The Madison Group is the recognized leader in plastics engineering. Over the course of three decades The Madison Group has focused on polymeric materials. We understand how these materials behave, how to properly design with them, how they are processed, and the numerous manufacturing steps required to produce a successful product.
Our experience analyzing failures every day has taught us pitfalls to avoid and how to prevent failures in the field. We use that collective knowledge gained on over 20,000+ projects, to provide our clients with exceptional results.
Because we focus all of our energy into polymeric materials, we have a broad and deep knowledge on the most important aspects of making a successful part. Through this intimate understanding of plastics, elastomers, composites and thermosets we assist our customers to make successful parts every day. Our ability to quickly review a design and our knowledge of how processing influences the quality of the final part translates into our clients making a successful product launch. We excel at finding the best material that will work for your application and running the appropriate tests to validate the end performance.
Our team-based approach allows our engineers to solve the most complex problems. When working with The Madison Group, you are partnering with multiple expert engineers with unique experiences that are dedicated to meet your needs as our customer. We are here for you and for your success.
Our team understands projects can vary in scale and we are happy to develop a custom program that aligns with your budgetary constraints. From small single analyses to large-scale projects and product developments, we strive to provide timely answers that meet the unique needs of our clients.
As an engineering firm, we are dedicated to using the most effective tools and methods to solve your most complex problems. We provide internal lab services with core polymeric testing capabilities including an array of mechanical and analytical test methods. Between our internal testing capabilities and our network of partner test laboratories, we support an endless array of test methods allowing us to completely assist in any project need.
The Madison Group is based in Madison, Wisconsin in the Fitchburg Technology Campus. Constructed in 2014, our state-of-the-art 13,000 sq. ft. facilities are the headquarters for Madison Group’s team and is complete with testing laboratories, admin offices, a library, and recreational areas. We support clients across the United States and throughout the world.
The Madison Group – Core Values
The Madison Group was founded on innovation, integrity and the overriding goal of meeting the specific needs of our clients. As a service company, we are committed to building long-term business relationships with our clients through our exceptional team of highly experienced engineers.,We are the recognized experts in the field of polymeric materials and are here to leverage our knowledge to solve your most complex issues.
Our Core Values: Practice honesty and integrity in all aspects of our business.
To our employees: Dedicated to growing and developing our employees in a healthy, enjoyable, and cohesive team-oriented environment.
To our clients: Embody a reputation of integrity and excellence to provide our clients with accurate answers and solutions they need in a responsive manner.
To our company: Promote a culture of continuous learning for our team members to gain breadth and depth of knowledge in plastics engineering and materials.
About US
The Madison Group Team
Paul received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin- Madison in 1995 and is currently the President of The Madison Group. In 2003 he became an Adjunct Professor at the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. Dr. Gramann is involved in the design verification and failure analysis of thermoplastic, elastomeric and thermoset parts. He is the past-Chair of the Failure Analysis and Prevention Group of the Society of Plastics Engineers. He is a co-editor of the Injection Molding Handbook published by Hanser Publishers in 2001 and 2008, which has been translated to Chinese and Russian. He is also on the editorial board for the Journal of Plastics Technology, which is published by Carl Hanser Publishers. Dr. Gramann is actively involved with ASTM and serves on the D20 (plastics) committee. He has testified numerous times in deposition and at trial for defense and plaintiff counsels. He has given presentations on failure, prevention, mechanical behavior, and processing of plastics in the US, Europe and the Middle East.
Dr. Gramann’s Curriculum Vitae is available upon request.
Dr. Davis received his Ph. D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1995 from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, in the field of polymer processing. Dr. Davis has extensive experience in the mechanical behavior of polymers and specializes in the engineering forensic analysis of plastic and rubber components to determine root causes of failure. Dr. Davis also has expertise with numerical methods and computer simulation for polymer processing and structural analysis of plastics. He has testified numerous times as an expert witness in federal and state court cases in the field of plastic failure analysis.
Dr. Davis’ Curriculum Vitae is available upon request.
