By Kelly Brough
Staff Writer
Pepperell Free Press
My Nashoba Chronicle

PEPPERELL, MA – Within the next year, Michael Casper intends to increase employment numbers by 15 to 20 percent. As the president and CEO of one of the most advanced thin film circuit and interconnect manufacturers, he and his colleagues are pipelining for more growth within the company, and they suggest that by the year 2017 it is conceivable to nearly double in size.

“We see the future continuing to grow,” said Casper. “We’re very lucky that our products become more desirable all the time.”

UltraSource, Inc. is a privately held manufacturing company off of Route 111 in Hollis, N.H. It is the industry leader in the customer design and manufacture of thin film solutions for micro-electronic, optical, and industrial applications.

Since its establishment in 1991, the U.S. company has successfully grown to become a reliable producer of ceramic microchips, which are used in the production of high-tech applications such as Internet, military communications, and fiber optic transmission. A few of the markets they serve include defense and homeland security, telecommunications, and medical imaging.

In a world that is constantly engaged in tight competition, management works vigorously to maintain its position at the top. For nearly 20 years now, UltraSource has been fostering the developments of groundbreaking designs, thus offering customers the very best value available to them. Together, product managers, applications engineers and project management dedicate their work to providing favorable service over its competitors.

“We’re getting tremendous success from a new product that we put into place in 2010 called our UltraFast program,” said Casper. “It has brought us sales opportunities perhaps beyond what we even thought it was going to be before we originally pioneered it.”

Product delivery for most manufacturers can take up to as long as six weeks. UltraFast is a rapid prototyping program designed to guarantee a short delivery period of 4 to 7 days. Generally for the more high-tech industries, it is important that they test out their chip’s design as soon as possible. This program offers company clientele optimal product results and at much faster speed.

Director of Business Support Services Doug Cobb said, “There are all different kinds of design circuits. Our customers design them and send them in to us. Then we do the manufacturing and send the product out.”

The company uses a streamlined manufacturing approach so that they are able to meet delivery demands. By streamlining, they are improving the efficiency through organization and simplification. Different departments are responsible for different stages of the manufacturing process.

Casper feels confident that they have developed a fantastic product, hence the reason for more and more business. It is the people, however, who work to make this happen. And in order to grow, management and employees must be able to adapt and keep pace with what the customer is looking for.

“You know, with our size of 100 people, we’re too big to be small, but we’re still too small to be big,” he said. “We believe that we have a great company, we have great promise to the future and we really want to get the attention of high-performing employees and managers who can help take us to the next level.”

The sales department has been keeping busy. Currently, UltraSource is pursuing roughly 20 new customers. Each new client brings to the table new manufacturing and engineering challenges. The company is seeking intelligent individuals who are capable of understanding and meeting these new challenges set before them. They are offering qualified applicants the opportunity to train and work for a company that will ultimately provide advancement in their career paths.”

In the year and a half that I’ve been here, it’s been a phenomenal opportunity for me to expand my potential and find additional ways to contribute to the organization. It’s a win-win,” said Cobb.

In an effort to attract qualified applicants, they will unveil and advertisement campaign for employment recruitment at the Manchester Airport on Jan. 3. UltraSource is hiring in many, if not all, of its 20 departments including sales, accounting, production, engineering and manufacturing.

Traci Weaver works in the talent management department and has been with the company for almost three years. She said, “There’s an opportunity for really bright people to make a difference, to impact the day to day and to really help it grow.”

It’s important to mention that they really try to focus on the quality of life regarding the work environment. Dawn Hallett has only been working with UltraSource for a few weeks now, but she has already become comfortable with the order of business as well as the people she works with. She described the work atmosphere as very positive, cooperative and collaborative. Fellow employees seem to agree with Hallett.

“I think people are looking for stability,” said Weaver. “We’ve been around a long time, we’ve had ups and downs, but we’re standing and we’re stronger than ever.”

This is more than most industries across the board can say.In just three months, U.S. unemployment rate rose from 9.6 percent to 9.8 percent, in November. Job opportunities are limited and the rate of job growth is frustrating. Many believe that the American people are looking for signs of optimism.

UltraSource has invested a lot of time and money in its manufacturing future. The people who make up the workforce are truly optimistic in the direction the company is headed. In the midst of a weakened economy, more than ever, it is critical to work with a product that the world still needs and will continue to need.

If you believe you are qualified, you may send your resume to tm@ultrasource.com.