May 6, 2019 | Blog, News
I can’t believe it has been ten years already!
Back in October of 2008, our company Sencorp, which included the Sencorp thermoforming product lines, as well as the CeraTek and CeraPak sealing product lines, had a total of 67 employees located in Hyannis, Massachusetts. That November, Sencorp began the integration of White Systems, relocating the company from Kenilworth, New Jersey.
In less than 90 days, the Sencorp facility in Hyannis was reconfigured to accommodate White Systems manufacturing. Fifty-seven truck-loads of machines and materials were shipped from New Jersey and then, unloaded, installed, and serviced. At the same time, 45 employees were hired and trained to manufacture and assemble White carousels. Within six months, full production resumed and White Systems, a brand that had been recognized for over 70 years as the preeminent designer, manufacturer, and service provider for horizontal and vertical carousels, reemerged as a leader in the automated storage and retrieval market.
While the integration of the two companies went smoothly overall, we did have to overcome a few challenges. Here are the four most important lessons we learned along the way:
- Appreciate the value of a trusted brand name. Shortly after the integration of White into Sencorp, the combined entity was renamed SencorpWhite—our way of paying homage to the legacy of each company. While the new name made sense to us, the market thought otherwise. Both Sencorp and White each had over 70 years of brand equity as recognized leaders in their respective markets, and the new name confused many customers. “What did a ‘Sencorp’ have to do with White?” and “What did ‘White’ have to do with Sencorp?” We listened, and after recognizing the true value of the original brand names, White is now as it was, in name and logo. What’s old is new again!
- You don’t have to manufacture everything. In the late 1990s, White entered the vertical lift module (VLM) market in the United States representing a European manufacturer under the PowerColumn brand. Believing that we needed to manufacture all of our products, utilizing Sencorp engineering, we quickly embarked designing our own VLM, the PowerColumn Three (PC3). While the PC3 is successful for unique applications, it is not a product for the general VLM market. To round out White’s product range, we partnered with an Italian VLM manufacturer, ICAM, to supply automated lift modules for the North American market. Our experience taught us that you don’t always have to manufacture everything yourself in order to be successful.
- Offer customers a complete solution. My thinking around the concept of “software for machinery” was the product of years of experience in industry, so when we acquired White, I expected its software to be the same as Sencorp’s, i.e., applications to run the machines. How wrong I was! White carousels need to work together in warehouses filled with disparate machines and technologies, creating a total warehouse solution. As such, we recognized that being a provider of inventory management solutions requires more than just stand-alone hardware. System providers in the warehouse automation market must have integrated solutions that include hardware, software, and service. Recognizing our inexperience in warehouse inventory management software, we have also acquired Intek Integration Technologies and Minerva Associates, leading software companies in warehouse management systems (WMS) and warehouse control systems (WCS).
- Be open to new, even unexpected, markets. Today, with White’s complete portfolio of hardware, software, and service, we are positioned as a leading provider of integrated storage and retrieval systems for the hospital pharmacy and emerging click-and-collect grocery markets. In addition, White custom configures hardware and software solutions for diverse markets like aerospace and automotive manufacturing and maintenance, e-commerce distribution, defense, and medical marijuana, to name a few.
Looking back, it’s incredible to see how White has expanded in size and scope over the past ten years. Now with over 240 employees, two manufacturing facilities on both coasts, European partners, three engineering and software development offices, and 23 field-ready service sites located throughout the United States, White is better positioned than ever before to be a leading provider of automated storage and retrieval solutions.
Jan 16, 2019 | Blog, News
Industry veteran brings more than 23 years of experience in sales, service, product development, and management.
SencorpWhite, a global leader in end-to-end solutions for automated packaging, integrated AS/RS systems, and warehouse automation software, has announced that Corey Calla has assumed the role of president, effective October 1, 2018.
White is a provider of integrated inventory management systems, high-density storage solutions and storage and retrieval systems for the hospital pharmacy space, manufacturing, distribution and fulfillment, aerospace, in-store pickup and military point-of-use solutions.
As the new president, Calla has responsibility for White Systems, including the operations of the InTek and Minerva Software divisions, both recent strategic acquisitions. Calla is also leading the customer service initiatives for SencorpWhite and its product offerings including thermoforming, sealing and automated storage equipment, based in Hyannis, Mass. Calla will report directly to SencorpWhite’s CEO Brian Urban.
