United Gear & Machine is celebrating 60 years of producing precision ground and cut gears for its aerospace and commercial customers.
The Suffield company, started by Victor J. Malec, works with many aerospace and defense companies across the state including Boeing, Sikorsky, Kaman, Pratt & Whitney, and Bell Helicopter.
One thing has always remained at the core of everything United Gear does: family.
Malec’s son William Malec took over as president and owner of the company in 1985 and has been running it ever since. His sister, Jayna Malec-Jutras, has worked as senior office manager and bookkeeper for the past 25 years.
In March, William’s oldest son, Kurt Malec, relocated to Connecticut taking the role of quality manager and William’s younger son, Stuart Malec, who just completed his business degree at the University of Rhode Island, has worked at United Gear during his school breaks and in the summer.
William fully anticipates Stuart coming home to work for the company full-time at some point.
The strong family tradition enjoyed by the company originally called Windsor Locks Machine means a lot to William.
“I know my father would be proud of the United Gear today,” he said. “We’ve come a long way from the small barn in the ’50s, and to have both my sons working with me and my sister is a rewarding experience that makes me happy.”
The company has been part of William’s entire life, and over the years, he has marveled on the impact its gears have had on the mechanical world.
“It’s something I grew up with, but more than that, it is interesting,” he said. “When I take a vacation and sit on a plane, I wonder if maybe one of the pieces United Gear did is somewhere in the plane. I have a mechanical mind, and my job nurtures it.”
In the past year, United Gear has implemented an entirely new shop enterprise resource planning system. William said it has not only revolutionized the way the company is able to track work, purchase orders, and supplies, but one that enables him to work remotely if necessary and consolidate all of the processes and paperwork involved in a job into one place.
“This has been a team effort and Robin (Sabine), our office manager, and my son Kurt have worked incredibly hard to get this system running,” William said. “This system is directly related to our other initiative which is pursuing our AS9100 quality certification.”
AS9100 certification is a standardized quality management system for the aerospace industry.
“The new quality management system has been a work in progress for some time and I am happy – actually relieved – that the legwork is all done, and we are now operating at an even more efficient level,” William said.
Perhaps the most exciting experience William says has been the updating of United Gear’s older machines to state-of-the-art gear shapers.
“I know my father would have been very proud to see how we’ve incorporated the latest technology into our workplace without letting go of the core of United Gear: making the highest quality gears,” William said.
Rodney Deford, a production manager who has been with the company for almost 30 years, said the family-centric atmosphere the Malecs have created at United Gear over the years permeates into each and every employee, and the work they do.
“I’ve worked here since high school and have grown with the company as has my own family,” Deford said. “We are not just a number. No one person makes the company run; it takes all of us. We work as a family no matter the job that needs to get done.”
William said the company takes great pride in treating its employees fairly and with respect.
“We all have to wear many hats and are adaptable,” William said. “Everyone has to be a team player and realize that while we all have specific roles and tasks, we need to be able to jump in and help out where needed. We want people to realize every job – from sweeping and cleaning to creating precision pieces — is important, and that no job is beneath them. All of our employees fit that description, and it’s what we look for in new team members.”
Family Businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees
- First Place: United Gear & Machine
- Second Place: Hartford Prints!
- Third Place: D’Addario’s Auto Service
Family Businesses with between 25-75 full-time employees
- First Place: The Associated Construction Co.
- Second Place: Advanced Performance Glass
- Third Place: Precision Computer Services
Family Businesses with between 76-169 full-time employees
- First Place: Windsor Marketing
- Second Place: Carla’s Pasta
- Third Place: Connecticut Lighting Centers
Family Businesses with 170 or more full-time employees:
- First Place: J.E. Shepard Companies
- Second Place: Fairfield Processing Corp.
- Third Place: EBP Supply Solutions
