Released on: September 17, 2008, 11:46 am

Press Release Author: Marie Auger

Industry: Industrial

Press Release Summary: Mar-Lee Companies, Inc., is a modern-day pioneer in a region
where the nation’s plastics industry evolved [North Central Massachusetts] and
continues to grow with new technologies and innovations.

Press Release Body: by: Marie Auger, communications 978-874-5629
mandmauger@comcast.net
Mar-Lee Companies define plastics industry’s cutting edge
LEOMINSTER, Mass., September 8, 2008—A local plastics firm may be readily
identified by its consumer packaging—from adjustable fluid spray straws to baby-wipe
containers—but the really exciting products are the ones you’ll never see [unless
you’re a surgeon]: medical implants made from “biopolymers.”
Mar-Lee Companies, Inc., is a modern-day pioneer in a region where the nation’s
plastics industry evolved [North Central Massachusetts] and continues to grow with
new technologies and innovations. The firm currently incorporates three divisions:
Mar-Lee Medical; Mar-Lee Packaging & Consumer Products; and, Mar-Lee Mold. A new web
site has been launched that describes in detail the capabilities of each division:
www.mar-leecompanies.com. The company was recently purchased by Texen, a French
packaging company with a focus on the upscale health and beauty packaging markets.
Mar-Lee plans to add a health and beauty packaging division to facilitate expansion
of this segment within the U.S.
Mar-Lee customers include medical device companies, producers of consumer goods and
other OEMs [original equipment manufacturers]. Project & Marketing Manager Michael
Gravelle explains the firm’s basic mission, “In any of our divisions, it’s all about
finding the best solution for our clients through lean manufacturing. We here at
Mar-Lee consider our customers to be ‘partners.’ We operate with a set of core
competencies that are crafted into a program cycle customized for each partner. Our
project management team works simultaneously with our partner’s management team to
eliminate any inefficient or unnecessary processes.”
He points out, for example, that Mar-Lee, “has gained a huge advantage with the use
of new ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software from IQMS… With roots in the
plastics manufacturing industry, IQMS stood out among its competitors because of its
experience and plastics specialization.”
“Over the course of the last few months,” Mr. Gravelle adds, “the IQMS system has
been perfected and precisely coordinated to fit specific Mar-Lee needs. Data is
automatically tracked from live workcells to control inventory and production
schedules. Sales and distribution have been consolidated, and comprehensive reports
can answer inquiries about the status of orders. IQMS's ERP software has enabled
Mar-Lee to consolidate and improve many of its processes, and will continue to
translate into customer benefits.”
However, the real excitement at Mar-Lee, he admits, is in its Medical Division,
which specializes in the molding of bio-absorbable materials including Polylactic
Acid (PLA) and other similar biomedical resins. “PLA,” he explains, “is a biopolymer
made from renewable, natural sources such as corn-starch and sugarcane… polylactic
acid can be used in place of petroleum-based polymers.”
There are many applications for this material, including the fairly common
absorbable suture, as well as absorbable bone screws and anchors for fixation
devices and soft tissue re-attachment. Other applications include implantable
stents, devices used in fusion, and structural based applications for the spine and
maxillofacial surgical applications. Bioresorbable products offer advantages over
the traditional metallic implants because this material provides biomechanical
stability with eventual re-absorption, reducing many of the risks posed by
traditional components, including loosening, imaging interference, and implant
migration/failure requiring surgical absorption removal or replacement.
Mr. Gravelle notes, “Mar-Lee Medical began with bio-absorbable applications and we
continue to use our processing knowledge and PLA expertise to produce components for
a number of challenging clinical areas. We are actively teaming up with the
producers of these specialty resins to improve the usability of these materials –
our goal is to enable our partners to use bio-resins in an increasing number of
applications as soon as they become technologically possible.”


Web Site: http://www.centralmasswebdesign.com

Contact Details: 55 Lake St. Gardner, Massachusetts 01440
978-632-5300
David@centralmasswebdesign.com