“We are excited to enter the next chapter in our evolution and we are most excited about the experience and leadership Corey brings to our organization. His deep knowledge of sales, service and software systems makes him a natural fit to grow both our products and our customer base,” Urban said. “I am confident Corey will leverage his many years of experience in warehouse automation and service to drive exceptional growth for White Systems.”
Calla has held various leadership positions at Honeywell Intelligrated over the past 23 years and has extensive experience in sales, service, product development and management. He has led the introduction of many initiatives to develop new products, enhance customer experience, and streamline business systems. He has also designed and developed a cloud-based suite of applications to expedite service and support and managed a 40-person strategic sales team with exceptional results.
Initially, Calla will focus on growing White Systems’ storage and retrieval hardware and software businesses, while expanding its reach into integrated systems and capitalizing on the company’s recent successful distribution installations across a variety of sectors, including:
● Aerospace at Airbus, Gulfstream and United Airlines
● Manufacturing at Boeing
● Repair facilities for the United States Air Force and Lockheed Martin
● Hospitals at Providence Hospital
● Apparel at ChefWorks
These White Systems installations are automated systems comprising either stand-alone or combinations of White vertical and horizontal carousels, vertical lift modules (VLMs), StorBot robots and inventory management software.
“I am enthusiastic about the future of White Systems and our newly acquired software divisions. New opportunities continue to open in several key vertical markets, including hospital automation and consolidation, home delivery, in-store pickup, and a focus on efficiency as labor markets tighten,” Calla said. “For over 70 years, the White brand has been synonymous with performance and quality. I am truly excited to be leading the next phase of innovation and growth here, focused on driving customer value.”
Dec 21, 2018 | Blog
(From left to right: Brian Urban, Lisa Minerd, Curt Minerd, Frank Doyle)
There’s a competitive spirit at SencorpWhite. Ask anyone who has worked with us, and they’ll tell you: We like to win. But where does that kind of drive come from? What do we, as a company, do to nurture it?
For me, cultivating a competitive spirit isn’t particularly complicated, but it does involve embracing who we are as people—on the good days, when someone’s basking in the glory of a win, and also on the less-than-good days, when someone’s coping with the reality that things didn’t turn out exactly the way they had hoped.
Jack Welch touches on this point in a blog post where he argues that, above all else, winning requires authenticity. As Welch describes it, in order to succeed:
“The most powerful thing you can do is, well, be real. As in not phony. As in grappling, sweating, laughing and caring. As inauthentic.”
That means winning involves owning up to the fact that, inevitably, there will sometimes be losses. But even so, you realize the risk is worth it. What’s important is knowing that you can learn from the occasional setback and make the best of it.
Here’s a recent example that proves my point.
As I am sure you know, the SencorpWhite brand now includes facilities located in southern California, namely Accu-Seal in San Marcos and Minerva Associates in San Diego. This past October, Frank Doyle, CEO of Connell Limited Partnership, SencorpWhite’s owner, and I were at a regularly scheduled meeting with the Minerva team, and our trip happened to fall at precisely the time that the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers were headed into the World Series.
While we were there, Frank, who is a loyal Red Sox fan, discovered that Lisa and Curt Minerd, principals in Minerva Associates, are avid fans of the Dodgers. Naturally, a spirited discussion ensued and that, in turn, led to a friendly wager. Whichever team won the World Series, the fan of the other team would have to wear the jersey of the winning team at work for a day and donate $500 to the charity of choice of the winner.
Five games later, the Boston Red Sox were victorious. And sure enough, a few weeks ago, when Frank and I returned to Minerva for our 2019 planning meeting, Lisa and Curt made good on their bet, sporting bright red Red Sox t-shirts. In addition, Curt made a $500 donation to Frank’s designated charity, Franciscan Children’s Hospital.
Nov 19, 2018 | Blog
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if you’re like me, you’ve probably grown somewhat accustomed to thinking about it as just one more in a string of over-commercialized events. Don’t get me wrong—I thoroughly enjoy the family time, the football and of course, the turkey, complete with stuffing and New England’s celebrated cranberry sauce. But if I’m being perfectly honest, it’s been a while since I’ve thought about the holiday’s true meaning.
