Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Tire
    • Airless Tires
    • Non-Tire
    • More News
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Opinion
    • Online Exclusive
    • Special Reports
    • Automotive
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Sustainability
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • PFAS
    • Best Places to Work
    • War in Ukraine
    • International Tire Exhibition & Conference
    • Women Breaking the Mold
  • Rubber Division IEC
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • PFAS Live
    • Ask the Expert
    • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
March 15, 2021 11:05 AM

Jonal builds base in aerospace, aviation sectors

Mike Scott
Rubber & Plastics News Correspondent
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More

    Jonal Labs President Marc Nemeth with his daughter, Haley, who will be the third generation involved in the family business.

    MERIDEN, Conn.—A commitment to both relationship building and patience has Jonal Laboratories Inc. on the path to growth, even with a slight pandemic-induced detour.

    The molded rubber manufacturer long has been a major player in the industry, supporting the needs of engine OEMs in the aerospace and aviation sectors. As a family-owned business founded 55 years ago, the company is known for manufacturing a wide range of critical flame-resistant seals, including O-rings for the International Space Station.

    But Jonal Labs President Marc Nemeth understands that the best growth can be achieved by incremental new product development. In 2012, he saw just that type of opportunity to pursue.

    That is when Nemeth began leasing an 11,000-sq.-ft. facility about a half-mile from its headquarters in Meriden. The goal was to attract molded rubber component opportunities from the airframe sub-sector of the aerospace industry, including manufacturers of airplanes and helicopters such as Lockheed, Boeing and Sikorsky. Jonal invested in a long press—four meters in length—to provide airframe legacy support, and turned the space into an annexed manufacturing area.

    The total value of investment in this facility and new business was around $1 million, Nemeth said.

    Jonal Laboratories offers a variety of molded rubber goods, much of it aimed at the aerospace and aviation industries.

    The company invested in other machinery as well, confident that the inherent similarities to the engine molded rubber needs it specialized in for decades would allow training and resource sharing to happen seamlessly as demand arose. After five years of tireless work to market and develop these relationships, slowly building trust, the investments began to pay off.

    "It took time, and maybe a little more time than we thought going in, to show the industry we were capable of this new type of high-end work," Nemeth said. "We invested in various types of equipment."

    One such investment was licensing and staff training on a CATIA platform for 3D CAD design software. "This is where we saw growth opportunities that were a good fit with our (core business)," Nemeth added.

    The work for the airframe sector requires a specific attention to detail because rubber seals often are a major source of issues within the industry, Nemeth said. Faulty O-rings famously were given as the main cause for the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, for example. Delivery and general quality challenges also are common.

    "It became an issue of trust, and once we proved ourselves, we had that (second facility) running," he said.

    A mill in use at the Jonal Laboratories site in Meriden, Conn. The company recently added a second facility near its headquarters.

    While the pandemic did slow businesses for the commercial aviation industry in 2020, Nemeth already is seeing an uptick in business and believes additional growth lies ahead. Jonal's work on both engine and airframe molding is evenly split among commercial and governmental clients, including Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace and BAE.

    Furthermore, the company has been able to avoid layoffs since March 2020, helped in part by more than $2 million in funding from the first round of the Paycheck Protection Program, and ongoing work from loyal clients. Like many manufacturers, it also has considered the role that forgivable loans may have in supporting ongoing investment while business builds back up this year, Nemeth said.

    Leading up to 2020, employee growth and revenues doubled over a five-year period, with Jonal now employing more than 110 full-time employees.

    "We feel that our expanded (organizational) chart is because of our ability to compete at the highest level with chemistry, manufacturing, and design engineering," Nemeth said. "We compete in those areas with as much experience as anyone. But what really sets us apart is our customer service."

    Nemeth said he also believes that Jonal's philosophy has helped create growth opportunities. Its executive team has advocated a philosophy of marketing and relationships rather than sales, he said, with the goal of solving problems, rather than simply manufacturing products.

    "I feel like calling us a molded rubber manufacturer doesn't give the full picture of what we're about," Nemeth said.

    The future looks bright, especially in the second half of 2021, Nemeth said. He is committed to getting back on the path that saw consistent double-digit growth before 2020. Right now, there are times that his roughly 40,000-sq.-ft. headquarters may not be operating at full capacity.

    However, Jonal is pursuing opportunities to support other industries and invests regularly in its people, so that when new business is identified, the company has the level of flexibility needed to quickly address it.

    "We hire people when we find them, not when we need them," Nemeth said. "It was OK for us to have excess staff over the last year—we know we will use them sooner or later."

    Related Article
    Jonal Labs tour is a success for New England Rubber & Plastics Group
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Holcim adding capacity, looks for growth in roofing sector
    2
    Enso sets 2030 date to decarbonize its tires for EVs
    3
    Michelin says it is still committed to manufacturing tires in Germany
    4
    WDK warns of 'slow death' of German rubber industries
    5
    The Dune Express: Ram Enterprise installing enormous belt project
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Tire
      • Airless Tires
      • Non-Tire
      • More News
        • Automotive
        • Executive Action
        • Government/Legal
        • Sustainability
        • Blogs
          • Products
          • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Opinion
      • Online Exclusive
      • Special Reports
        • PFAS
        • Best Places to Work
        • War in Ukraine
        • International Tire Exhibition & Conference
        • Women Breaking the Mold
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
      • PFAS Live
      • Ask the Expert
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION