By Kim Breyley,
Eight years ago, Lester Miller was working for Melvin Kauffman at Countryside Lumber southeast of Middlefield. He had been there for 13 years and enjoyed the work. He was, however, frustrated with inferior acid-powered batteries used to power horse-drawn logging carts. “Working at Countryside was the only job I had ever had, and I just wanted to work smarter.” Lester Miller thinks like an innovator. He is solution oriented; it is just the way God created him.
“So, it was in 2015, I did a little digging for something better and found the first lithium battery company in the US located in Florida. They sold what was called a Smart Battery.”
“With my own money, I ordered a $2,000 lithium battery (It would sell now for $700). It didn’t work for our application, and I could not return it … and I was curious, so … I cut the lid open. I wanted to see ‘what’s inside this thing,’ recalls Lester smiling “I didn’t know if it was going to spew some stuff out or what. But I wanted to know, and in it, I found small lithium cells.” So, he did some more research, and purchased lithium cells from a company in Arizona.”
Lester figured out how to design and assemble a circuit board and cells, boxed it in with plywood and – voila, built a very efficient lithium battery. “At that time, I had no plans to start a company,” says Miller. “I was hoping to make something that would work at the lumber company, and I wanted one for my buggy.”
Word spread in the Middlefield Plain community and before he knew it, the demand for his home-made batteries was overwhelming. Yoder Solar, a local Amish-run solar company, put in an order for 10 batteries. “Once that happened,” smiled Lester. “I knew I had better find a superior box and make it look like a battery.”
He found a source in Asia and after more product research realized it would be far more economical to source the cells and assembly overseas. “I would have to have a million-dollar facility to assemble the parts here in the US, and it is just not feasible, currently.” The MillerTech team was spending hours to do what could be done in large, automated factories in Asia.
“We dictate the design and development,” says Miller. “Therefore, we can warranty our batteries for five years.” There are other products available now in the US, but MillerTech’s edge is second-to-none customer service and warranty.
“We send our CAD files to China and Vietnam, if those batteries come in and they don’t match our specs to a T, we won’t accept them.” Lester doesn’t travel overs seas to confer with suppliers; they come to him as he is their second largest buyer in the US, close to number one. “They come here, several times a year, usually six or eight of them and we sit and strategize for an entire day.” One of the factories that supplies MillerTech boasts 90 acres under roof and is one of the top five in China.”
This past summer, Lester moved the MillerTech distribution center from the 8,000 sq. ft. building on his home property in West Farmington to a 42,000 sq. ft. facility just north of Middlefield with 30 ft high ceilings.
The wholesale distribution center offers a fully stocked showroom, and 15 employees ship to more than 800 dealers in Plain communities all over the country, as well as South America and Canada.
“This time of year, it is hard to keep up,” says Miller. “We do as much business in November, December as we do January through June.” Shipping more than 200 packages per day; in most cases, if the order is in by 2 p.m., the Miller Tech team can have shipments to their dealers within a few business days.
The future for MillerTech is “bright.” “We have sold and will continue to sell thousands of MillerTech rechargeable battery headlamps with bright LED lights,” says Miller. “And we see in a niche in the boating and RV sector and are eagerly pursuing it.”
“We work hard at being knowledgeable and listening,” says Miller. “Many of our new product ideas are answers to customer requests. And yes, our team does come up with innovative products but at the same time we listen to our customers needs.”
“I am often asked,” says Lester. “What, and how much does our heritage and faith have to do with our success?” He replies, “I believe it has “little” to do with our success and has “everything” to do with what we do with that success.”
The MillerTech Energy Solutions, LLC. wholesale distribution center is located at 14632 Old State Road, Middlefield. The showroom is open 8-4 p.m. weekdays. For more information, call 855-629-5484 or visit millertechenergy.com
