In his starting position with MPP, Alex worked as a shipping department technician. In that role he was involved in shipping and receiving industrial rolls and preparing them to move by overhead crane to the next appropriate workstation in the plant. Once the incoming roll is rigorously inspected and customer specs are cleared, it then begins its journey into the plant.

“One of the really important things here is the teamwork between people. Everyone is helpful and there’s good communication going on,” Alex noted.
In the shipping department Alex uses carpentry and mechanics to support roll servicing. That includes detail of quality control issues. One of the areas that is vital to customer success is assuring all the specifications for any particular roll have been applied. That includes the visual look of the roll.

He attends to the roll to be sure there are no blemishes or burrs that require final grinding prior to shipping out. Crating and packaging industrial rolls is a critical part of MP&P’s attention to detail. Alex and the team in shipping/receiving make sure that every roll goes out with the specific wraps and coverings required to ship the roll. This is particularly vital in keeping the roll secure and safe as it is shipped. There is also the knowledge of requirements and regulations for packaging and shipping industrial rolls overseas.

Alex was preparing finished industrial rolls to ship to Chile and to Ecuador as this interview took place. “I really like the environment here. It’s family owned and run so it’s not like one of the big corporations where things get complicated for no reason,” Alex added. It wasn’t long before Alex was promoted to Shipping and Receiving Manager. For more information and a confidential discussion of your industrial roll service contact MP&P today. (203) 574-5400

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His first position began in the plating department. “ I started working here and was trained  in plating along with my own learning as things went along. There’s a lot of technical details to know,” Dwight said. He went on to become a supervisor in 5 months. He spent 5-years working second shift.

PLATING

Then he moved to first shift supervisor. Things were fast moving and over time Dwight set his mind on learning as much as he could throughout the shop with a mindset to be more versatile and valuable.

High Bay Lathe

He covered many positions in the company over the years: prep work, metalizing, grinding, high bay work, and nickel plating (the only person handling that). For a time, he oversaw the safety department. His positions took him to, ordering supplies, equipment maintenance, heat treating, and crane operator.  All these positions require attention to detail and the ability to think on your feet.

Teflon Coating

“The working environment here is the key. We have a really great team effort going; we help each other and work hard to keep the roll servicing productive and profitable which also helps us to stay employed, and there’s been no layoffs.

Prepping the oven

Everyone is involved in getting the work done for our customers. There’s many days when Gary Nalband, the owner, is out here 12 hours a day working, and he’s not the only one— it seems to me that encourages others in the company.” There’s always some kind of problem to solve and that keeps everybody sharp. This is a good place to be working!

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“I remember how busy it was and there were people moving things round getting rolls through the place. I had to stay alert and pick things up pretty fast.” Rocco recalled, “I was trained on different technical points and also had to figure some things out for myself.”

There was a lot to learn along the way: rolls moved from inspection, to blasting to the plating, area and then moves to grinding and so on. “I remember working 55 hour shifts and everybody was really working hard to get rolls finished.

Rocco first worked on operating the Waldrich machine. Then he went on to operate the STMW-3 and following that Rocco took over the Landis Grinder. Rocco went on to handle finish grinding which can be a complicated process when grinding close tolerances.

There are small but important things to be looking for, like finding pits on the roll surface that need patching and re-grinding. It’s all based on specific and detailed customer specifications. “That’s what we go by,” Rocco said, “sometimes you have to make adjustments when unexpected issues come up. You need to think on your feet because some of the rolls are more complicated than others. You have to be ready for anything. It depends on what the specs are and the condition of the roll.”

Rocco has been working at MP&P for 25 years, “I like working here, the environment is good and moves fast. We get the things we need to do our jobs. There’s always a challenge to face so it keeps you alert. It is a good place to work, no doubt.

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“The place was really busy, people working at every station on industrial rolls of all kinds and sizes,” Dennis recalled. He began working at a variety of jobs including sandblasting and other manual tasks, learning as he went along. The rolls moved from inspection, to blasting to plating and to grinding as he learned the process.

In those days, Gene Nalband would step out to the shop to determine if anything was needed or to check on any issues. It wasn’t long before Dennis began training on the Opttex Process, a device that moves across the roll surface creating a high-gloss finish. This takes place once the preliminary grinding removes snags, tears and grinding lines.

Dennis is now an O.D. Grinder which is a highly detailed process and includes the use of roughness gauges, chrome gauges and a roller gauge that measures the roll straightness from end to end. It’s very technical work and requires full attention and alertness. In addition, he works on patch plating to resolve any imperfections on the roll surface. Dennis also trains others on grinding.

“It’s a great company to work for. We get all the equipment and tools that are needed. People are treated well, and that makes a big difference to everyone. Plus, every roll is different and challenging so you become expert at handling any unusual roll problems. We are busy all the time, which is great job security,” Dennis added.
A legacy of excellence remains the prime goal of everyone at MP&P. That dedication draws top-notch people like Dennis who is approaching four decades of service and more to go. The quality of a company always rests with the quality of its people, and that is another reason why MP&P has become a major leader in industrial roll finishing.

