Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Paulsen.
Hi Todd, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Formacoat LLC was founded by Mark Gross almost 25 years ago. The story is very similar to what most folks would define as the American dream: after years in corporate and not really fitting in, Gross set out to do his own thing. And in a friend’s garage, Formacoat was born. Mark has never been about quick, corporate growth; his organic approach to business development has been a successful one. From that friend’s garage to a facility in Savage to their designed from the ground up, state of the art facility in his hometown of Chaska, MN, Gross and Formacoat have always been about the science and the people that make it possible.
Shortly after its inception, Mark realized that in general, companies were approaching finding a coating solution all wrong. There was no one perfect coating solution. And anyone telling you different was either delusional or a liar. Formacoat quickly began partnering with every coating vendor on the market and creating a library of coatings. We currently boast over 90 different coatings from 45 vendors all over the world. From hydrophilic and hydrophobic, anti-microbials and anti-bacterial to heparin and collagen, Formacoat has it all. And not just one of each style. Multiples. Why, might you ask? Simple: chemistry. Coating is all about the interaction between the coating’s chemistry and that of the substrate material. And after almost 25 years applying every time of coating on the market, no one knows more about this business than Formacoat.
Aside from their selection of coatings, we can save their customer in their most precious commodity: TIME. Formacoat can do a coating survey to compare every type of coating appropriate for your needs against one another. Our customers can look at functionality, durability, lubricity, and price point to decide which one works best suits their needs. “We are not here to tell our customers what their best choice is,” states Gross. “We put our customers in the driver’s seat and allow them to choose. We don’t care what coating they choose. As long as it works for them.”
With recent changes in the market, Formacoat has now entered the coating for sale market, with the introducion of the HydroMark coating platform. HydroMark is a thermally cured, hydrophilic coating designed for performance, built for manufacturing and at a cost point set to disrupt the current market norms. Couple that with Formacoat’s application pedigree, and you have the next step in medical device coating and applications.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Formacoat has never done things the easy way. But that is what makes Formacoat what it is. “We have developed and grown organically. We don’t follow your typical, societal define, business models. We saw an opportunity in the market and tried our best to fill that gap,” states Gross.
It was always a struggle to find people that fit in a non-corporate atmosphere. So we did the one thing that nobody else was doing: we started seeking out the weirdos. The folks that didn’t fit in. Brilliant individuals that did not fit into your typical corporate, 9 to 5 structure. It was the best thing we could have done. These people just needed a chance and a place to belong. Once that was settled, they became a creative, problem-solving force that launched Formacoat to the next level.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Formacoat is a medical device contract coating application house. Companies of all sizes come to us because not only do we have the vast selection of coatings to choose from, but we also have the know how to apply our coatings at scale. Through our proprietary processes and custom designed equipment, there isn’t a device in the world we can’t coat! We do that by employing every type of engineer possible. Chemists, Mechanical, Regulatory, Quality… you name it we have it. And our people know how to get it done. Our organic way of doing things allows us to be nimble enough to not get bogged down in meetings and approval processes. We try and keep away from typical corporate structures, allowing our staff the freedom to challenge ideas and themselves without being bound by corporate reporting structures.
One thing I am most proud of happened as we were transitioning to our Chaska facility. When we first opened our doors, it was right at the beginning of COVID. Mark Gross was always a part of the local Chaska community and had plenty of friends who ended up losing their studios due to the pandemic. So we invited them to use the walls of our new headquarters as a gallery. All over the front offices, the break rooms and even the restrooms local artists have hung their art. it’s not uncommon for folks to come through looking to add to their own collection. This goes back to the organic development of the business. Mark has a global awareness and doesn’t like to win unless everyone wins. Community included.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
It’s all about the people that work for Formacoat. The dedicated, hardworking, intelligent weirdos. They are what makes Formacoat work and elevates us above the competition. Because of the organic structure of the company, meetings have no pecking order. This is one person running the meeting, but everyone in the meeting is considered equal and expected to contribute. All ideas and critiques are not only welcome, but considered mandatory. This streamlines the development process and helps to flush out ideas much faster.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.formacoat.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/formacoat-llc/?viewAsMember=true
