About Marathon

Marathon Manufacturing Solutions provides the products, services and knowledge for metal finishing, metal cleaning, paint and powder coating. Marathon provides the chemistry, equipment and experience to help platers, anodizers, machine shops and OEM’s with their needs and process questions. With years of experience in problem solving, cost reduction and process enhancement, Marathon can guide you with industry knowledge, resources and solutions to support any advanced manufacturing process. We also believe it is important to be a good steward of the community as well as provide training and support for the next generation of advanced manufacturers.

Specializing in Metal Treatments & Materials

A world wide leader in metal cleaners for all base materials as well as aluminum plating, passivating and chromating chemistry. MacDermid Enthone offers multiple choices for metal cleaning, stripping, activating, pickling, or polishing of any base metal. With full analytical support, failure analysis and corrosion testing MacDermid Enthone brings world class technology and support to New England in partnership with Marathon Manufacturing Solutions.

About Our President

Marko Duffy is a 45+ year veteran of the metal finishing industry in New England and has worked with countless of machine shops, fabrication shops and OEM’s creating metal finishing and metal-working solutions. Starting in 1979 right out of high school Marko literally started at the bottom and worked his way through almost every position in the shop and learned a lot about a lot!

Marko has worked in and lead multiple plating and finishing shops in New England, gaining experience on both the technical and management sides of the business.

Marko started Marathon in 2011 and after 10 years selling chemical,, equipment and supplies, he went back onto the management side to run a finishing shop for 5 years, working for the private equity company that purchased it. Under Marko’s leadership, the shop evolved from a solid and strong family business to an aerospace capable, technically adept, cutting edge metal finishing provider.

5 years later, the job done well, Marko is ready to move on and go back to Marathon and what he felt he did best. Support, communicate, and provide metal finishers throughout New England experience, insight and solutions to their every day needs.

Marathon Manufacturing Solutions is once again available and ready to support you and your business with the right products, innovation, collaboration and experience.

Certified Electro Finisher 2018

Our Community

If you've ever been to Lawrence, MA you know that this once proud mill town hard by the Merrimack River is ponce again a proud home to many amazing people, organizations and companies. Marko and Marathon are a key part of that community in many ways.

A volunteer for many years at the Lawrence YMCA, Marko has participated in helping the youth of Lawrence in the many programs the Y offers. Sports, swim, music and education all have a home at the Lawrence Y and Marko has spent years and given his time and talent helping the Y serve the community.

A member of the Lawrence Partnership’s Advisory Committee Marko has committed his experience to helping grow businesses off all types in their city with a special focus on the manufacturing base of the city. Based in Lawrence, Marathon works closely with many cod the manufacturers also doing business there. Marathon not only brings them processes and equipment but, assists in training and teaching the employees of these companies.

In 2018 Marko was selected by the Lawrence Partnership to participate in Lawrence Leads, an executive leadership development program for leaders in the City of Lawrence hosted by Harvard Business School. As part of a program that features the rigors of a Harvard Business School course and in a cohort of 30 tremendous professional from a cross section of businesses, professionals and non-profit organizations, the goal is to develop the skills and network to better position Marathon and Marko for growth, leadership and the skills to be in a better position to positively impact the community. It is our belief in manufacturing jobs and companies that drove Marko to be a part of this tremendous program and the hope is that this will positively impact all of Marathon’s customers both in Lawrence and across the region.

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Active in other organizations and a frequent participant in programs throughout the city, Marko can often be found in his “mobile office”. A cool coffee shop with a vibe, getting work done, greeting many friends and past coworkers and constantly looking for ways to continue to develop Lawrence into a world class manufacturing destination.

Please visit our attached gallery to get a glimpse of the great people, organizations and companies in the City of Lawrence.

Testimonials

Marko and I have spent a significant amount of time talking about virtually every aspect of my business.
From personnel issues to personal issues, from pricing to purchasing, sales to schedules, there are very few areas in the business we haven't at some point had the opportunity to discuss. I find this discussion to be very helpful and with Marko's experience and knowledge he has become a key advisor to me as a supplier, friend and confidant.

In addition, Marko's technical knowledge, problem solving and innovation are invaluable. In several instances I have brought him to our customer for meetings and problem solving as both a 3rd party referee and as a technical expert. This has invariably led to a resolution and collaboration that has benefited all the parties involved.

