What's an actuator? Find out in Eatontown at Motion Systems

Dec 18, 2023

While the term "actuator" isn't necessarily a household name, you've probably used one many times and didn't even know it.

"Actuators are devices similar to hydraulic cylinders, but they use a screw and motor to operate linear movement back and forth," explained Erik Wolf, chief executive officer of Motion Systems in Eatontown, a company founded by his father William in 1972. "Linear actuators are found in everything from car seats to dental chairs as well as in the operating room for procedures where you need to be put in a position."

Typically selling to manufacturers, "our company also builds items for individuals, such as someone who wants their flat-screen TV to move down from the ceiling," he said.

"Actuators are push-pull devices that look a little like a shock absorber from the side and are comprised of a set of telescopic tubes with a motor driving a set of right-angle gears. Actuators may look benign, but their internal components are actually quite sophisticated," Wolf said.

They also range in size, from palm-sized models rated at 40 pounds up to versions that are rated to support 1,000 to 1,500 pounds which are as tall as humans and can be used to lift them as well.

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Medical marvels

"Particularly in the hospice and handicapped industry, it can be hard to lift people, so the use of a 1,000-pound-rated actuator can allow a caretaker to assist someone in standing up, providing stability, walking and even supporting an exercise regimen," said Chris Hughes, operations manager, of the hundreds of medical assistance devices for which Motion Systems supplies actuators.

"With millions of people requiring wheelchairs, our products support people in getting from a bed to a wheelchair, a wheelchair to a bed, or a wheelchair to a table, and we even provide actuators to manufacturers of high-end wheelchairs that move users into different positions throughout the day to relieve pressure points," Hughes said.

Among the newest products it supports is the LiftWalker by medical manufacturer Ideomotion, a state-of-the-art device that assists people requiring help with motion and balance.

Once a new avenue for the company, Wolf said that "the medical industry is now a major component of our business and it makes us feel proud to help people" and give the wheelchair-bound a new level of mobility and freedom. In fact, added Hughes, "one of our charters is that when we're approached by a handicapped individual or their caretaker who doesn't have the resources to purchase the product they need, we'll help them to the best of our ability – we won't turn them away, especially veterans," Hughes said. "It's so rewarding to help improve someone's quality of life; at the same time, after you help someone, you have a better understanding of how blessed you are."

At the company's 150,000-square-foot, three-building complex in Eatontown, "we manufacture eight to nine lines encompassing thousands of custom configurations. There's nothing off the shelf here," Wolf said.

Using only raw materials made in the U.S. – "We're 'Made in America' and darn proud of it," Wolf said – the company also prides itself on the personal, professional, and one-on-one service they provide. "Someone always picks up the phone during business hours," Wolf promised.

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'Great company to work with'

The company's responsiveness is among the qualities that David Duffy, Vice President & CFO of Absecon-based General Glass Equipment Co., an 83-year-old family business whose customers make glass jars, containers, bottles, kitchenware and other consumer items, said he likes best about working with the team from Motion Systems.

"Motion Systems supplies a linear actuator that's integral to our oscillating batch chargers, which run 24 hours a day and need to be accurate, repeatable, durable and reliable," said Duffy, a customer for 20 years. "Motion Systems is a great company to do business with – they're constantly innovating new things based on their customers' needs and recently added a component to our actuators that cut our costs and enabled our customers to program an unlimited number of locations on their chargers. Motion Systems is a great company offering high-quality, American-made products and they're right here in New Jersey."

Though Wolf said that the cost of doing business in New Jersey can be formidable and that other, larger competitors play in the industry, "our niche is a more individualized approach – most of the other players don't offer the personal contact and technical support we do."

And exciting new opportunities abound, Hughes noted, "particularly in the medical field as well as in corporate settings, where products like ergonomic desks and tables are becoming more standard in the workplace."

For Wolf, a lifelong Monmouth County resident who worked at the family business during his high school summers and took over as CEO in 2012, Motion Systems’ forward motion has been a tremendous source of pride.

"We were a small operation that started from very humble beginnings. Now we have 60 to 80 employees and support everything from medical devices to lunar rovers and even premier race cars," he said. "I look forward to seeing our company continue to grow and be the best we can be, because in doing that we can help others meet their potential."

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MOTION SYSTEMS

Location: 600 Industrial Way W., Eatontown

Phone: 732-222-1800

Founded: 1972

Website: www.actuator.com