A collaborative, holistic approach has yielded an environmentally friendly automotive wheel finishing technology.
Next on the agenda was finding a partner that could provide liquid UV technology. Red Spot Paint, Evansville, Ind., is a privately held coatings company known for its nimbleness and innovative automotive UV technology. The company gladly committed resources to further the Helios technology.
Helios also needed an equipment company to engineer the conveyor and UV application system. It chose Nutro Corp., Strongsville, Ohio, for its great reputation for innovation in both UV and powder application technology.
Part of the task of starting a new venture is keeping both operating and capital costs to a minimum. Marshall learned that a relatively new wheel coating system in Howell, Mich., was being shut down. He seized the opportunity and was able to acquire its pretreatment and powder application systems for the price of dismantling them.
Marshall had spent more than 10 years of his life in technical service in the fast-paced automotive industry. His job required him to travel extensively and work very long hours away from home. Marshall's dream was to establish his new venture a reasonable bike ride from his home in Canton, Ohio. With the guidance and financial incentives of both local and state organizations, he set up shop in a building of a recently closed printing company in Canton. Many jobs had been lost due to the demise of this local corporate fixture. Marshall was inspired with the prospect of creating new jobs for his local community.