Alex Buyea Stacey Rakestraw
Zach Jacobs was named the new business manager for the company’s Seattle, WA, USA branch. Jacobs has steadily excelled with the company over the last six years, most recently as sales manager. He now manages the day-to-day functions of the branch and develops both sales and operations to sustain continuous growth. He looks forward to the added responsibilities of managing the business and strategizing on how to leverage opportunities in the region. His knowledge of the company’s customers, product portfolio and local market position him for success in his new role.
Sarah Johnson was promoted to business manager in San Jose, CA, USA. In her new role, Johnson is responsible for developing, managing and driving a business plan for the fabrication branch that generates growth and maximizes net profit. She plans to accomplish this while maintaining a safe and efficient work environment. With more than 18 years in the plastic industry, the company believes that Johnson is a great fit for this new leadership position. According to Johnson, “The best way to show you’re a leader in the business world is by taking care of your team.”
Recently promoted to inside sales representative in Tampa, FL, USA, Alex Buyea started in the company’s Buffalo, NY, USA warehouse in 2015. He relocated to Tampa in 2021 to manage the warehouse where he supervised an extremely efficient shipping team and improved the branch’s flow of business. Buyea is excited to be part of the Tampa sales team where he will source new opportunities by generating leads, providing lead follow-up and communicating with new and existing customers. His enthusiasm and vast knowledge base about the company will help him drive continued success.
Stacey Rakestraw joined the company in mid-October 2021 as the Atlanta, GA, USA branch administrator. She quickly acclimated and began building her industry knowledge, leading to her promotion to inside sales representative in the location. Rakestraw is well positioned to help support growing the business in Atlanta and is excited to start a new chapter of her career with Professional Plastics. She plans to continue growing her plastics knowledge and is grateful for the support of her fellow associates during the transition to her new role.
Gore
Asahi/America, Inc. promoted Mark Gore to industrial business development manager for the eastern and central regions effective June 6, 2022. Gore will lead Asahi/America’s sales efforts of industrial and environmental single wall and double wall piping systems.
Gore has been with Asahi/America for 15 years as a district sales manager in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and the Florida panhandle. He has a deep technical knowledge of the company’s products and has successfully managed many piping installations in his previous sales territory.
Lisa Percival
“I’m pleased to promote two knowledgeable, accomplished employees,” said Michael Cranston, business manager for the Moorestown location. “We’re lucky to be able to share their talents and experience with our customers.”
Michael Hall, who has been with the company for four years, will continue serving his customers with the additional responsibility of working with large accounts in the New Jersey, Delaware and Central and Eastern Pennsylvania. “Michael understands our business and what we do well,” said Cranston. “He’s great with our vendors and very knowledgeable about our business and customers.”
Lisa Percival, who has been with the company for 19 years, will continue supporting her current customers and will also oversee large accounts for the company’s New Jersey location. In addition to her sales responsibilities, Percival has served in various capacities for the company, including assisting with inside sales meetings and helping the training team with new hires. “Lisa is the rock of our inside sales team,” Cranston said. “She’s helped grow our business with her knowledge and does a really fantastic job for us.”
Parker Powell Alex SanMiguel Kennedy Ellis
Alfred Read Kevin Kramer
Taylor Evans
Mike Colello joined the company as territory manager covering the Seattle, WA, USA region. Colello is an entrepreneur at his core with extensive sales experience. He has the background and drive to excel in his new role focused on plastics. He looks forward to his new responsibilities in Seattle where he will develop solid relationships and close business with new and existing customers by selling the company’s entire product portfolio.
Doughty
Asahi/America, Inc. announced the addition of Brad Doughty to the technical field service team, effective as of July 18, 2022. Doughty will assist customers with training and installing Asahi/America’s single and double wall piping systems through thermofusion processes. This includes properly training customers on how to use Asahi/America’s available welding equipment with the company’s piping products. He will cover all regions throughout the United States.
Doughty comes to Asahi/America with almost 30 years of experience in the polyethylene (PE) industry. His experience ranges from making PE tanks and connections to providing field service for PE-related products across the United States. Doughty’s addition to the field service department will help the growing need for thermoplastic piping installation and field training assistance.
“We are excited to welcome the Plastics Plus team to the Piedmont family,” said Tyler Booth, president of Piedmont Plastics. “Expanding our presence in Western Canada will allow us to strategically grow our footprint in the region, while strengthening our relationships with our valued customers.”
“Piedmont Plastics could not be a better fit and new home for the Plastics Plus team,” said Doug Popowich, president of Plastics Plus. “Our customers can expect to receive the same quality products and service that they’ve grown accustomed to over the last 20+ years.”
IPEX USA LLC announced that as part of its North American growth strategy and customer service focus, the company is investing in a major expansion that will impact three of its pipe extrusion facilities.