Always professional, always discreet and always honest, Marko has brought great value to us as we continue to grow and evolve as a business. I highly recommend Marko and Marathon Manufacturing Solutions as a key supplier and business partner.

- JD

Running 2 highly technical companies with diverse processes and production issues is difficult and trying.
Having a key supplier like Marko Duffy makes it a little less challenging.

Marko brings years of experience and knowledge to this area and this industry. His intimate knowledge of our companies has made him a unique resource to us on many levels. Marko has great knowledge in the manufacturing process and pit falls that exist in any metal finishing operation. He understands the workforce and need to increase their knowledge and training. And he understands the pressures put on platers by the customers and end users. This knowledge base makes him unique in his ability to help dissect and rectify a problem and how quickly it needs to be done.

Marko is a trusted and respected member of our team of experts and professionals we employ to run our businesses. Marko is one of a sleeve of key advisors we utilize who is not a part of our management team. His "one step removed" from the tension and pressure provide a voice of reason and perspective we need and appreciate. Most of the time!

Our management team as well as myself highly recommend our friend and resource Marko Duffy and Marathon Manufacturing Solutions as a supplier.

- JC

Recently Marko came to Rochester, New York to make a presentation on metal finishing as it relates to washing & blasting parts prior to plating/ finishing. Both our suppliers and sales personnel were amazed as to what issues plater's face if parts are not cleaned properly. The real life stories hit home with our group as we have run into cleanliness issues due to improper use of cleaning chemistry. Marko has a deep well when it comes to trouble shooting adhesion problems in plating and painting. He is the "Columbo" detective in the metal finishing industry and we thoroughly enjoyed his slideshow presentation.

- TH

Marko has vast knowledge in the plating and finishing business. He will follow thru all stages of your efforts and assure your are in exellent operating condition. He backs his sales with great enthusiasim, and will never leave you hanging!!!

- BR

Marko is a dynamic and creative resource for his customers. Marko has considerable experience in the plating business as an end user, a supplier, and as an owner. This in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the metal finishing business allows him to provide innovative and elegant long term solutions to problems his customers face. His ability to build relationships throughout the industry keeps him on the cutting edge of developments and issues facing our industry, and makes him a valued partner for his customers.

- MB

Marko has great industry knowledge and easily relates to theneeds of a manufacturing facility. He's a friend you can trust, and provides a great value.

- BD

In over 22 years as a Human Resources professional involved in the hiring of numerous sales and marketing professionals, Marko stands out in my mind as someone who embodies the core principles of what anyone would want, in terms of working with a sales professional,....honesty, dilligence, customer focused, and reliable. If he says it, he will do it. The word "trust" has lost some value over the years, yet Marko continues to use "trust" as one of his guiding values in what he does, and it's something you can count on when working with him. Trust me!

- BJ

Thank you very much. The training class was excellent. I received very positive feedback from everyone in the class, particularly from our brand new plater and analyst. The combination of information from the slides as well as discussion from real world experience was perfect. It really got us thinking about other areas we could put together similar trainings for.
Thanks Marko!

- EE

That training session was outstanding, ALL the guys had serious positive feedback from "WOW I didn't know that, to the rookies telling me that it was an unbelievably big help.”
Thanks again for doing this.

- GS

Our company is constantly changing and adjusting. One constant we have relied on is the advice and expertise of Marko Duffy. Marko brings technical knowledge and ability to our shop. While not a chemist, Marko has helped us develop and refine many of the processes and processing methods we use. His experience has brought some fresh ideas and solutions to some of the challenges we have faced.

In addition, Marko has been a great sounding board when discussing how the shop operates, participated in employee and management issue discussions and come up with suggestions and advice on how to deal with issues that fall way outside those your chemical supplier would typically be involved in.

Marko has also become a good friend and trusted advisor to me personally. While I don't always agree with him I know his experience and understanding of me and my business give him the unique ability to have long and meaningful discussions. Sometimes over a tank, sometimes over a beer, we have spent many hours talking about the important things affecting us daily.

I would highly recommend Marko Duffy and Marathon Manufacturing Solutions as a key supplier to you and your company.