In 1965, Charles McAlpine and Ken McGowan were engineers working for Winkle Machine in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  They had an idea for a new machine that would automate the cast on strap process. Winkle was not interested in the concept so the two started MAC Engineering and Equipment Company, and built the first few ICC machines in Ken McGowan’s garage in Lawrence, Michigan. The machine caught the attention of Prestolite Corporation, who invested in MAC so the funds were available to build 20 to 30 machines.  MAC’s journey to becoming a world renowned equipment manufacturer for the lead acid battery industry had begun when MAC moved into our first plant located on Ferguson Road in Benton Harbor, Michigan.  After a few years, Ken and Charles became the sole owners and employment grew from 2 employees to 30 employees.

 

Business increased in the next 14 years and in 1979, MAC moved to its present location on Meadowbrook Road in Benton Harbor.  Since that time, there have been major expansions to the production plant as well as office space. Located in Michigan, known as the “tool box” region of the United States of America, the company's workforce is highly skilled and efficient; an ideal combination for manufacturing quality equipment. The quality and performance of MAC's plate making equipment and flash drying ovens have made them one of the world's most popular choices, with over 4,500 machines supplied in over 80 countries to date.