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Ambitious growth goals for rubber band man

Burke Campbell, Financial Post
Monday, Sept. 14, 2009

Roland Swift, CEO of Morswift - Courtesy of Morswift

MorSwift

Morswift.com

CEO: Roland Swift

Location: Digby, N.S.

Roland Swift was born and raised on Brier Island, near Digby, N.S., where the
majority of the island's nearly 300 inhabitants work hauling in lobsters.
Binding lobster claws for safe handling and shipping was done manually, until
Mr. Swift set about designing a machine that could radically speed the process.
He succeeded, eventually creating a patented "semi-automated rubber band
applying machine."

Pneumatically powered (driven by compressed air), the machine works at sea,
in the field, or warehouse, and can band 24 times a minute. "The bands are made
of 100% biodegradable rubber, avoiding the waste that tape or vinyl make," Mr.
Swift says.

His research and development efforts were encouraged by several government
agencies, including the Business Development Bank of Canada, and the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, which backed launching Morswift in April 2009.

The technology has applications well beyond the lobster industry. For
instance, it can band items ranging from broccoli stalks and flowers to tubing,
newspapers or electric cord sets. Postal systems are prime candidates for
Morswift, as rubber bands are used in mail bundling. At present, Mr. Swift is
promoting his machines across the United States and Europe.

Already, there have been offers to purchase the firm, but Mr. Swift has
resisted. "My goal is to create more jobs in Digby."

The company has risen from two employees to seven, and is expanding rapidly.
Of Morswift's growing success, Mr. Swift notes: "I could never have done this
without government support, and the incredible number of people who have helped
us with expertise, advice and funding. Morswift is the product of team
effort."

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