State-of-the-art medical devices such as implants are fast becoming the norm in orthopedic medicine. Now more of these precision devices and tools are being manufactured right in the U.P.
Mount Manufacturing, which makes medical devices and instruments, recently opened a 10,000-foot manufacturing facility in Marquette. And they’re doing so well that they’re already planning a major expansion.
Founded downstate in 2015, the company moved to Marquette in 2022.
“We looked at potential sites all over the Midwest,” says Eric Lintula, founder and CEO. “We chose Marquette because of the culture of the area and its history. There has been a lot of manufacturing in this area, which has bred a culture of working hard and knowing and understanding manufacturing processes.
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Eric Lintula"So, there's a population that has the willingness and the capability to do the work. Add to that Northern Michigan University (NMU) with their training programs to educate people on how to work in an advanced manufacturing environment. We’re very lucky to be in an area as good as Marquette.”
Lintula was born and raised in the Marquette area and studied engineering at NMU. He found his way into medical device manufacturing and loves it.
“What better place to exercise engineering and development in science than in an area where you can help people,” he says. “I can't imagine a more gratifying type of work that I could possibly do.”
The company especially values the proximity of NMU, which offers programs in medical device technology and computer numerical control (CNC) machining—a manufacturing technique that uses computer-controlled machines to cut, shape and form parts.
The natural beauty of the area, with four distinct seasons, was also a factor in the company’s decision to build its plant in Marquette. “Not only is there a well-trained workforce, but the environment is also a draw for nature lovers everywhere, and it keeps the workforce there,” says Lintula. “An unparalleled quality of life makes people want to stay in this region for the long term.”
What Mount Manufacturing does
The Mount Manufacturing team consists of 20 technicians and engineers with a long history in medical device production. They have specialties in CNC programming, CNC tool maintenance, repair and precision alignment. In the medical industry. CNC machining is used to create a variety of devices and components, including surgical instruments such as scalpels, forceps, and retractors; implants such as artificial heart valves, artificial joints, pacemakers; hearing aids, diagnostic equipment, imaging and monitoring devices, and medical packaging.
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Mount ManufacturingThe company is a contract manufacturer, meaning that Mount Manufacturing develops and produces devices on contract to a wide range of customers.
The CEO describes the Mount Manufacturing facility as an open space that enables a productive configuration of CNC machines to optimize the staff’s time.
CNC machining is important in the medical device industry because it can produce parts with greater accuracy, durability and precision than other machine processes, Lintula explains. It also enables manufacturers to create personalized medical parts and devices tailored to a patient's unique anatomy.
CNC machining works by using a coded program to automatically run a machine, such as a mill, router or lathe. The machine follows the program with no manual input, creating complex parts from raw material through subtractive machining technology. Subtractive machining is a manufacturing process that involves removing parts of a solid block of material to create a desired shape and size.
The company uses Swiss turning, also known as Swiss machining, a CNC machining process that uses a special turning machine to create small, intricate parts with high precision. They also use CNC to create complex and precise components for medical equipment such as implants, surgical instruments and prosthetics implants.
Mount Manufacturing also does milling, grinding, secondary finishing, bead blasting, tumbling, buffing, polishing, laser marking, cleaning and passification. Bead blasting is a surface finishing process that uses high-pressure compressed air to propel tiny glass or steel beads at a surface to create a desired texture or finish. Laser marking identifies parts and lot numbers and applies a unique device identifier that helps track and trace medical devices from manufacturing to patient use
The company is committed to minimizing its environmental impact. “With orthopedic manufacturing, everything has to be incredibly clean, since our devices go into a patient’s body,” Lintula explains. “Even our chemicals don’t pollute, like you often see with other manufacturers. We don’t pollute with smoke or noise, and we don’t pollute the water.”
Michigan has more than 500 medical device manufacturers, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. It ranks in the top 10 in numbers of medical device technology businesses nationwide. But there are few in the U.P.
There are other medical device manufacturers in Marquette, but not many. The other companies are Resolve Surgical Technologies and Able Medical Devices.
Marquette embraces technology
Marquette has been playing an intentional role in supporting a wave of technology firms that are moving to the U.P., says the Innovate Marquette Smartzone, which supports technology-based innovation, new business ventures, new job creation and existing business expansion.
“We are now seeing some of the best technology-based companies in the Midwest swarming into our region,” says Innovate Marquette Smartzone marketing coordinator Vaughn Rodriguez. Mount Manufacturing is one of them.
NMU’s role
Mount Manufacturing especially values the proximity of NMU, which offers programs in mechanical engineering and CNC machining. Lintula still works closely with his alma mater. Mount Manufacturing is collaborating with NMU’s Engineering Technology Department to develop a pilot program in medical device manufacturing.
“We want to help prepare more students to enter the skilled medical device workforce,” says Lintula. “We've been collaborating with the university on the curriculum, and we're working hard to make sure that students are well-trained to get into the manufacturing environment with companies like Mount Manufacturing,” he explains.
The pilot medical device manufacturing program at NMU plans to place six work scholars per semester at the three medical device manufacturers in Marquette. There they will be trained on CNC equipment hands-on and get university credits as well as pay for their work.
NMU professor Cale Polkinghorne and Mount Manufacturing are working together to develop the curriculum for the pilot program. Like the university-based medical device program already in place, it will lead to a CNC certificate. The certificate programs are one year long.
The pilot program at NMU will place work scholars at the three medical device manufacturers in Marquette. There they will get hands-on training on CNC equipment, while getting university credits as well as pay for their work.
“CNC machines are very high tech,” says Polkinghorne. “You can't just go in and use them without training.”
NMU’s medical device programs are filling what Polkinghorne calls “an enormous skills gap” in Marquette’s medical device manufacturing industry. “There are many more openings than we have graduates to fill them,” he says. “Training programs like these are necessary to support manufacturing growth in Marquette County.”
Polkinghorne is a professor in NMU’s Department of Engineering Technology. His specialties are CNC, manufacturing, machining and industrial technology education.
Bolstering the economy
The medical device manufacturer is helping boost Marquette’s economy.
“Mount Manufacturing plays a vital role in our local economy by creating high-quality jobs and driving technological innovation, contributing to a stronger and more prosperous community,” says Mary Myers, director of business development at the Lake Superior Community Partnership, which serves as the Chamber of Commerce for the Marquette area.
Lintula agrees. “We think we are having a major impact on the Marquette economy,” he says.
Jennifer Donovan is a reporter with more than 40 years of experience on daily newspapers, magazines and university writing and editing. She is retired as director of news and media relations at Michigan Technological University and lives in Houghton.