MDE Tapes – solutions for engineering issues (adhesive tape)

As acknowledgement of the expertise gained, our company is authorised 3M converter and gained the title of 3M Preferred Converter. MDE CONVERTING, a company specialising in the conversion of adhesive tape reels, was set up in 2008, by detachment from the MDE Group, a company in charge of distributing 3M products in Romania since 2002. The reason for such detachment was the desire to develop the conversion activity, independently from the distribution activity.

Ever since then, the business achieved constant growth, as it passed through several stages. 2012 was the year when the first major agreement was signed with one of Ikea’s main suppliers in Maramureș, which made it possible to commence investments.

The company’s focus was on several new pieces of plant, however, the most important aspect, which was paramount at that time, was the recruitment of new fellow workers. A management team, consisting of professionals with different backgrounds, was formed, and they managed to form skilled teams, with full-time employees.

MDE CONVERTING was set up in 2008 and saw constant growth, as time went by.

“Another important moment was a greenfield project, in 2019, when we built a new production hall, on an area of more than 1,500 sqm, equipped with the most modern plant for processing adhesive tapes, different types of foam, and protective films”, stated Mr. Mircea Ghiță, General Manager of MDE CONVERTING.

Solutions to engineering issues

In 2020, the company achieved the IATF 16949 certification, a quality standard demanded by the car industry, an acknowledgement of the expertise built during the previous years and of the ability to satisfy customers with the strictest requirements.

In 2020, the company achieved the IATF 16949 certification, a quality standard demanded by the car industry, an acknowledgement of the expertise built during the previous years and of the ability to satisfy customers with the strictest requirements.

The typical profile of MDE CONVERTING’s customer is the company specialising in industrial production. Whether it is about customers in the car industry – suppliers of the manufacturers Dacia, Ford, in Romania or abroad, or Renault, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Land Rover, Scania, some of the company’s end customers, in the household appliance industry – there are very few coffee machines manufactured in Romania and not containing certain parts produced by MDE CONVERTING, in the furniture industry (where deliveries are made for adhesive felts for protection of different parts, protective films of sensitive leathers), in the electronics or flexopraphic printing industries, MDE CONVERTING always has solutions for any issues that clients’ engineers may be dealing with.

MDE CONVERTING always has solutions for any issues that clients’ engineers may be dealing with

MDE CONVERTING, 3M Preferred Converter

It is easy to imagine that it is no easy feat, for any company, to become a 3M authorised converter, while it is even more difficult to gain the title of 3M Preferred Converter; however, MDE CONVERTING acquired this title ever since 2019

3M is a global corporation headquartered in the United States, with more than 30 billion dollars in annual income. Being their partner requires constant investment in a modern production capacity, in technical capabilities and in human resources. MDE CONVERTING has reached top 5 of 3M’s regional converters in South-East Europe and in North Africa, in terms of turnover, and the company’s aim, at this point, is to reach top 3 by the end of 2025.

“The in-house R&D team develop, in cooperation with the experts of our clients, solutions to the most complex challenges, upon having the capability to produce the most diverse shapes, depending on the technical specifications required. The plant owned by us cuts raw material at extremely low tolerances, meaning that there is almost no project that we would not be able to successfully complete”, the General Manager has said.

In turn, MDE CONVERTING boasts several strategic partnerships with other first-level suppliers, such as TESA, Pregis, Nitto, Lohmann and Rogers. The reasons why these suppliers choose to work with MDE CONVERTING are quite simple: on-time payments, the possibility of a growth of turnover with the help of the sales and marketing team, new opportunities for cooperation.

Moreover, the company is appreciated for its competitiveness (thanks to its direct relations with raw material producers), the constant quality certified by external auditors, the variety of material in stock, the most appropriate solutions offered, and flexibility (as it is still a small organisation, with a rather simple hierarchical structure).

MDE CONVERTING boasts several strategic partnerships with other first-level suppliers, such as TESA, Pregis, Nitto, Lohmann and Rogers

Challenges and Opportunities of 2022

From the perspective of MDE CONVERTING representatives, one of the biggest current challenges is the one represented by increasing energy costs. However, the company has managed to already find a solution to this issue, by investing in a 100kW photovoltaic plant, at the end of 2021, a plant sufficient to cover current and future consumption needs.

MDE CONVERTING also faces logistics issues caused by the pandemic, having to deal with delayed goods, a chip shortage in the car industry, and increasingly high transport costs. Again, the input provided by team members is fundamental, in this case, as they made good use of their purchasing and production planning skills, making the right decisions in placing orders on time and in providing the necessary raw material.

At the end of 2021, MDE CONVERTING invested in a 100kW photovoltaic plant, sufficient to cover current and future consumption needs.

“A true quality of this group of friends managing the MDE CONVERTING business is that it knows how to always adapt. When the pandemic closed down the majority of our customers, we manufactured visors and recovered all our losses. I am certain we are ready to face any challenge coming our way. There are plenty of concerns on a global scale, in conjunction with an inflation unparalleled in recent history. These crises present themselves with opportunities, if we are capable of remaining calm”, is the opinion of Mr. Mircea Ghiță.

Care towards the team and the environment

Currently, MDE CONVERTING relies on a team consisting of more than 60 fellow workers. The team is quite young (the age average is below 30). MDE CONVERTING is part of the top employers in the region, which is mainly due to fair and transparent wages, excellent working conditions (new, modern, automated plant, with minimum manual intervention), a friendly approach between colleagues and great career opportunities. There are people, within the company, who started out working as plant workers, and today, they are decision-makers in their sales, quality or R&D teams.

“Even throughout the pandemic, we have managed to keep our entire staff, we have paid wages on time (even if receipts took a hit) and we have subcontracted other companies in the area to help us with producing visors. That was a difficult time for all of us, but we have tried to help our colleagues out”, as Mr. Ghiță recounts.

MDE CONVERTING puts in great efforts to reduce the environmental impact

As to our concern for the environment, the company has invested in green energy, a significant financial effort meant to reduce environmental impact.

In addition, the company domestically recycles increasing quantities of material used in production, transport and deliveries are being constantly improved, hybrid vehicles are being purchased for the sales department, and these are just a few of the constant efforts put in by MDE CONVERTING to reduce its environmental footprint.

MDE CONVERTING, a company with a stable financial position

MDE CONVERTING is self-supporting most of its expenses, save for investment loans, where is benefits from the support of partner banks and leasing companies. In time, the company has even managed to access European funds which contributed to a swifter development; at this time, a project is pending implementation.

From 2008 onward, the company’s turnover has constantly increased, no exceptions. “In 2022, we have forecasted a 15% increase in sales, compared to the previous year, however we are somewhat reserved about the regional geopolitical instability factors, with a potential adverse impact on our ambitions. Our strategy includes international expansion, new investment in storage and processing capacities, strengthening existing partnerships and the start of new projects with new customers, both domestically and abroad. Shareholders are open to continuing to invest, as they strongly believe in the huge potential of your business”, concluded Mr. Mircea Ghiță, General Manager of MDE CONVERTING.