A total of 28 new production lines will be added to the IPEX facilities in Asheville, NC, USA; Lawton, OK, USA; and Fort Pierce, FL, USA. The new lines use the latest in high-speed extrusion technology and include closed-loop wall monitors, end-of-line pipe bundling automation and gravimetric feeding systems.
As with all new IPEX facilities, industry-leading health and safety best practices and technology are paramount. In addition, IPEX envisions possible next phase expansion and further automation in the future. These expansions will also create new jobs across the three communities.
“This will allow IPEX to increase production capacity for our pipe business to ensure high fill rates and excellent service both in the United States and Canada, while we continue our significant growth strategy,” said IPEX CEO Alex Mestres. “These investments will also add enough capacity to deliver a number of groundbreaking new products we now have in the pipeline and are ready to launch,” added Mestres. “Not only are we continuing to invest in the best available technology so we can better serve our customers, but these expansions are also creating career opportunities for all IPEX employees.”
All three facilities will see expansions of their distribution yards and buildings. The new lines are expected to be operational beginning in late 2022 through to early 2024.
This expansion is an important investment for IPEX that complements other strategic investments, including three new distributions centers and their new molding facility in Pineville, NC, USA that is currently under construction.
The Redco Group® announced the acquisition of Industrial Plastics & Paints (“IP&P”). The acquisition expands Redco’s presence in the North American plastics market and provides IP&P with the support and resources to continue to grow in their market space.
According to The Redco Group President and CEO Graeme Fraser, “We have always been very innovative and growth focused, and we are pleased to continue that path by having Industrial Plastics join our group. Industrial Plastics and Paints has tremendous opportunity for growth and matches our philosophy of innovation with their focus on being Canada’s first and largest retailer of 3D printing technology.”
IP&P will join Redco as an independent business unit, under the direction and leadership of IP&P General Manager Ron Sherring. No changes to the company’s operations are planned. Sherring expressed his excitement about the company now being a member of The Redco Group. “Not only does this provide us with a world of growth opportunities, but it also ensures that IP&P has management succession to lead us into the future.”
The acquisition aligns with Redco’s philosophy of growth and innovation, bringing enhanced coverage to its distribution network and new markets to its lines of manufactured products.
Said Fraser, “The cornerstone of our over 50 years of success has been our people and it is evident to us that Industrial Plastics’ focus on its employees has been the backbone of their success as well. This synergy in both employee growth and retention is an important alignment for us.”
“Primex Reedsburg has been a dedicated supplier of printable plastics since inception in 1986 and a long-time supporter of SGP’s sustainability mission,” said Blake Pace, general manager of Primex Reedsburg. “Having had a front-row seat to view continuous improvement on the part of companies that participate in SGP, when the opportunity arose to seek certification ourselves under the expanded supplier certification, we jumped at the chance.”
The road to certification involved months of planning, documentation and tracking by the team at the Reedsburg facility. Beginning with the creation of an internal sustainability committee, the process included planning documentation procedures for each required element and developing a continuous improvement project. The next phase included conducting audits, air quality testing and completing an Impact Tracker. Once completed, the application was submitted to SGP for the certification audit.
“Primex has been focused on sustainability throughout our entire organization and we highly commend the Reedsburg team that made the achievement of this certification possible,” said Mike Cramer, president of Primex. “We appreciate the efforts of those who participated in this project and continue to support our company-wide sustainability efforts. We look forward to seeing the ongoing benefits for both our customers and our environment.”
Serving the graphic arts and print, building and construction, agricultural, sporting goods and packaging markets, Primex Reedsburg is the home of the company’s high impact polystyrene, engineered styrenics, Polygraph.ics E, Polygraph.ics P and Vivid Print™ products. The addition of this certification means customers can rely on Primex Reedsburg to provide quality products using sustainable processes with a focus on emission reduction, energy savings, waste reduction and reduced consumption.
Rowmark LLC announced the expansion of their plastic manufacturing line capabilities in the first quarter of 2023 with the addition of a third plastic extrusion line. This new extrusion line will allow Rowmark to increase plastic sheet volume production to meet growing market demand.
This new extrusion line will offer Rowmark the ability to expand production of ABS, impact modified acrylics and high impact polystyrene, as well as other custom plastics. Finishes available through the new line will include smooth, high gloss, haircell and P95 matte. The line will also allow for expanded lamination capabilities for acrylic films, foam-backed vinyl, vinyl films and protective masking.
Rick’s 34-year-long career in the plastics industry began at Gundle Lining and concluded with AGRU America, Inc. He had many different roles and traveled extensively worldwide for work and leisure — from fishing in Alaska to hunting in Uruguay to golfing in Scotland. Those who had the opportunity to work with and spend time with Rick understood his zest for life and that his personality was as large as Texas.