All that changed earlier this month, when my eyes were opened by our outstanding SencorpWhite employees. Let me explain.
First of all, a few weeks ago, we held an all-employee luncheon in honor of Veterans Day, and I had the privilege, on behalf of all of us at SencorpWhite, to personally thank each and every employee who has served, or serves, in any branch of the United States armed forces and to present each one with a jacket, as a small token of our appreciation. Coincidentally, this luncheon was held on November 6, Election Day, which made it even more meaningful. As I told the group gathered that day, veterans have sacrificed to protect our right to vote—and for that, we are truly grateful.
This theme was underscored a few days later, when Noelle Forde, SencorpWhite’s HR manager, came into my office looking puzzled. “This has never happened before,” she said. “I have a request from one of our employees to buy everyone at SencorpWhite lunch.”
As it turns out, Doug Flook, one of our remote Field Service Technicians from Texas, had written to Noelle to say that because he was so thankful for the help and support he receives from SencorpWhite employees, he wanted to sponsor a “thank you lunch.” Oh, and by the way, Doug sent a check with the letter to cover the cost of lunch for everyone!
Now, I am not often at a loss for words, but in this instance, I didn’t know what to say. I asked Corey Calla, our newly appointed President of White, into my office, and the three of us began to discuss how we should handle Doug’s request.
We couldn’t possibly let an employee pay for everyone’s lunch—that just didn’t seem like the kind of precedent we wanted to set. But what other option did we have? I tried letting Doug know that I would personally match the money he sent, and then we could donate the total in Doug’s name to a charity of his choice. But Doug was adamant. “I want to thank everyone for what they do for me,” he said. In fact, here is exactly what Doug put in writing to all SencorpWhite employees:
A Co-Workers Words of Thanks
Greetings Friends and Co-Workers of SencorpWhite, I know each of us performs the duties to which we are all hired to do. That in and of itself creates a conducive atmosphere or environment in which to work in. However, SencorpWhite employees don’t stop there. The effects of such are evidenced in the pride of workmanship, customer satisfaction, and employee relations. The customers in my area are all satisfied with the “product” we provide. This satisfaction stems from the components of the whole. Thank you for the efforts each of you provide that makes my efforts less burdensome and more meaningful. To show appreciation I invite you to a pizza luncheon.
Thank ya’ll very much,
Doug Flook – Field Service TX
How could anyone say no to that?
I mentioned earlier that Corey Calla was in on the conversation about how to handle Doug’s request. During that discussion, he told us that his prior employer has an employee-sponsored fund that periodically provides a meaningful distribution to any employee who anonymously requests assistant in time of need. That sounded like a brilliant idea to me! Is there any better way to say “thanks” to our fellow employees than to start a fund that can help one in time of need?
I told our team that I would take the matching money I offered Doug and “seed” the start of the fund. Corey jumped in and said, “I’ll match you!” Then, Justin Edwards, our new CFO, quickly followed with, “I’ll match you, too!”
I am happy to report that we now have sufficient seed money to start our new fund and that we are finalizing the details so we can formally introduce it during SencorpWhite’s traditional “Week of Thanks.”
Any employee will be able to donate to this new fund, and as Corey explained, what started out as a similar small gesture at his former employer, has grown into a meaningful part of that company’s culture. I have no doubt that the same will happen at SencorpWhite, and to recognize and thank Doug Flook for reminding us about what it truly means to be thankful, we will name our new fund the “Flook Fund.”
Like I said in the beginning, this month has opened my eyes in new ways. Thank you, again, to all our veterans, and to Doug, Corey, Justin, and Noelle… and my best wishes to all of you for a joyous holiday!
Nov 5, 2018 | Blog
Not that long ago, manufacturers were somewhat wary about discussing the topic of automation—and for good reason. Back then, analysts were predicting that automation was poised to displace millions of jobs and threaten the very foundation of society.
That’s not what has happened.
In fact, today in the United States, there are more than seven million jobs going unfilled, with virtually full employment in the labor market. And I just returned from the 2018 Pack Expo International show in Chicago where virtually everyone I spoke with was talking about—you guessed it—automation.
