MLAB is on a mission to prove that waste doesn't have to be waste. Combining hands-on making with smart technology, MLAB transform plastics into high-quality products that makers, manufacturers, and eco-conscious businesses actually want to use.
Built this operation from the ground up to solve a problem I kept hitting in my own work. Every product meets the same standards I demand for my projects—because I'm still using these materials daily in the shop.
I'm not just processing plastic - I'm a maker who uses these materials myself. Every sheet, handle, and batch is produced to standards I'd accept in my own shop. If it's not good enough for my projects, it's not good enough for yours.
With a background in software and hardware, I've built custom monitoring systems and data-driven processes to ensure consistency. It's old-school craftsmanship enhanced by modern technology - the best of both worlds.
From collecting bottle caps to creating finished products to taking them back for re-recycling - I've built a complete loop. This isn't greenwashing; it's a genuine commitment to keeping plastic in use and out of landfills forever.
When you reach out, you're talking to me - the person who'll actually make your product. No sales team, no middlemen. Just direct communication with someone who genuinely cares about getting your project right.
From finished products to raw materials, everything is crafted with attention to detail and a commitment to quality that comes from using these materials myself.
Sustainable panels for makers & manufacturers
12"×12" recycled HDPE panels in vibrant colors. Perfect for CNC machining, workbenches, signs, and creative projects.
Recycled beer packaging tap handles
Unique tap handles crafted from bottle caps and 6-pack rings. Each handle diverts 50+ pieces of plastic from landfills.
Premium raw materials for your projects
Color-sorted shredded HDPE ready for injection molding, extrusion, or DIY recycling projects. Consistent quality, vibrant blends.
I've refined every step through trial, error, and thousands of hours in the shop. It's not scaled for mass production - it's optimized for quality and consistency at the scale where I can personally oversee everything.
I partner with local breweries, bars, and community programs to collect bottle caps and industrial HDPE waste.
Materials are hand-sorted by color and thoroughly cleaned to remove contaminants and labels.
Advanced shredding equipment reduces plastic into consistent, uniform pieces ready for processing.
Materials are transformed into sheets, tap handles, or packaged through heat pressing and custom molding processes.
Working solo doesn't mean working small. I've equipped my shop with IoT monitoring, built custom software to track material batches, and use data to continuously improve every process.
The advantage of being a one-person operation? I notice everything. Every color shift, every texture variation, every opportunity for improvement. With my background in software development, I've built systems that help me maintain consistency even as the business grows.
Real-time tracking of equipment performance and material processing
Continuous refinement through analytics and testing
Smart systems that enhance hands-on work, not replace it
M-LAB started in a small workshop where I was making wood products with traditional tools. One day, I realized I was throwing away perfectly good plastic that could be transformed into something useful.
What began as a curiosity - "Can I melt these bottle caps into something?" - turned into an obsession. I taught myself the chemistry, built the equipment, and spent countless hours experimenting with temperatures, pressures, and color blends.
My background in software and hardware helped me create monitoring systems to track every step of the process. I could optimize what worked and quickly identify what didn't. It wasn't just about recycling - it was about proving you could make recycled products that were *better* than the originals.
Today, M-LAB is still just me, working out of my shop in El Dorado Hills. But now I'm shipping recycled plastics products across the country, providing materials to fellow makers, and proving that one person with the right blend of skills and determination can make a real difference.
Whether you're a fellow maker, a small brewery, or a business looking for sustainable alternatives, I'd love to hear about your project. As a one-person shop, I can be flexible, experimental, and genuinely invested in making your idea work.