Antoine Rios has been with The Madison Group since 1999. Dr. Rios received his Ph.D. from the Polymer Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1999. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin and is fluent in Spanish. His current work concentrates in the analysis of plastics failure, plumbing product failures, forensic analysis, plastics part design and computer aided engineering (CAE). Dr. Rios has testified numerous times in deposition and court. He has written various papers and chapters, and given presentations on plastic failures, manufacturing and CAE. He is currently a senior member of the Society of Plastic Engineers where he serves as director of the Composites Division and the Failure Analysis Special Interest Group. He is a participating member of ASTM International (subcommittee F17 – plastic piping systems) and has served as a reviewer of SBIR/STTR phase I/II proposals for the National Science Foundation.
Dr. Rios’ Curriculum Vitae is available upon request.
Erik Foltz is a Certified Professional Moldflow® Consultant at The Madison Group. Foltz received his M.S. from the Polymer Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Foltz’s work concentrates on assisting industrial clients accelerate the product design process through the use of CAE Tools. His specialties include plastic part design verification, process optimization and troubleshooting for injection and compression molding, and plastics failure. He has experience with thermoplastic, thermoset, elastomeric, and composite materials. In addition to being a certified Moldflow consultant he is also a beta user for the Moldflow Plastic Insight product line, which allows him to provide input on the newest solver technologies in the market. Foltz is an active member of the Society of Plastic Engineers where he serves as a board member on the Injection Molding Division.
Mr. Foltz's Curriculum Vitae is available upon request.
Dr. Cruz is a Senior Managing Engineer at The Madison Group where he is actively involved in numerous projects and market sectors leading design/material reviews, and failure analysis investigations for thermoplastic, composite, and elastomeric parts. Dr. Cruz also leads research investigations related to analysis and testing techniques for plastic failure prevention and performance optimization. Dr. Cruz provides consulting support during product development stages, and serves as expert witness offering legal representation within his areas of expertise. Dr. Cruz received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has extensive experience in the fields of thermosets and thermoplastics. Dr. Cruz is an active board member of the failure analysis division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). He is also a member of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) where he reviews current testing standards related to plastics. He is also a reviewer for the Polymer Engineering and Science Journal.
Dr. Cruz’s Curriculum Vitae is available upon request.
Jeff is an expert in failure analysis; material analysis, identification and selection; and aging studies for plastic and rubber components. He has performed over 900 failure investigations, both for industrial clients and litigation work. He is a recognized authority on polymeric material analysis and failure, and has authored an ASM handbook chapter as well as numerous articles relating to failure analysis. Jeff also taught a number of seminars relative to plastics failure analysis, chemical effects on plastics, and rubber technology. Jeff also gives regular presentations through the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) covering a wide range of plastics-related topics.
Jeff is a Senior Member of the Society of Plastics Engineers and is a Past-Chairman of the Failure Analysis and Prevention Special Interest Group. He is also a Past-President of the Wisconsin Rubber Group. Jeff is a graduate of Carroll College and the Milwaukee School of Engineering. In addition to his degree in Chemistry, Jeff holds a degree in Criminal Justice and has testified numerous times in deposition for defense and plaintiff counsels.
Jeffrey A. Jansen's Curriculum Vitae is available upon request..
Richie received his B.S. from the Department of Composite Materials Engineering at Winona State University in the spring of 2012 and joined The Madison Group team after graduation. His responsibilities are performing failure analysis on thermoplastic and composite parts. During school Richie worked for RTP Company in the Quality Assurance Lab. At RTP, Richie was responsible for performing various tests on specialty thermoplastic resins including rheometry, various strength properties, MFI, and many others. Richie is registered as an Engineer-in-Training with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying and plans to earn a Professional Engineering license once the work experience criterion has been fulfilled.
Mr. Anfinsen's Curriculum Vitae is available upon request.
