Global Highlights

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Newcomb Spring Corp., a worldwide supplier of custom manufactured springs, wireforms and metal stampings, has announced the retirement of G. Donald Jacobson Jr., CEO and chairman of the board.

Jacobson began his 53-year career with Newcomb Spring in 1969, notably as the third generation of the Jacobson family to serve as company leaders. Jacobson became president in 1988, a position he filled until 1999, when he was named chief executive officer.

Focused on improving efficiencies and customer service, Jacobson invested in significant manufacturing upgrades, technology and equipment. Under his leadership, Newcomb Spring experienced a long period of expansion, with the opening of several new manufacturing facilities throughout the United States. Today, Newcomb Spring is an advanced coil spring and metalform manufacturing company with a network of seven plants in the United States and one plant in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

“Don has been a steadfast and innovative thought leader,” said Robert Jacobson, president, Newcomb Spring Corp. “He has exemplified our mission to be ‘First in Forming’ with his commitment to advancing technologies and proficiencies, while expanding our footprint to further serve the needs of our customers. His dedication to the staff and partners of Newcomb Spring, and to those in the spring and metalform industry, will continue to inspire us. We extend our congratulations to Don for a job well done and thank him for his tremendous service.”

During his career, Jacobson also served as president of the New England Spring Manufacturers Association, as well as president of the Spring Manufacturers Institute. As a leader in the metalforming industry, he shared his widely respected expertise during his tenure as chairman of Springs magazine and contributed to the creation and publication of the Spring Design Handbook, a popular manufacturing resource tool.

When asked about his plans for retirement, Jacobson noted, “After flying to all the Newcomb plants for so many years, I’ve decided to visit all the states

G. Donald Jacobson Jr., CEO and chairman of the board of Newcomb Spring Corp., has retired after 53 years of service with the company.

in between. My wife and I bought an RV and are traveling state to state, visiting all the sites. And as an avid boater, I have booked a trip up the Erie Canal.

“Spring and metalforming is my passion,” he continued. “Since my first day working loading docks to my retirement, I’m happy that Newcomb has thrived and exceeded so many expectations.”

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Rockford Spring Company officials announced in 2022 the company’s plans to establish new manufacturing operations in Lewisburg. Rockford Spring will invest $10.3 million and create 62 new jobs in Marshall County as the company locates in an existing facility at 1100 Garrett Parkway. By establishing a presence in Tennessee, the Illinois-based company will utilize the Lewisburg facility to serve its existing markets while also expanding its customer base in the southeastern U.S.

“Companies choose to invest in Tennessee because of our strong business climate and highly skilled workforce. Rockford Spring’s decision to establish operations in Lewisburg will ensure opportunity for Tennesseans in Marshall County, and I look forward to their success,” Gov. Lee stated.

Founded in 1952, Rockford Spring Company manufactures custom precision springs and wireforms for automotive, agriculture, firearms, hydraulics and outdoor power equipment, as well as many other industries. The Lewisburg facility will increase Rockford Spring’s employment to roughly 150 people across its two U.S. operations in Illinois and Tennessee.

In the last five years, TNECD has supported more than 60 economic development projects in the southern middle Tennessee region, resulting in roughly 8,200 job commitments and $5.2 billion in capital investment.

The L.S. Starrett Company, a leading global manufacturer of precision measuring tools and gages, metrology systems and more, recently appointed Matthew Wells as director of operations and continuous improvement. In this new position based at Starrett headquarters in Athol, Massachusetts, Wells is responsible for production, planning, production control and purchasing, inventory management, warehouse and shipping, quality, manufacturing engineering, facility, EHS, maintenance and continuous improvement. Wells reports directly to Emerson Leme, vice president, Starrett Industrial Products, North America.

“We are very pleased to have Matt join the Starrett team,” said Leme. “He brings to Starrett a broad range of manufacturing and production expertise that will be vital for the company’s operations.”

Wells, a western Massachusetts native, has more than 25 years of manufacturing experience in the U.S. and Canada, including extensive experience with Toyota Production Systems, Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma during his tenure at a Toyota Motor manufacturing company and The Schaeffler Bearing Group, among other manufacturing enterprises. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA, both obtained at Western New England University. He currently resides with his family in central Massachusetts.

Matthew Wells Rotor Clip recently announced it can now manufacture smallersized wave springs ranging from .118 -25” (3 - 635 mm). The company says the advancement will benefit a variety of industries that manufacture medical devices, electronics and consumer products. “Today’s marketplace calls for smaller, lighter assem- Smaller wave springs blies with greater efficiencies and lower manufacturing costs,” said the company in a news release.

Rotor Clip says wave springs can offer up to 50% of axial space savings compared to conventional coil springs, providing the same force and deflection. Wave springs do not suffer from torsional loading and twisting that can cause wear. Additional benefits include increased travel distances and the ability to self-locate in bored holes and shafts. The news release concluded, “Through a vertically integrated manufacturing process, starting with in-house wire production, the combination of process control and metallurgical expertise allows Rotor Clip to react quickly to meeting requirements, perfecting prototypes, and identifying favorable opportunities to enhance product quality.”

