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Q&A with Maria Pinto, owner of Wallingford-based Industrial Strength LLC.
Q: Can you describe your business and the services and/or products you sell?
We specialize in hypodermic needle manufacturing for body piercing, medical and veterinarian needles worldwide.
Q: How did you get into this business? What motivated you?
I have been an innovator in the needle-manufacturing business for over 25 years. I was a body-modification enthusiast and in 1995 saw the need for a specialized needle specifically designed for body piercing. A team of engineers and I developed what is known worldwide as the Sharp ASS Needle.
Q: How many employees do you have?
We have seven full-time employees.
Q: Looking into the future five years — where do you see your business?
Each year we work on new products to help our clients perform their procedures with ease. We are launching several new tools in 2021. We have another part of our business comprised of lotions, salves and soaps used in our body piercing and tattoo companies, and are working on expanding into the beauty and pet industries as well.
Q: What has been your biggest accomplishment? Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Receiving the U.S. Small Business Administration Manufacturer of the Year Award in 2020. We pushed hard to surpass our goals as a team and stay focused during a very difficult time.
Q: What strengths have you discovered about yourself and your employees during this past year?
As a team that communicates, we can do anything. We all have each other’s back, not just in work but in all aspects of life.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about the culture of your business?
Since its inception in 1996, Industrial Strength has been a leader in product research and development. I’ve worked with numerous body piercers to develop new products as well as modify existing products with the professional body-modification artist in mind. My dedicated, continuous design work put Industrial Strength in the forefront of the body-piercing industry.
