When many people think of Vermont, they may think of a rural state that produces maple syrup and a state where vacationers tend to go when they want to ski in the winter or when they want to hike or go camping in the summer. What many people may not realize, however, are that a number of products they may use or rely upon on a daily basis may have come from this small state as well.
Nestled in the quiet town of Bethel, Vermont is a small company called Ultramotive Corporation. Ultramotive was founded in 1969 as the brainchild of Chris Scheindel, who began the company in order to have a way to manufacture and bring to market products relating to the automotive industry. Over the years, Scheindel (now in his 80’s), who is described as a consummate troubleshooter, has patented more than 40 innovations and continues to find new ways to solve common packaging problems. Some of his innovations include developing new and environmentally friendly ways of packaging products such as silicones and grease, the development of various valves for use with pressurized cans, and proprietary manufacturing techniques that can put products ranging from lock deicer to silicone caulking and even shaving cream into cans for mass market consumption. Chances are high that if a product comes from a pressurized can, it was either packaged or the technology was developed at Ultramotive.
Ultramotive has continued to press on despite many manufacturing jobs moving over seas as well as the bad economy. There have been times when the plant has been forced to shut down and employees were laid off due to the slow economy, however the organization continues to come back despite the odds. Perhaps the most notable example of this was in the wake of Hurricane Irene in August of 2011 when a branch of the White River flooded the company offices and manufacturing facilities during the height of the storm. Within days, employees along with a group with volunteers came together at the Bethel plant to begin clean up and the long process of gutting and rebuilding the interior of the facility. The company was fortunate enough to have a warehouse facility in nearby Randolph, Vermont which quickly became the makeshift offices while reconstruction was taking place, and in November, several weeks following the flood, Ultramotive was finally able to resume normal production.
Despite the odds against them and increasing foreign competition, Ultramotive continues to survive to this day through the innovation of Chris Scheindel and his dedicated staff of office and production workers.
Comments