For more information, contact info@ rotorclip.com, phone 732-469-7333 or visit www.rotorclip.com.

SEI MetalTek, Inc., a niche springs manufacturer comprised of Colonial Spring (Bristol, Connecticut), Hardware Products (Chelsea, Massachusetts) and Spring Engineers of Houston (Houston, Texas), announced in November 2022 its acquisition by an investor group led by Desrosier Capital Partners.

SEI is a turnkey manufacturer of custom and stock springs, wireforms and stampings for a wide range of industries. Members of SEI management and the selling shareholders, whose family has owned SEI since its founding in 1966, will remain minority shareholders in the company going forward.

“We are excited to partner with the SEI MetalTek team and to support the next chapter of the company’s growth,” said John Desrosier, partner at Desrosier Capital.

“We look forward to helping the company grow within its existing markets as well as expand through add-on acquisitions in the springs industry,” added Peter Desrosier, partner at Desrosier Capital.

Desrosier Capital has teamed up with former SMI president Dan Sebastian, a veteran in the springs industry, to work on the investment. Sebastian, who has served in multiple CEO roles with several spring manufacturers including MW Industries, is joining SEI’s board of directors and will also serve as a strategic advisor.

Financing for the transaction was provided by Harbert Credit Solutions and Greyrock Capital Group.

For more information, please visit www.colonialspringco.com, www.hardwareproducts.com and www.springhouston.com. For more information on Desrosier Capital, please visit www. descap.com.

Since launching as a new company under a new brand in 2022, Lesjöfors Heavy Springs UK has invested £1.1m ($1,361,160 USD) in new machinery, in direct response to customer demand and growth in newly identified markets.

Following a 60% growth in their industrial sales in 2021 and further growth of 20% for 2022, the Cornwallbased spring manufacturer, with sites in Penryn and Redruth, is significantly increasing capacity, expanding production capabilities and advancing their supply chain processes with a suite of new state-of-the-art machinery.

Michael Gibbs, managing director of the U.K. factories, says: “This is a big investment, and this year has seen a number of big changes, showing confidence in our market position. Our strategy for growth has enabled us to expand our capacity in the U.K., to separate our automotive and industrial sector work across two industryspecific dedicated sites and to expand our industrial business even further.”

The industrial divisions expansion in Penryn includes investment in a new CNC coiler, which extends the wire coiling capabilities in the U.K. to 20mm wire diameter, in line with larger spring wire requirements from a growing global customer base. Weighing in at 30 tonnes, the new CNC coiler is integrated with a new 10m long in-line heat treatment oven, doubling heat treatment efficiencies.

Rounding off a grinding equipment investment program of a further £1m ($1,148,639.72 USD) since 2017, a new spring grinder doubles the grinding capacity in the industrial division. There has also been further investment in new lifting equipment.

Luke Smith, operations manager for Lesjöfors Heavy Springs UK, confirms: “Peak production efficiency is challenging when manufacturing is across two sites. These latest investments allow us to separate our automotive and industrial work so that each location is dedicated to its sector, which will significantly improve output and increase our efficiencies.

“It also allows us to further develop our in-house expertise specific to these sectors and to continue delivering the quality, accuracy and performance our springs are recognized for.”

Gibbs concludes: “We have been at our second site, in Penryn, for three years and have always aimed to strengthen our site-specific dedicated expertise and machinery bespoke to each location.

“Achieving this with our recent investment in new machinery and a restructured team, drives these efficiencies, reduces costs and allows us to pass those cost reductions on to our customers.

“We’re committed to investing in the future and predict, working on current projections, a payback on the capital expense investment of approximately five years.”

Concluding the investments is an additional shot peener for the newly dedicated automotive sector manufacturing site in Redruth.

Tom Mander

Alloy Wire International (AWI), which employs 33 people at factories in Brierley Hill and Batley in Yorkshire, has promoted Tom Mander to the role of managing director after being with the company for more than 17 years. Mander takes over for Mark Venables, who has now become chairman, remaining in the business to guide and advise for the foreseeable future.

This is an exciting next step in the AWI journey and will accelerate its ambition to increase sales from its current £13m ($14,751,100 USD) level to £15m ($17,025,000 USD) by 2025, with most orders now coming from clients overseas.

“Alloy Wire International is a very special business and I’m honored to take the reins and help guide the company to the next stage,” commented Mander.

Alloy Wire International manufactures round, flat and profile wire in over 60 exotic alloys, such as Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy, Nimonic and Waspaloy.

Venables added his support, stating: “The senior management team wanted to protect the core values that make AWI so special, so we took the decision last year to make Tom, Adam Shaw and Andrew Du Plessis, managing director designate, finance director and technical director respectively.

“This was paving the way for the next generation to take over and Tom’s promotion to managing director is the next step in that process,” said Venables. “He has been with us for 17 years and understands the culture and our people. It’s a natural appointment and I’m looking forward to seeing the fresh skills and insights he will bring to the role.”

For further information, visit www. alloywire.com or follow @alloywire on Twitter. n