By Maureen Callahan
We kind of live in an episode of How It’s Made,” jokes Stacey Bales, President of Bales Metal Surface Solutions, when she describes her family business. The Downers Grove based metal finishing company has been a fixture in the Belmont Avenue industrial corridor since Stacey’s father, Steve Bales, started it in 1978, alongside his brother, Mike.
Bales’ primary service is metal plating of plastic injection molds.
Plastics play a big part in everyday life, from medical supplies to packaging to home appliances. From juice caps to gym shoe soles to car floor mats, the plastic parts are made in metal plated injection molds. To prevent the metal on these molds from wearing or to restore it to its original condition, a protective nickel, chrome, or diamond plating is applied to the surface, which refinishes the mold.
“I remember my dad once brought home a box of pushpins and a map of the United States. For weeks, I pinned every city in every state where Bales had a customer.”
– Stacey Bales, President of Bales Metal Surface Solutions
Secondarily, the company also does industrial plating for metal manufacturing parts to prevent corrosion.
“My dad and uncle weren’t the most industrious students,” said Stacey. “But they always tinkered with things – they took things apart and put them back together to try to figure out how they worked.” And it served them well. Steve and Mike, two of four sons being raised by a single mother, grew up with a strong work ethic. Throughout high school, the brothers worked at a chrome plating shop in Brookfield.
“They figured out they could do better in business for themselves,” said Stacey. “My dad was 22 years old, and my uncle was a couple of years older.” The pair began polishing out of Mike’s garage in the Henry Puffer neighborhood. Soon after, they outgrew the space. The next stop was a short stint in Lombard before returning to Downers Grove. As irony dictated, the rental home they were raised in was demolished in the early ‘80s to build Bales’ current warehouse location.
“So, in less than five years, they went from a garage to their Lombard location to here,” said Stacey. “That’s how quickly two guys who barely finished high school grew this business.”
It’s been a family affair ever since. Stacey and sister, Sara Bales Mortensen, Bales’ Director of Sales & Marketing, have worked here all their lives. The Bales family lived on Maple, just blocks from the warehouse. “We rode our bikes over here during the summer to visit our dad,” Stacey reminisced.
The sisters began working there as young children, first cleaning offices and emptying ashtrays. Eventually, responsibilities grew to more meaningful tasks, which helped them learn the ins and outs of the business. “I remember my dad once brought home a box of pushpins and a map of the United States. For weeks, I pinned every city in every state where Bales had a customer,” Stacey remembered.
Steve passed away suddenly over Thanksgiving weekend in 2009. The following Monday, the bank asked to meet with the family about liquidating the company. “My sister and I looked at each other and said, ‘Who said we’re liquidating?’” said Stacey.
Mike had retired by that time, but much of the team he and Steve had hired were still there. The crew lent support as the sisters stepped up to take Steve’s place. As they found their footing, it became clear how symbiotic the relationship between management and employees really is. “It’s not in our wheelhouse to jump on the line and start plating,” said Stacey, “just as our platers don’t work on the business side. We depend on our crew as much as they depend on us.”
There’s palpable harmony between the two entities. There’s also a lot of camaraderie. The 30 employees are treated like family. “There aren’t big numbers, so nobody gets lost in the shuffle,” said Stacey. “We know everyone’s spouses and kids.”
The Bales crew has a lot of fun together. Last year’s summer outing was a Schaumburg Fliers game. A Halloween pumpkin carving contest and chili cookoff set a festive atmosphere in the fall. The annual cornhole tournament and fantasy football leagues keep things competitive. Everyone gets a paid holiday on their birthday because “who wants to work on their birthday?” Stacey asked. “‘Work, win, play, repeat,’ is kind of our mantra around here.”
Obviously, it works. This year, Bales won the Valley Industrial Association’s Culture of the Year Award for employee satisfaction, retention, and engagement. “This group works hard, so we want to keep them happy,” said Stacey.
Brand new, state-of-the-art nickel plating – the future of Bales Metal Surface Solutions – will be up and running in about a month. To celebrate the coming changes and new equipment, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held. A speech, written by Sara, reiterated the sisters’ appreciation for the team. “You’re all very unique with highly specialized skills,” she read. “You’re quite literally one in a million.”
Environmental standards are taken very seriously. Bales was the first company in town to receive the Downers Grove Green Business Award in 2013 for eco-friendly practices. They’re a zero-discharge facility, so nothing is waste treated or goes to the sanitary district. As much water as possible is evaporated. Any that remains gets hauled off. All internal air, including that which leaves the building, runs through a HEPA filter.
When asked if they had any fear stepping in to take over the company at early ages, Stacey replied, “I’m glad it happened when we were so young, because we didn’t fully realize all that could have gone wrong!”
“We really just wanted to carry on our dad’s vision,” Sara added. “I think Dad would be impressed to see how far the business has come with the addition to the warehouse and new equipment.” With a team like this, there are nothing but positive finishes on the horizon.
For more information, visit BalesUSA.com. ■