From exhibitors to attendees, the great labor shortage of 2018 was on everybody’s mind, and automation was being hailed as a reliable and cost-effective way to ease the pain. For me, that made it especially gratifying to SencorpWhite’s solutions in the spotlight, since we chose to feature:
- The SencorpWhite CeraTek tray sealer integrated with a Universal brand collaborative robot. Integrating a robot allows SencorpWhite’s tray sealer to run unattended, automatically. Just a few short years ago, companies shunned integrated automation like this because they could not justify the cost versus hiring a low-skill machine operator. “The payback just isn’t there,” they told us. But today, many manufacturers’ machines sit idle because there’s no one to run them—which means now, there’s ample justification to automate.(Of course, there are other compelling reasons, too. Chief among them: Automation works twenty-four hours per day, day-in and day-out, and does it “right” every time!)
- Our CeraPak automated packaging systems group. In addition to exhibiting our CeraTek, Accu-Seal, and Sencorp product lines, we also reintroduced our CeraPak automated packaging systems group. CeraPak automated sealing systems can be found in diverse global markets, ranging from consumer and medical packaging to life science and energy product manufacturing, and our renewed emphasis on custom configured automation is in direct response to increased interest in integrated systems within these verticals.
Our CeraPak systems can automatically form and feed formed blisters or clamshells, load product, and then seal and collate the packages. With integrated OEM-provided equipment, the packaged product can also be carton- and case-packed. Each system is manufactured to order, configured to meet customer requirements, and recognized as robust, flexible, and dependable with high throughput and quick changeover features.
It’s clear that the skilled labor shortage is real, as is the need for automation. Fortunately, SencorpWhite is here to meet the demand, and you can rest assured that our team will find a way to custom-fit a solution that will solve your needs now and scale as you grow.
Oct 5, 2018 | Blog
I just got back from the 2018 SPE Thermoforming Conference held in Fort Worth, Texas, a true renaissance city that’s coming back from its less-than-glorious days when the area we stayed in was known as Hell’s Half Acre. Clearly, young professionals are moving to this area in droves, which, as luck would have it, made the perfect backdrop for one of my favorite sessions from the conference: a seminar titled “Hunting Unicorns, Talent Acquisition in Todays Plastics Industry.”
For those of you who have been following my posts, the fact that I chose this as a conference highlight shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, for years now, I’ve maintained that SencorpWhite’s biggest challenge is finding and retaining skilled employees, a.k.a., “unicorns”—and we’re not alone. As explained in a 2015 report from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, some 3.4 million U.S. manufacturing jobs will be needed over the next decade. However, 60 percent of these positions are likely to go unfilled. That means the U.S. manufacturing sector is in the midst of a shortfall of 2 million workers.
There are many factors at play here. First, the current economic expansion has turned the labor market upside down, creating more jobs than there are candidates to fill. Second, “baby boomers” are starting to retire, producing a significant exodus of skills and knowledge as they do. Third, the job pool is filled with the millennial generation, many of whom seem uninterested in pursuing careers in manufacturing.
As I have written earlier, I believe my generation did a disservice to millennials by telling them that manufacturing jobs were a losing proposition. Our schools and government reinforced that message and promoted college as the only path to success. Millennials listened. They went to college, racked up debt, learned unmarketable skills, and spurned manufacturing. Fast-forward to today, and it’s no wonder that so many high-paying manufacturing jobs are going unfilled.
What will it take to turn this around?
I am happy to report that at the seminar, I learned that more and more companies are recognizing the need to recruit, train, and retain young talent. I thought SencorpWhite was being creative in working with high school students, teachers, and counselors to promote the benefits of a career in manufacturing. I was blown away to see that others are doing the same—but starting in grade school! I also heard that manufacturers are restarting apprentice programs and working with trade schools on skill-enhancing curriculum. In fact, in the past few years, SencorpWhite recruitment of skilled employees is impressive, increasing engineering, assembly, machinists, welders, and service technicians by over 40%. It’s this kind of innovative thinking that will help us close the current talent gap.
But until then, it looks as though manufacturers will have to continue being vigilant, seeking out the elusive millennial unicorns… and eagerly welcoming them to the shop floor.
