GLASi News
December 2011
On December 6, 2011 Great Lakes Automation Services was featured on WICU TV Channel 12 in Erie, PA.
The full article and link to the video are below.
"Variety is the Spice of Life for Great Lakes Automation"
On the outside, Great Lakes Automation may look like a typical factory warehouse. But once you walk through the doors you'll find it's far from it.
The owners pride themselves on variety.
"Everything we do is pretty custom. Even though I said we do a lot of repeat customers, a lot of those customers have different products. So it´s a very specialized industry," said Great Lakes Automation president Mark Fatica.
The 35,000 square foot facility is split into four sections including the automation division. The company designs and builds automotive test systems for other businesses. Many of the products, you've probably seen or used.
"It´s got to be thousands of products we've assembled over the years. And prior to that, we had 800 machines in the field at one time. Anything from assembly circuit breakers, to disposable scalples, tail light socket assemblies, make-up, it runs a gambit," said Fatica.
The company also makes kits for military radio communication equipment.
"We primarily provide materials, bring it in here, inspect and package it, label it, and ship it to the customer. It´s a customer out of Rochester that´s into communications. They are military radios that go out into the field," said Fatica.
As a service disabled owned company, they pride themselves in hiring veterans like Sergeant Don Green who served with the 56th Stryker Brigade in Iraq.
"I just like mechanical stuff. Making things work. It comes natural, so it's a good fit for me," said Green.
About a year ago the organization started up Great Lakes AutoNation, in which they refurbish and restore muscle cars.
"We like to specialize in muscle cars, '69 GTO, '67 GTO, we have Chevelles over there, and there´s currently three people that work over there," said Fatica.
The company started in 2002, with just three employees. They now employ 50. The owners say they key to their success is diversity.
"You have to be diversified, because any one industry can be up or down, at one point. And you don´t want to rely on that one industry, which is sort of what we went through in the beginnings," said Fatica. "Once we got packaging and kitting, our cash-flow helped the automation side that may have been down a little bit. So definitely diversification," he said.
November 2011
Retired Marine celebrates Corps Birthday, hosts open house.
SBA loans helped Great Lakes Automation Services grow and succeed.
MCKEAN, PA − On Veterans Day, about a half-dozen employees won´t be working their scheduled shift at Great Lakes Automation Services, Inc. (GLASi). Owner and retired U.S. Marine Ken Fisher of Edinboro said he believes all veterans should celebrate the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I with a paid day off.
Fisher is inviting community leaders and media to tour his facilities that provide necessary equipment to Marines and soldiers safeguarding freedom around the world. Fisher served two years in the Marine Corps, was wounded in Vietnam and offered retirement. After a year recuperating, he moved to Erie 40 years ago and has never looked back.
"I came up here and didn´t know what I´d be doing. It´s a nice place to live,"he said. Fisher now owns a company that specializes in designing and building automation parts and systems. Great Lakes Automation Services also houses a packaging and kitting operation and operates a separate screw machine shop in addition to an auto restoration business. Parts utilized at GLASi are mainly American-made and most are fabricated in the Erie area.
GLASi´s tremendous growth would not have been possible without counseling, loans and contracting opportunities from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in conjunction with the local First National Bank of Erie.
According to Fisher, he and company executives Mark Fatica, president and Bryan Brooks, vice-president, utilized Gannon University´s Small Business Development Center to learn the nuts and bolts of operating a small business. The trio, who were once employed by Assembly Machines, Inc (AMi), left to forge their own company when AMi was sold to DT Industries. Some 10 months later, DT Industries would close its doors and transfer operations out of Erie. 10 years later, the company´s 27,000 square-foot facility in McKean houses the returned AMi business, now employs up to 51, and belies its humble beginnings.
"Times were tight, we had no operating money and had cashed in our 401k plans, savings accounts and mortgaged our houses; we were working out of a converted bedroom and basement offices and two trucks," Fisher explained. "We secured a small line of credit, moved into an incubator, hired a few talented engineers and designed and built simple assembly equipment."
Fisher said no one would lend them the money to bid on larger projects, until he heard about the SBA. The agency not only worked with First National Bank to secure GLASi financing to obtain three large contracts, but after a site visit, SBA Western Pennsylvania District Director Carl Knoblock prompted Fisher to change GLASi´s mission and also utilize his status as a Service Disabled Veteran Owned small business owner to pursue government contracting.
"The government itself wasn´t purchasing what GLASi was selling," Knoblock stated. "But, GLASi could sell automation systems to federal government prime contractors and also diversify to build machine parts because government agencies do purchase parts." Fisher took the advice, purchased a majority of the company, and turned his focus on government contracting. GLASi soon began designing and building automation systems for large prime contractors. Three years ago, he received a call from a major supplier who provides radio communications equipment to the Department of Defense.
