Doug Waller is the large pin operator at Groov-Pin’s Newnan, Georgia facility. Doug worked on the small automatic pin machines when he first started at Groov-Pin about 25 years ago and after working for another company, he returned to Groov-Pin to run the large pin machines.
Every day, Doug sets up the machines and runs them, working on customer orders that need to get out the door. “The most challenging part of my job is when something breaks and you have to make replacements, that’s the hardest,” he said.
It’s a fast-paced job that requires a lot of attention. While Doug has two machines running, he will be setting another up. With large pins, he sets up about every 15 minutes. “It’s hard work,” he said. “We run them up to 1/2″ so you have to stay on top of it all the time. These large pins can be difficult, so you really have to keep up with them.”
He focuses on making pins to the spec and keeping customers’ orders the way they want them. “Our goal is to never have any returns, we try to do everything right,” he said.
Like many other Groov-Pin employees, Doug works well with his peers. “There are a lot of good people here,” he said. “Everyone is down to earth. It makes it easier when you enjoy being around the people you’re working with.”
Standard Grooved Pins and Threaded Inserts are manufactured in the Georgia facility and occasionally, more challenges are thrown Doug’s way when Groov-Pin has an order that requires something different. “We come up with multiple attachments for the machines to try to do something new,” he said. “We want to prove that we can manufacture what the customer wants. Sometimes, it’s something you wouldn’t think we could do, but we find a way.”