Sep 13, 2018 | Blog
Do you have a name for people who quit, but then eventually want to come back to, your company? I’ve heard them called “second-timers,” “re-hires,” “re-treads,” and—my personal favorite— “boomerang employees.” Even more important than the moniker you prefer, what is your policy regarding these “comeback kids?” Some companies refuse to rehire, or even talk to, ex-employees. Apparently, they consider the breach of loyalty too grievous to ever move past.
I don’t see it that way at all.
Sure, I may grumble a bit when an employee tells me they are leaving for another job, but I do not discourage anyone who is trying to better themselves. I realize that as a small company, we cannot always provide opportunities that meet an employee’s personal growth objectives or life goals. So, every now and then, an employee may feel they need to work elsewhere. I get it.
The funny thing is, though, after some time passes, it’s not uncommon for us to see those same people reaching out about a job opening we posted. Their motivations for returning vary, ranging from the job they left for “wasn’t as described” to “the work environment just wasn’t the same.” Maybe the grass isn’t always greener on the other side?
Regardless of why an ex-employee may want to return, we pride ourselves on being welcoming—that’s always been fundamental to SencorpWhite’s company culture. Plus, let’s face it: right now, we are experiencing the tightest job market in my lifetime, and it’s difficult to find people with the skills and experience necessary to succeed in a world-class company. Ex-employees can bridge that gap and often, they can do so in ways that “ordinary” hires simply can’t. That’s because re-hires offer a unique combination of these three key elements:
- Consistency. Ex-employees know your business just as well as you know them. There is nothing better than hiring a known entity, someone who has already proven themselves to be a good fit.
- Fresh perspective. Based on their experiences “on the outside,” re-hired employees can bring valuable insights back into your company. After being away, it may be easier for them to recognize where you can improve processes, strategies, etc.
- Gratitude. One of the most notable characteristics of ex-employees who want to return is exactly that…their want! They undoubtedly appreciate your company more, now that they have tried some place different.
So, the next time you learn there’s an ex-employee who wants to come back to your company, be open to the idea. It’s likely you will reap valuable benefits from hiring a boomerang.
Sep 8, 2018 | News
(Photo, left to right: Brian Urban, Lisa Minerd and Frank Doyle at the finalizing of the acquisition of Minerva
Associates by SencorpWhite.)
Acquisition designed to deliver advanced logistics software offerings for manufacturing and distribution
SencorpWhite (Hyannis, Massachusetts) announces the acquisition of Minerva Associates, a strategic merger designed to expand SencorpWhite’s complete warehouse logistics system solutions for the global market.
Since 1947, SencorpWhite’s automated storage and retrieval systems have been a leader in the North American market. With Minerva’s unique software design features and SencorpWhite’s expertise in material handling equipment, this powerful merger provides the supply chain industry with the widest available range of warehouse automation products and support services.
(Photo, left to right: Brian Urban, Lisa Minerd and Frank Doyle at the finalizing of the acquisition of Minerva Associates by SencorpWhite.)
Minerva Associates, based in San Diego, CA, has provided warehouse management, warehouse control, and asset management system software since 1987. Serving a base of regional distributors to Fortune 500 customers, Minerva’s WMS, WCS, and AMS products are field-proven in distribution, manufacturing and 3PL billing & order management.
This merger complements SencorpWhite’s inventory storage and retrieval products and extensive field-service options. It strengthens SencorpWhite’s expanding software resources and allows the SencorpWhite family to offer comprehensive, turn-key hardware and software solutions; solutions that improve accuracy and efficiency, and satisfy unique customer needs with increased configuration choices. This acquisition further strengthens the company’s overall value proposition in the market, in tandem with the 2017 acquisition of Intek warehouse software and the partnership with ICAM for vertical lift modules.
“We are excited to be a part of this strategic merger,” said Lisa Minerd who will remain Minerva’s President. “SencorpWhite shares our dedication to providing customers with the highest level of service, and comprehensive system solutions that improve the customer’s bottom line.”
“Our strategy is to be a great solutions company, and Minerva reinforces our position as a world-class provider of complete solutions for warehouse and storage automation,” said Frank Doyle, CEO of Connell Limited Partnership and chairman of its subsidiary SencorpWhite. “Minerva has a 31-year track record of providing great solutions to some of the world’s most recognizable companies, including large manufacturers and tech companies. This acquisition adds to our recently acquired Intek software bench strength multiple times over, and together we offer customers the strongest and most experienced WMS people in the business,” said Stan McLean, Intek’s VP System Sales & Implementation.
