About

About MAC Engineering

6 decades of instilling value and quality into everything we build

From garage start-up to a global powerhouse in the lead battery industry

Engineers Charles McAlpine and Ken McGowan had an idea for a new machine to automate the cast-on strap process. The first machine was built in Ken’s garage in 1965, and MAC Engineering & Equipment was born. That machine caught the attention of Prestolite Corporation, which invested in MAC. 30 machines quickly followed. A few years later, Charles and Ken became sole owners, and 28 employees were added. What followed was years of continuous growth.

14 years of success required a move

Continuous growth meant moving into a larger building in the area. Mac changed to its present location in the center of America’s toolbox, Benton Harbor, MI, an area renowned for a large contingent of highly skilled workers who understand manufacturing.

Beyond only pasters

Considered the leading producer of highly engineered pasters, MAC creates comprehensive lines of machines consistent across the entire battery manufacturing process: flash dry ovens, stackers, curing chambers, preparation & handling machines, cast-on strap, assembly units, and large industrial machinery. In addition, robotics and automation now add a new dimension to the product line.

Today, with 4,900 machines deployed worldwide, MAC Engineering & Equipment’s focus remains on developing solutions for our customers that add value, provide high-level ROI, and build their brand’s reputation.

Meet the team

From the executive offices to the factory floor, it’s experience that defines our team. Generations of leadership coupled with the most qualified engineers and craftspeople in the lead-battery industry provide us with a level of expertise that few, if any, equipment engineering firms can match.