Jim Schoonover sees growth, opportunity in future markets
IMLAY CITY — Vintech Industry co-owners, Jim Schoonover and Frank Mu, recently purchased the former Willenborg Associates Building at 620 Industrial Parkway in the Imlay City Industrial Park.
Schoonover said the latest acquisition coincides with the company’s continued growth and need for additional space.
He said the new building will serve as a “TED” facility to accommodate existing and future technology, engineering and product development.
Vintech owner Jim Schoonever and H.R. Director Courtney Schoonover, pictured, display some of the products the company began making in response to COVID-19.
Specifically, the 20,000-square-foot building will provide additional space for the company’s extrusion, injection molding and new product processes.
“This addition will allow our continued research and development group to develop next-generation parts for various new products — including electric vehicles,” Schoonover said.
Once fully operational, he expects the new building to provide employment for about 30-50 employees.
Schoonover founded Vintech in 2004 in Imlay City. He now owns plants in Almont, Georgia, Portugal, Mexico and China.
He describes Vintech as a forward-looking company whose eyes are focused keenly on both present and future opportunities.
“We are always looking at reinvention and how and what we can do to improve,” Schoonover said. “And we continue to focus on developing and utilizing newest technology that is available.”
Schoonover’s business philosophy is to make the most of every situation; even those that at first may seem insurmountable.
In April of 2020, Schoonover was among the first local industrialists to begin making face shields and face mask components to help inhibit the spread of the coronavirus.
At that time, the company was a subject of a CNN news report that spotlighted U.S. businesses who were at the forefront of the COVID battle.
Tom Wearing started at the Tri-City Times in 1989, covering the Village of Capac as a beat reporter. He later served stints as assistant editor and editor. Today, he covers Imlay City and Almont as a staff writer. He enjoys music and plays drums and sings with various musical groups in the Detroit Metropolitan area.
