Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity toured Forest Scientific Corp. in Tionesta on Friday as part of her #MadeInPAMondays initiative.
Few companies fill the bill better, said Forest Scientific president John Martincic as he noted that most of the parts the company uses to make more than 100 machines ranging from lathes, milling machines, plasma cutters and routers are made in the U.S.
“I’m impressed to see the incredible work being done by Forest Scientific Corporation,” Garrity said. “The machinery the staff is producing is world class, and it is clear how much passion John Martincic and his team have for the work that they do.”
The supply line problem forced Martincic to lay in additional inventory just to get orders. He said some of their suppliers could not fill their order until the size of the order was increased.
“We also service what we sell,” said Martincic. “Some of our competitors want the customer to send the unit back to the manufacturer. We don’t.”
Martincic said Forest Scientific can also design a product to fit a customer’s need. He related how one customer had a limited space so the company designed a unit to fit.
That combination of service and flexibility has paid off. Forest Scientific sold about 200 units last year and is on track to sell 300 this year.
Martincic has been involved with the design, repair and manufacturing of computer numerical control machines for more than 30 years.
His work in the CNC space has supported businesses of all sizes, and his machines are used for a multitude of applications ranging from sign making to aerospace.
The biggest market for Forest Scientific, which opened its doors in 1989, is schools.
“We manufacture machines that are used to make nearly anything and that are used in schools worldwide to teach these technologies,” he added. “If you can dream up a product, our CNC tools can be used to fabricate nearly anything in woods, plastics, metals and many other materials.”
Martincic earned the Small Business Persons of the Year award from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“I was shocked to receive the award,” he said. “It is a reflection on the company.”
Forest Scientific employs 15 people in the Tionesta factory but about 100 around the world.
“It’s fun. I love it,” said Martincic. “I do it non-stop.”
State Sen. Scott Hutchinson and state Rep. Donna Rapp accompanied Garrity on the tour.
“Forest Scientific is a tremendous employer in our region and I applaud the phenomenal and innovative products they provide for tech ed students and teachers in Pennsylvania and beyond,” Hutchinson said.
“I am happy to join Treasurer Garrity on her tour of Forest Scientific Corp. to highlight the exciting work they are doing in the area of computerized tools and STEM education,” Rapp added.
Made in PA Mondays is a social media campaign that highlights the work manufacturers and makers are doing in Pennsylvania. It is focused on featuring companies and industries in all 67 counties in the state, and so far 63 counties have been in the spotlight.
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