About SencorpWhite
SencorpWhite, a Connell Limited Partnership portfolio company, is a leading provider of unique end-to-end solutions for the packaging and management of high-value inventory. The company’s products and services – which range from innovative thermoformers and other packaging technologies to automated storage and retrieval systems and inventory management software – cover the entire supply chain spectrum, from the point-of-manufacture through distribution and to the point-of-use. For more information, call (508) 771-9400 or visit www. sencorpwhite.com and www.intek.com.
About Minerva Associates
Minerva Associates was founded in 1987 and is the sole owner, designer, developer, and provider of the Advanced Warehouse Logistics software platform, AWL. AWL provides measurable accuracy and efficiency improvements for distribution, manufacturing and 3PL billing & order management, from small regional distributors to Fortune 500 manufacturing enterprises. AWL installations can be found in North America, Western Europe, and the Pacific Rim. Minerva’s product offering and passionate talent are what make them stand out from other WMS software companies. For more information, call (858)-792-8626 or visit http://minerva-associates.com/.
SencorpWhite
400 Kidds Hill Rd | Hyannis, MA 02601 USA | 508.771.9400 |
info@sencorpwhite.com www.sencorpwhite.com – Attention: Brian Urban
Minerva Associates
5910 Pacific Center Blvd. #330 | San Diego, CA 92121
858.792.8626 | info@minerva-associates.com
www.minerva-associates.com – Attention: Lisa Minerd
Aug 27, 2018 | Blog
I’m happy to admit it: I’m a foodie. Not only is my wife an amazing cook, but one of my sons is a classically trained chef—and thanks to him, I have had the pleasure of dining all over the world, including at many Michelin-star restaurants. Usually, when I go out to eat, I simply relax and enjoy the meal. Every now and then, though, I can’t help but relate the experience I’m having to the work I do at SencorpWhite.
That’s what happened last month when I found myself having dinner in a hotel restaurant in Mendrisio, Switzerland. It was a slow Monday night in a relatively out-of-the-way location, so to be perfectly honest, I wasn’t expecting much. But this unassuming restaurant, surrounded by the hills and mountains of the Swiss countryside, surprised me… and left me eager to apply what I learned when I got back to the office.
In a nutshell, my dining experience was amazing. The food was spectacular, and the service was impeccable. In fact, this place was as good, if not better, than some Michelin-star restaurants I’ve been to. What made this particular meal so great? I can sum it up in one word: passion. Clearly, the chef had the training to execute to perfection. Beyond that, he was also inventive, taking the ordinary to extraordinary with every course. In addition, everyone on the staff aimed to please. They truly seemed to care and executed to the best of their ability, even
on a routine Monday night in the middle of August.
What were my takeaways from this dinner?
- Excellence can be found anywhere. You may believe your product or service is the best in the world, but remember, the world is a big place.
- Skills are essential. If you want to be the best, you simply can’t “fake it.” Skills are paramount when producing a world-class product, and you need to know your team is up to the task. Yes, training programs cost time and money, but the investment is worth it.
- Creativity sets you apart. While skills are fundamental, it’s creativity that differentiates you from your competition. Keep innovating—it helps you better meet your customers’ needs, grab more market share and even attract the best talent.
- Passion and teamwork pull it all together. Speaking of talent, you must have a team that cares. If you want to be not only the best but the best of the best, your team must pay attention to every detail. Nothing should be overlooked. The smallest slipup can turn what should be an exceptional experience (or product) into something that’s only average.
- We compete in a global marketplace. Just to underscore my first point, you may believe you are the best, but in some out-of-the-way place, there could very well be a competitor that has the skill, creativity, drive, and passion to embarrass you. Stay agile and keep your
eyes open.
From manufacturing and packaging to food service and hospitality, a commitment to excellence is key. As CEO, my job is to inspire that kind of passion, to the benefit of our customers and our company as a whole.
May 30, 2018 | News
Watch SencorpWhite held a press conference at NPE 2018 discussing the new Ultra 2 thermoforming machine and their partnership with Asano Lab.
