Just Like My Father Before Me
Tony Demakis
Making a difference in the plastics industry through mold finishing and repair.
As a kid I never really understood what my father’s company did. I mean I knew he left for the morning before I was out of bed, and many times he came home right before dinner hit the table. When I went to visit there were really cool hoists that I used to grab hold of and be lifted to the ceiling. There were a lot of really cool looking machines, and things that made noise and buzzed really fast. Some of the guys had spinning discs that shot sparks all over the place, so that was pretty sweet, but that was pretty much the extent of my knowledge. Then dad brought home the coolest thing ever.
At that moment my dad was the coolest person in the world because he helped to bring something to life that I cared about dearly. The Darth Vader Star Wars action figure case, cue angelic heavenly music. You see my dad, to me the most awesome person ever, and Alliance (at that time Sabella Polishing) had polished the mold for the project, and they were given a few to bring home. Life. Changed. Forever. Now over time I have obviously learned about the ridiculously large number of things that this company help bring into the world. Things like toothbrushes, automotive taillights, medical lenses, caps and closures, you name it and over the past 40 years we have had a hand in bringing it to market. However, to this day, that Darth Vader action figure case is the one thing that brings it all back for me.
Every day our shop is full of projects that put smiles on peoples faces in one form or another. Plastic is everywhere and in all facets of our life. It never ceases to amaze me the quiet impact that we as a shop, have on so many people. We are necessary and essential to most peoples way of life. Look around you and tell me how many pieces of plastic do you see at this given moment? Toothbrushes, speakers, iPhone cases, IV bags, pens, you name it and there is a good chance that plastic plays a part in it. We are in your home and in your lie in so many ways and most people take it for granted. Thats ok, because we love what we do and we are extremely proud of our work. Tell us about the one piece of plastic that means the most to you?
Connector | Visionary Leader | Quantum Operations Expert?? | Entrepreneur | COO | Pricing Expert | Advisory Board | Supply Chain Unicorn | Wayfinder | Founding Member: BOLD | CHIEF | TOP | RedboxME
4 年I love that you refer to the plastic MFG industry as "not glorious". When I was interviewing 20 years ago - I was pushed hard to NOT join the industry saying "this isn't a sex industry" and "you're a woman - why do you want to be in distribution?" Looking back I was naiive because I didn't get WHY a woman made ANY difference or why my interest in supply chain was "abnormal" at the time. CHEERS to our AMAZING industries that are amazing form the inside out - even if the outside looking in is questionable :) PEOPLE make the Industry.
Division Chair at SPE Mold Technologies Division
4 年I remember when my dad brought home a small unit die to aid me in my "Show and Tell" he too was/is my hero and here I am 45 years in this crazy trade that we call an industry... Great story Tony -- your dad should be proud...
sounds like a similar childhood for me!