The global management team are the current custodians of an organization that has developed and adapted to changes in the markets it serves and directions of the various parties who have owned the business over the years.
Wayne Morey brought extensive industry experience to ADS when he joined the company in 2017 as General Manager of the US location. He began his career as an Engineer at Ligon Brothers in 1982 before moving on to MascoTech where he served as a General Manager from 1987 to 1995. He then joined Burkland Inc. as a Vice President, a role he held until 2017. During his time at Burkland, he also served as a Plant Manager at Burkland Textron and Burkland Acument Global Technologies.In 2020 ADS promoted Wayne to manage all our North American operations and again in January 2024 when he became CEO of the full ADS Group.Throughout his career, Wayne has gained valuable experience in management, plant operations, leadership, and engineering.He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) from Lawrence Technological University.
Marshall Paterson joined ADS from the electronics industry in 1985 and spent his first 15 years with the company in a variety of technical roles in ADS’ then European location. He was responsible for developing the company’s position in the telecommunications and other non-automotive markets.In 2001, he transferred to the Michigan location to bring InMold technology to the USA. Since then he has been Sales Engineering Manager, Development Manager, and most recently, Vice President of New Product Development and Marketing.Mr. Paterson holds First Class Honors in Electronics from Napier University of Edinburgh.
Kris Lusher started her accounting career in the late 1990s after graduating while simultaneously holding down a position as Unit Clerk during her studies. She continued her education at the University of Michigan where she earned her MBA in 2002. Since then, she has held a number of financial leadership positions in a variety of manufacturing industries.Kris has always enjoyed connecting with people and utilizing her strong communication skills to interface with business owners, executives, and key stakeholders to uncover opportunities and make prudent recommendations. She regards her key strength as her ability to lead her team by coaching, training, mentoring, constant support, and providing developmental opportunities.After joining ADS as Group Controller and building a successful cashflow and operational budget she was elevated to CFO.In addition to her 25+ year career, Kris raised two daughters with her then husband. She currently lives in Clio, MI.
US General Manager Josh Denniston joined ADS from Delta College in 2004 as a Printing Press Operator and was quickly assigned to the Development Department where he specialized in prototyping and new product development. Josh was subsequently promoted to Applications Engineer where he developed his commercial skills in program quoting and customer relations. Along with his day to day duties, Josh found the time to study Advanced Plastics Manufacturing at nearby SVSU. In assuming the role of General Manager some 22 years after he joined the company, Josh provides a fine example of successful career development within ADS.
Thomas Chen joined ADS Shanghai in 2011 in a program management role. He was quickly promoted to the position of Operations Manager to direct all of our production processes in the China location. In late 2017 he was elevated to the position of General Manager to assume full responsibility for our Asian operations.Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Kunming University of Science and Technology (KUST), and has an MBA from East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) which he earned in 2011.
Alfredo Valdivieso joined ADS in 2017 and was initially deployed in our then European manufacturing location. The following year he transferred to the Michigan US site before returning to his native Mexico when he was appointed to the position of Plant Manager in the company’s Chihuahua location.Following a 15 year spell in the Mexican military, Alfredo has developed over 20 years automotive industry experience in a variety of roles including Production Supervision, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, Quality Management, and Operations Management.
ADS adapts and evolves to meet new challenges. By leveraging the unique capabilities of each of our manufacturing locations, we can effectively address these challenges.
Capabilities
ADS US is considered home for our executive, finance, and network team members.
4705 Industrial Drive
Millington, MI 48746, USA
+1-989-871-4550
Capabilities
No.1111 Taishun Rd
Anting Autotown, Jiading District
Shanghai, PRC 201184
+86-21-59501500
Capabilities
Alejandro Dumas 11321
Chihuahua, Chih. C.P. 31114, Mexico
+52-614-158-8808
1860 → 1902 · Origins
For a company with such a modern hi-tech product line, the ADS group has a surprisingly long and storied history. Founded by entrepreneurs, the company can trace its roots all the way back to 1902 in the USA, while its European legacy extends even further back to the founding of a small family business in 1860. The common themes that have run through the past, and continue today, are decorative graphics and innovation.
Early 1900s · First in North America
In the earliest days, the business employed artisans who would painstakingly produce ‘tickets’ used to describe products in retail stores. In the early 1900’s, the company was the first in North America to introduce the iron-on dry transfer process. These products were originally used in the knitting and weaving industries and eventually extended their reach to decorate tee shirts, sportswear, tennis balls, and even rub-on tattoos.
WWII & the 1950s · Maps & Melamine
The innovative people of ADS satisfied a request by the US War and Navy Department shortly before WWII to develop a process for printing multi-colored cloth survival maps which would be impervious to both fresh and salt water. These maps, printed on a new material called nylon, became a staple for American and British airmen. In the 1950’s, the company developed a new technology for the manufacture of printed transfers for the decoration of melamine dinnerware, which was widely used by the Lenox Corporation.
1970s → 1990s · The Modern Foundation
The 1970’s through the 1990’s brought about some of the most significant changes in the company’s technologies, much of which defines how the business operates today. The introduction of close tolerance screen printing, flexible printed circuitry, membrane switches, high pressure thermoforming and injection molding provides for fully integrated manufacturing facilities. Today, ADS is widely regarded as a world leader in the market for backlit instrument cluster appliqués in modern vehicles, as well as in products using the film insert molding variant of In Mold Decoration.
Today · The Next Challenge
After more than a century and a half of accomplishment in innovative product marking, identification and decoration, ADS is working on the next challenge. ADS has developed the “next generation” touch panel, which will incorporate printed circuitry and insert molded connectors into thermoformed, two-shot molded parts.
The Next 160 Years
Owned by highly experienced business leaders and entrepreneurs who are building on the foundations of their predecessors, today ADS is recognized as a world-class manufacturer of decorative graphics for customer driven markets around the globe. Backed by a strong global presence and a team of dedicated people, you should look forward to another 160 years of excellence and innovation.
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Talk to our engineering team about your next decorative plastics challenge. From concept to production — faster, with total quality control.
+1.989.871.4550 | info@advanceddecorative.com
Explore open positions across our global manufacturing facilities in North America and Asia — and help build what comes next.
+1.989.871.4550 ext. 808 | careers@advanceddecorative.com