't give any details, but we're investing in additional equipment to grow and expand. We're mainly in sports boats and a small amount of components for a vehicle manufacturer. We'd like to grow that. We're doing investigations and trials with significant equipment."

MCA also is under contract with a machining facility in Houston and looking to increase its market presence for assembly and fabrication.

Company officials are targeting family-owned businesses in the plastic and metal forming sectors to coincide with their expertise and resources. The goal is "thoughtful expansion and sustainable business practices, ensuring value creation for all stakeholders involved," the website says.

"It's extremely important to us and a real commitment for us to truly grow U.S. manufacturing," White said. "In our small way, we're driving that forward. It's the way the future needs to go."