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This month we are honored to announce our employee of the month, Kurt Stronk. He has worked with the company for nearly 11 years and serves in the role of Process Engineer. Kurt’s responsibilities include processing quality, measuring by using vast array of tools (Sine Bars, Calipers, Dial indicating micrometers, snap gauges, bore gauges, etc.)

In terms of facilities/maintenance he verifies operating procedures for scrubbers and other environmental equipment related to plating:

-Creating Standard Operating Procedures as well as training material.

-Handles any SOP’s for unique jobs that required precise assemblies.

-Oversees floor management of Prep/Plating.

-Expert at defect Repairs or “patching” as we call it.

-Oversees 3rd party Hydro testing of ASME vessels that are processed in house.

We are extremely proud of his contribution to the smoothness of a very, very large, very expensive job, and provides information in the form of detailed pictures and measurements from

previous jobs to ensure consistency and quality. Kurt is certified by Dynapower to troubleshoot/maintain rectifiers for plating.

Outside the workday Kurt enjoys:

Being a chess enthusiast, avid disc golfer. He is engaged to be married this year, loves to cook – especially grill. He is also an avid Skier and has skied nearly all the ski areas in the state.

Kurt earned a bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Hartford, CT.

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This month we are honored to announce our candidate for the Employee’s Spotlight. Dave Medina, better known as DJay, is highlighted for the outstanding work he does. DJay started working at MPP on August of 2012.

DJay is responsible for OD grinding on rolls and specializes in grinding high tolerances on bearing seats.  When TIR needs to be in the millionths, DJay is the person we go to.  In addition to his expertise in grinding high tolerances he also supports our company’s growing body of knowledge by testing new grinding media to make process improvements.

DJay has also taken on the responsibility of training new OD grinders. With his attention to detail, well-rounded experience and patience, he typically has new grinders grinding rolls on their own within three months of starting work. DJay is truly a team player who understands the value of satisfying our customers by the quality of his work, and his commitment to sharing his expertise where needed. He leads by example, striving to improve on productivity, performance, knowledge, and abilities.  DJay also worked as a CNC set-up operator and a Swiss Automatic Screw Machine operator. He earned the State of CT Certified Swiss Automatic Screw Machine Operator certificate in June 2005. He is the proud father of two young ladies.

Congratulations, DJay! You have set an outstanding example for your co-workers throughout the Department of OD Grinding.

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Dave Northway has been employed with Mirror Polishing & Plating since August 2005 and  currently handles two areas of operation. He is the Senior OD grinder and Senior Chrome Plater.  When we receive difficult or unusual roll projects we call on Dave.  His versatility and creativity helps us meet the toughest demands while providing the highest quality that is expected from our customers.

Everyone thinks well of Dave in the company. He is a great worker and person. What we appreciate most about Dave is his attention detail. For instance, when he delivers a finished roll it’s packaged the correct way and it always looks great. There is no doubt that when the customer opens the box, he or she says “wow.” Dave is a very dedicated employee with a positive attitude and work ethic which makes him deserving of MPP’s Employee Spotlight.  His leadership qualities and ability to adapt have made him an integral part of our daily business objectives.  His ability to balance tasks and fabricate unique tools to assist with the processes is something all of his peers admire.

Among the nominations for Dave, Carlos Pacheco, General Manager, wrote: “Dave has been extremely helpful in assisting us process the most complicated jobs this company has ever seen.  His has been our ‘go to’ person every time we encounter a roll that requires special attention; helping us resolve some difficult discrepancies.”  Dave’s dedication extends from his work to his family.  Married for 41 years, Dave is a proud father of 3 sons.  Congratulations to Dave!!!

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Rich Bradshaw-Our Spotlight for February

When there’s a tough job at MP&P and details are critical, Rich is the one MP&P turns to. His attention to detail and meticulous approach to every roll project is outstanding. He is another one of MP&P’s key performers. He’s responsible for applying matte finishes.  Preparing the rolls for the chrome plating process. Rich also assists in the plating department. Rich Bradshaw continues to provide the highest quality of work for each and every one of our customers. He has been working with MPP since August 2009. He’s a proud father pictured with his terrific son, Devin. MP&P is fortunate to have such dedicated people like Rich.  It makes all the difference for our customers.

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Prior to joining MP&P, Henry worked as an inspector for a manufacturer of hot-tubs and Jacuzzis. Henry gained extensive knowledge from the plumbing and water works processes associated with hot tubs. This experience gave him a broad understanding of the critical details involved in the waste water treatment process. He is a pleasure to work with and always sets the right example for others to follow. Henry is a great team player and an upstanding individual. He brings a powerful work ethic to MP&P and to our entire team. We are fortunate to have him as part of the team.

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