Elite Mold & Elite Plastic Products

In the early 1980’s, Joseph Mandeville was earning an Associates of Science in Moldmaking Technologies at Macomb Community College.  Older brother Robert Mandeville had directed him to this industry. Robert had worked in plastic injection mold building since his return from military duty in Vietnam.

Today the brothers are running two successful companies that occupy nearly 41,500 square feet, employ nearly 50 people, and generate sales in excess of $10 million per year!

In 1982, Bob and Joe formed Elite Mold & Engineering, Inc.  (EME), which is now located in Shelby Township.  Bob’s connections in the industry enabled the pair to secure contracts and begin building their reputation as an industry leader for providing cost-effective, high-quality plastic injection molded parts with a quick turnaround.

By 1995, the brothers also formed Elite Plastic Products Inc. (EPP) as a high-volume molding arm of www.TeamEliteOnline.com. While EPP specializes in low-cost, best quality high production, EME maintains it reputation as a stellar choice for volume low and prototype molding activities.  Both companies are certified to ISO 9000:2001.

While the companies served other industries, the primary focus of their business was automotive.  As the U.S. automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) expanded to growing global markets, the brothers realized that they needed to be proactive to stay competitive.

With assistance from the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development, an alliance was formed to help a group of local tool and die shops in southeast Michigan enter the worldwide market.  A total of 19 tool & die shops are part of The Global Tooling Alliance.  Working together, these businesses are collaborating to collectively offer the services and processes necessary to competitively bid for contracts.  Each member contributes its company’s particular expertise including custom machinery, stamping dies, prototype stamping and laser cutting, gages and fixtures, tooling and automation equipment, compression molds, etc.  The Global Tooling Alliance is a limited liability corporation (LLC) that was formed to take advantage of certain tax relief incentives under the Michigan Tool & Die Renaissance Recovery Zone Act, a program of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

While efforts to become a worldwide competitor for automotive work were underway, Joe faced a dilemma familiar to many in the region.  Three of Elite’s clients were pulling up stakes and moving to Mexico.   Concerned that his company might lose business to competitors with a geographical advantage, Mandeville paid a visit to Texas to assess the situation. 

Feeling uncomfortable with a decision he felt might be inevitable, Joe turned to the Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development and its Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center.

Mandeville was quickly linked with Economic Development Specialist Justin Robinson and SBTDC certified Business Counselor Bob Madigan. 

Together, they examined both the challenges and opportunities that such a move would entail including the overall costs of making the move, the fact that moving operations would not guarantee any long-term contracts or wouldn’t at some point involve an expectation of further price reductions.  Madigan and Robinson set up a meeting with consultants that specialize in the military and medical device industries to discuss Elite’s potential to diversify. 

One of the most important revelations that the trip to Texas and meetings with department staff revealed was that while parts might certainly be cheaper to make in other locales, there isn’t a region in the world that can compete with Metro Detroit’s superiority in advancing technology related to plastics.  The concentration of research and development specific to the plastic molding industry is nearly non-existent in Texas.

In the end, it was decided that it made economic sense to keep Elite in Michigan and invest the funds that might have been spent on moving south to diversify the industries that Elite Mold and Elite Plastics served. 

MCPED staff were willing to do the research to find the resources that Joe needed to move Elite in a new direction.  Today, Elite is working with an internationally renowned medical device consultant, Christophe Sevrain of CJPS Enterprises, who is assisting the company to develop a business plan and strategy aimed at the medical industry.  They have purchased new equipment and are developing a new Web site to target the industry. 

MCPED staff also connected Elite with a program of the University of Michigan that works specifically with manufacturers to help them assess their capabilities and determine specific needs for securing the necessary certification to become a medical device supplier.  In addition, Elite is working with a UM undergraduate student to fine tune their marketing message. 

As a result, Elite Mold and Engineering is well on its way beyond simply surviving in our current economy to thriving, despite current conditions.  Joe estimates that the medical device industry will someday account for 75 percent of their business.

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Joe exemplifies what it takes to successfully diversify a business:  an open mind toward the possibility of serving a new industry, the patience to conduct detailed research and the vision to commit financial resources to get the job done.  We can help YOU do the same.  For assistance, please visit www.macombbusiness.com or call our offices at (586) 469-5285.