Plastikos, Inc. is Named a 2013 Manufacturing Leadership (ML) Award 100 Winner

Frost & Sullivan’s Manufacturing Council recently named Plastikos, Inc., an Erie based custom high-precision injection molder, the winner of two Manufacturing Leadership 100 Awards. The Manufacturing Leadership 100 Award submissions are judged by an independent panel of industry experts to recognize innovative companies and individuals from around the globe.

The Manufacturing Leadership 100 awards were created based on the recognition that “[I]n a world of intensifying global competition and accelerating change, recipients of the ML100 Awards have distinguished themselves by embracing breakthrough innovation and enabling their companies to anticipate and respond to customers with unmatched agility. Now in their ninth year, the Manufacturing Leadership 100 Awards honor companies and individuals that are shaping the future of global manufacturing.”

Plastikos was nominated for the ML 100 awards by one of its long-term business partners, IQMS, for consideration of two separate projects: (1) Plastikos’ Automated Production Labeling and Tool Initiative and (2) Plastikos’ Environmental Sustainability Initiative; both project submissions won an award in the Operational Excellence and Sustainability categories respectively.

“The entire Plastikos & Micro Mold team is truly honored to be recognized along with the other industry-leading organizations as a 2013 Manufacturing Leadership 100 Award winner”, said Philip Katen (President & General Manager of Plastikos). “Our team strives to target continuous improvement opportunities that will have a significant positive impact for our customers, our employees, our local community, and ultimately our Company. I believe that these two award winning projects highlight that element of our culture.”

Plastikos’ two award winning projects are both multi-phased continuous improvement initiatives that were completed in 2012. The Automated Production Labeling and Tool Initiative involved advanced engineering, internal research and development, and utilized the Company’s IQMS ERP system. This project delivered a significant ROI as well many qualitative benefits including the improvement of quality, decreased lead times, and improved customer service. The Environmental Sustainability Initiative-Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle program identified green opportunities to minimize Plastikos’ environmental impact, which directly resulted in positive benefits to the local environment, the planet, and the Company’s bottom-line. The Plastikos Team took active steps to: (1) reduce the consumption of raw materials, (2) invested in energy-efficient lighting throughout the facility, (3) purchased energy efficient manufacturing equipment, (4) minimized or eliminated the use of unnecessary paper and non-value added documentation, (5) expanded its regrind material recycling program, (6) implemented an internal paper, plastic, cardboard and \ aluminum recycling program, and (7) installed external rain gardens to reduce and effectively manage storm water run-off. Please see the attached release for full details.

Manufacturing Leadership 100 Award winners will be honored on May 15, 2013 at a gala celebration that follows the ninth annual Manufacturing Leadership Summit in Palm Beach, FL, a gathering of manufacturing leaders from around the world. The theme for the 2013 Summit is "Bold Ideas for a Better Future."

See a comprehensive list of the ML 100 winners or learn more about the Manufacturing Executive and Manufacturing Leadership Council.

About Plastikos, Inc. & Micro Mold Co., Inc.:
Based in Erie, Pa., Plastikos and Micro Mold were founded to solve the most difficult problems that plagued customers and to “Make the Impossible, Possible”. Plastikos (high precision custom injection molder) and its sister company, Micro Mold Co., (high-precision mold builder) focus on small, tight-tolerance applications for the global medical and electronic markets. Since 1978, these two world-class companies have partnered with  customers to push the engineering and technical limits of the plastics industry to serve the medical, electronic, aerospace, defense, telecommunications, automotive, among other industries.