Jack DeSousa is a graduate of Winona State University with a degree in composite materials engineering. This degree provided a good foundation for design, manufacturing, and analytical testing of all types of plastic, composite, and elastomeric parts. Jack is a Project Engineer with The Madison Group, and specializes in failure analysis, material testing and characterization, and design. He has performed thousands of product evaluations and hundreds chemical/material analyses for industrial clients as well as supported many more. Jack’s attention to detail and follow through are essential to the operation and maintenance of the laboratory and its equipment at TMG. He is continually devoted to increasing his knowledge base and experience through both project work, material testing, and continued education.
Tom Hansen is a Project Engineer at The Madison Group. Tom received his B.S. in both Manufacturing Engineering and Plastics Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and his M.S. in Engineering Management from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Prior to joining The Madison Group, he has worked in various areas of the plastics industry, including tooling design, in-mold labeling and silicone molding. His focus is to use CAE tools and industry experience to assist clients in optimizing and troubleshooting their plastic components and manufacturing processes.
Mr. Hansen's Curriculum Vitae is available upon request.
Melissa's 20+ years of experience in material science and engineering are deeply rooted in product development, advanced testing, and manufacturing support. She has performed hundreds of failure analysis investigations on a wide variety of products and applications across multiple industries including, transportation, medical, and consumer. These learnings compiled over many years have revealed vulnerable areas within the product development cycle including identifying part requirements, performing material selection along with developing part validation testing. Melissa has extensive experience with supporting clients in their relationships with manufacturing partners. This support includes, but is not limited to, root cause analysis of processing issues, development of quality assurance tests, along with cost saving initiatives.
Melissa received her M.S. in Material Science and Engineering from Wayne State University and her B.S. in Material Science and Engineering from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. She is a long-standing member of Society of Plastics Engineers and Society of Women in Engineering as well as a leader of her daughter's Girl Scout Troop.
Ms. Kurtz's Curriculum Vitae is available upon request.
Stefanie Glas is a project engineer at The Madison Group, where she specializes in material characterization, testing, and failure analysis. Her diverse background, including international experience and a range of engineering disciplines, gives her a unique approach to problem-solving.
Stefanie holds an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.Sc. in Medical Engineering from the Technical University of Munich, Germany. She continued her education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering, focusing on interdisciplinary projects in polymer engineering, injection mold design, and material and tissue sciences.
Tim Riedel is the Lab Manager at The Madison Group, bringing over 30 years of diverse experience to his role. He is responsible for the operation, calibration, and maintenance of all laboratory and testing equipment, ensuring the accuracy of data that is foundational to The Madison Group's work.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Biochemistry, Tim's career has spanned multiple industries. His experience includes working with thermosets as a Quality Assurance Manager in the coatings industry, developing color formulations for automotive and medical sectors in the vinyl industry, and testing thermoplastics while submitting efficacy reports to the EPA as a Study Director in the rodenticide industry. He has extensive knowledge of ASTM, ISO, and GLP disciplines. His attention to detail and vast experience ensures the reliability of his results, echoing his personal philosophy: "One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions."
Hunter Beaumont is a Project Engineer at The Madison Group and a Certified Expert Moldflow Analyst. He specializes in using CAE tools and his industry experience to help clients turn their designs into manufacturable, high-performing products. His focus is on using simulation tools like Moldflow to help customers avoid design issues that can lead to narrow processing windows and high failure rates. He also collaborates with the team to identify the root cause of processing or part performance issues.
Hunter holds a B.S. in Plastics Engineering Technology from Penn State University – Behrend. Before joining The Madison Group, he spent six years in the industry, primarily as a Moldflow analyst. His prior experience includes working as a design engineer intern, where he used FEA and simulation to design all-plastic or plastic-metal hybrid parts and to help with lightweighting initiatives. He also has hands-on experience on the shop floor, where he ran new mold trials and troubleshot issues at the press.
Reach Out Today
The Madison Group’s team is dedicated to our customers. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you. If it is in the field of plastics or other polymeric materials, we have the expertise that you have been looking for to solve all your polymer needs. Whether it be support in designing a part, solving production issues, or finding the root cause of a problem, we can most definitely assist you.