He is survived by his wife Audrey, their two dogs Hondo and Dollie Mae; his parents, Linda and Al Fell, from Blanco, TX; daughter Kelsey, son-in-law Cal and their son, who Rick was “Pops” to, Dean Allen Boudreaux from Tomball, TX. He is also survived by his sister Sue, brother-in-law Dave Calderone from Sebring, FL, and his two stepsons, Harrison and Hayden Wallace of Austin, TX.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to either the Hill Country Memorial Hospice in Fredericksburg, TX (designate Hearts for Hospice under “give now” in memory of Ricky Dean Cannon, www.hillcountrymemorial.org), or MD Anderson: The Colon Cancer Fund for Colon Cancer Research and the Stukalin Family Endowment at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Center. Donations can be mailed to MD Anderson, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486, memo line c/o Dr. Kopetz/David Stukalin.
Tom began his illustrious 40-year plastics career working for Curbell Plastics, Inc. in Rochester, NY, USA. During his tenure there, he assumed a variety of leadership roles including regional management and oversight of the company’s tapes and fabrication division. Tom finished his career at Professional Plastics as national customer service manager, where he trained and sourced material, educating the team with his vast knowledge of the market.
Tom was driven by a deep sense of commitment and loyalty. Throughout his career, he was a great mentor and an inspiration to his employees and colleagues. His lively personality, business acumen and market knowledge were unmatched. He helped pave the way for future industry leaders by sharing his wisdom and advice so others could also succeed.
Tom was a devoted family man. He moved to Dublin, OH, USA to be closer to his two children and three grandchildren. He led by example personally and professionally, and will be missed by all who knew him.
Mativ Holdings, Inc. announced the successful completion of the merger of Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. (SWM) and Neenah, Inc. (Neenah), two global manufacturers of specialty materials, effective July 6, 2022. Mativ has approximately US$3 billion in sales, supporting customers in more than 100 countries and manufacturing capabilities on four continents. On Wednesday, July 6, 2022, the company commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the market open, under the new ticker symbol “MATV.”
Mativ President and CEO Julie Schertell commented, “I am extremely excited and proud to mark this important milestone in the journey of our two companies with the formation of Mativ. This merger is a unique opportunity to boldly reimagine our future as a stronger and faster-growing global enterprise. As we come together, we see significant near and long-term value creation opportunities to accelerate growth and amplify margins. With compelling strategic touchpoints in key market categories, complementary geographies and technologies, increased global scale and a passionate workforce with deep roots in material science, we are ideally suited to help solve our customer’s most critical challenges, which is the foundation of our cultural, commercial and financial success.”
“Today marks an exciting new chapter in the rich histories of both companies, forming a scaled global leader in specialty materials to drive value for customers, employees, stakeholders and our shareholders,” said Dr. John Rogers, chairman of Mativ’s Board of Directors. “We will continue executing a well-defined strategy, maintain an attractive financial profile and advance our corporate stewardship and governance efforts. Mativ is committed to providing attractive returns to shareholders while maintaining a prudent balance sheet and disciplined approach to capital allocation. We have assembled an exceptional, diverse and experienced leadership team, and we look forward to working with Julie and her talented group of leaders to deliver on the promise of this transaction.”
Mativ will disclose financial results for two reporting segments: Advanced Technical Materials (ATM) and Fiber-Based Solutions (FBS). The ATM segment is comprised of five non-reporting business units: Filtration, Protective Solutions, Release Liners, Healthcare and Industrials. This segment generally represents the combination of SWM’s legacy Advanced Materials and Structures and Neenah’s Technical Products reporting segments. ATM will deliver solutions that filter and purify air and liquids, support adhesive and protective applications, advance healing and wellness and solve some of material science’s most demanding performance needs.
Understanding that signage and graphics exhibitions are notable users of short-term rigid PVC and acrylic, Vycom placed collection bins in exhibitors’ booths and in the ISA Green Zone, partnering with Cutworx USA, Kongsberg PCS and Mimaki USA to collect scrap and trim used during their demonstrations. The company also collaborated with Freeman Exhibitions and the Georgia World Congress Center to facilitate collection of the materials.
“There was an overwhelmingly positive response to the recycling program, not just from other exhibitors but from attendees as well,” said Kevin Duffy, vice president of sales and marketing for Vycom. “Many sign companies are acutely aware of the lack of transparent recycling options for rigid PVC and acrylic materials. Everyone that visited seemed passionate about sustainability and were pleased to learn about this program’s immediate availability to begin recycling their scrap generated in production and used signage.”
The Vycom Recycling Program is designed to take back and recycle printed and unprinted rigid PVC and acrylic sheets, as well as scraps and drops from finishing and fabricating. The program is intended for users of PVC, acrylic and PE products — in coordination with consolidators for drop-off or collection — to recycle used signage and scrap. The material is returned to company-owned domestic facilities and used to manufacture the residential and commercial products, ensuring this scrap does not end up in landfills.
The AZEK Company diverted approximately 500 million pounds of waste and scrap from landfills in 2021, increasing from roughly 400 million pounds in 2020. Additionally, 56 percent of all the company’s extruded products were manufactured from recycled material inputs in 2021.