"We bid on the kitting process and did it on time flawlessly," Fisher said. "We also hired some of our former colleagues at AMi and we´ve since shipped millions of dollars of components maintaining a 100% quality and on time delivery record." GLASi´s operations expanded several times before they purchased their current location in McKean, adding new machinery and software for engineering and the machining business.
Today, as workers are assembling kits that contain power switches for military vehicles such as Humvees and MRAP armored trucks, a large photo board salutes not only the veterans that work at GLASi, but also relatives of GLASi employees who have served their country.
"We have 24 veteran photos on the board that states ´Our customers guarantee our freedoms. We guarantee our kits´ " Fisher said. "The employees came up with that saying. The Marine and soldier on the ground are our customers."
October 2011
We are pleased to announce that Alex Fatica has joined our team as our new Account Manager. He received a finance degree from Penn State University. Prior to starting at GLASi, Alex was employed at Dick´s Sporting Goods Corporate office in Pittsburgh as a buyer for golf equipment.
March 2011
We are pleased to announce that George Blackham IV has joined our team as our new Regional Sales Manager. With this new addition to our Sales staff we will be able to better provide our existing customers and potential customers the best service, quality and products in the industry.
January 2010
" Developing Our Economy; Expanding Our Horizon "
The Economic Development Corporation of Erie County has awarded GLASi a Certificate of Recognition for the creation of substantial job opportunities through capital investment in Erie County, Pennsylvania.
July 2009
We are pleased to announce that we are moving to our new 27,325-square-foot building this month due to our growth.
June 2009
Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Announces New Investments in Eight Counties to Create 640 Jobs.
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nine projects that will help create 640 jobs in Pennsylvania are receiving support in the form of low-interest loans from the commonwealth, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today. "Great Lakes Automation Services Inc., which manufactures quality automated assembly and test equipment for the aircraft, automotive, computer and defense industries, will receive a $360,000 loan to acquire and renovate an unoccupied, 27,325-square-foot building in McKean Township. The $938,000 project will result in the company relocating its 27 existing employees to the newly renovated facility. EIDCO Inc. is the sponsoring agency."
April 2009
April 2009, Great Lakes Automation Services, Inc. is pleased to announce its newest Division with the acquisition of Clifton Machining, Formerly Clifton Automatic Screw machine Co. in Lake City, Pa.; www.cliftonautomatic.com.
As a Certified ISO 9001:2000, GLASi's new Machining Division can offer you more capabilities and services. As a precision machine job shop we now specialize in the manufacturing of high volume precision-machined parts. We have added to this acquisition with the purchase of a new Tsugami BE-20 Turning machine with 12' auto load bar feed system.
Our newest Division currently provides high quality products and services to a worldwide customer base that includes leaders in the rubber bonded industry, metal industry, plastics companies, and some of the largest appliance and automotive manufacturers and assorted OEM businesses.
November 2008
On November 12th, the owners of Great Lakes Automation were presented with the Harris Corporations most prestigious "Impact Award" for 2008.
This award recognized the efforts put forth by GLASi to achieve 100% on time delivery and 100% quality along with over $1 million in cost savings to Harris over the past year. This had a direct impact on overall Harris product cost and on time delivery to their customers.
Presenting the award was Harris Commodity Manager Paul Nealon along with Lead Buyer Connie Wilson. The award ceremony capped a very informative day with the Harris Corporate team outlining their strategy for 2009. Also in attendance at this yearly conference in Rochester New York were representatives from 80 supplier companies. The owners and employees of Great Lakes Automation are both proud and pleased to accept this award.
We feel this is the type of performance and service we promise to our customers and it is very much appreciated when our efforts are recognized. Now we are looking forward to next year.
May 2008
In May of 2008 GLASi is proud to announce our recent investment of SolidWorks 2008. This design system software is the standard in 3D mechanical design software. Capabilities of this software include; user interaction, configuration management, industry specific design tools, smart part technology, file translators, physical simulation, solid part modeling and assembly modeling. In addition SolidWorks 2008 provides intelligent feature technology which allows us to edit our designs in real time, built in part analysis, design communication, machine design tools and product and mold design tools.
August 2007
In August of 2007 GLASi started a packaging and kitting division geared toward supplying goods to the government and Prime Contractors to the government.
May 2004
In May of 2004 GLASi acquired Assembly Machines Inc. (AMi) from DT Industries. This acquisition has increased our customer base to over 250 and has increased our machine installations to over 800 throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and China.