Inc. 5000 Recognizes McClarin Plastics as one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in America
HANOVER, PA, August 8, 2017 – Every year Inc. 5000 recognizes the fastest-growing private companies in the US. McClarin Plastics is proud to announce to have made the list for the second time. Only one-third of all companies evaluated make the list twice as the starting base becomes harder every year. Companies who made the list have grown six-fold since 2013 during which time the economy only grew 6.7 percent. Jerry Armstrong, President and CEO of McClarin Plastics added “I am extremely proud of our team and this recognition by Inc. magazine.”
McClarin Plastics, LLC is a recognized leader in design, product development and manufacturing of highly engineered, molded plastic assemblies. For more than 60 years, we have been helping companies of all sizes find creative solutions using our various molding processes to ensure proper material selection for customer applications.
McClarin Plastics Invests in Oklahoma City, OK based Custom Composites
HANOVER, PA., May 9, 2017 – McClarin Plastics, a premier manufacturer of highly engineered thermoformed plastic, fiberglass reinforced plastic, composite products and complex assemblies today announced its investment in Oklahoma City, Okla.-based Custom Composites, a niche manufacturer of polypropylene and composite fiberglass products including tanks, grating, fire apparatus and custom parts. Together, McClarin and Custom Composites will continue to supply innovative composite products to the industrial equipment, construction, rail, transportation, energy, agricultural and medical industries.
With the addition of Custom Composites, McClarin is now even better positioned to serve the Central and Southwest United States. This acquisition represents the next evolution of McClarin Plastics as it continues to experience significant growth. The move adds significant strategy value to the company, which already maintains facilities in the Pacific Northwest, Northeast, and Southeast United States.
“The opportunity to expand operations to serve Oklahoma and surrounding states is a tremendous benefit to McClarin Plastics, and more importantly, our customers,” said Jerry Armstrong, CEO of McClarin Plastics. “We’ve experienced continued demand for our highly engineered products and this is the next step in improving our delivery and production capabilities in that area. Through the acquisition of Custom Composites, McClarin will be able to hit the ground running and leverage a state-of-the-art facility and an experienced team of employees.”
McClarin Plastics plans to invest additional capital into Custom Composite’s new, state-of-the-art 83,000 sq. ft. production facility. McClarin will continue to service Custom Composites existing customers and plans to move additional business to the location. McClarin expects to add over 50 additional jobs at the facility over the next several years, and has earned support from the Oklahoma City council in the form of economic development incentives for doing so. McClarin partnered with MetaFund, an Oklahoma City-based socially responsible private equity firm that owned Custom Composites, to complete the deal and spark additional job growth at the facility.
The acquisition of Custom Composites marks another successful and strategic addition to McClarin Plastics. With geographic coverage of the entire United States and a variety of innovative, often custom-designed, composite manufacturing processes, McClarin has positioned itself as an industry-leader. McClarin, a portfolio company of Blackford Capital, continues to pursue add-on opportunities throughout the U.S.
About Custom Composites
Custom Composites, founded in 1972, is a niche manufacturer of polypropylene and composite fiberglass products including tanks, grating, fire apparatus and custom parts. For additional information, visit www.customcompositesok.com.
About McClarin Plastics
McClarin Plastics, Inc. is a premier contract manufacturer of large thermoformed plastic and fiberglass reinforced plastic components for industrial equipment, construction, rail, transportation, agricultural and medical applications. In 2015, the company merged with Amtech to provide more comprehensive capabilities for the military and commercial markets. The company provides production throughout North America and China, with international exports to Asia and Europe. The company is owned by Blackford Capital, a private equity firm based in Grand Rapids, Mich. For more information, visit www.mcclarinplastics.com.
Blackford Capital’s Amtech Merges With McClarin Plastics, Inc
Company Positioned to be a Leader in the Composites Molding Industry
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., March 31, 2015 – Amtech Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of fiber-reinforced plastic components based in Yakima, Wash., today announced it has merged with Hanover, Pa.-based McClarin Plastics, Inc. Amtech is a portfolio company of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Blackford Capital. The new company, McClarin Plastics, LLC, will be headquartered in Hanover.
The merger with McClarin, a 61-year-old designer and manufacturer of thermoformed and fiberglass reinforced plastic components, provides Amtech new manufacturing processes, a strategic east coast location, and access to a new set of blue-chip customers. Management teams from both companies will remain in place with Todd Kennedy, current CEO of McClarin, and Doug Christie, current CEO of Amtech, serving as co-CEOs.
“McClarin has an excellent reputation for dependable service and reliability, as well as a broad range of proprietary compound formulations,” said Christie, who has led Amtech’s growth since Blackford acquired the company. “This merger will make McClarin Plastics, LLC a national provider with facilities within one-to-two days shipping for 80-90 percent of the market. Our six major production processes will address roughly 45 percent of the $35 billion U.S. composites industry and our best-in-class engineering will be able to meet the needs of customers across diverse end markets.”
Kennedy added, “Customers have been overwhelmingly positive about the merger and clearly see the enhanced value that we will be able to provide to the market. We possess substantial strengths including engineering excellence, complex supply chain management, quality systems that meet rigorous OEM standards, and best-in-class operational platforms that utilize technology-driven solutions. These strengths will further drive performance and value for our customers.”
Blackford acquired Amtech in 2008, and has grown the company’s revenue from an initial $9 million to $38 million, prior to the merger with McClarin. Blackford facilitated two previous acquisitions for Amtech, and implemented operational initiatives that have driven 28 percent average annual revenue growth.
“Amtech has had an amazing trajectory over the six years since we acquired them,” said Martin Stein, founder and managing partner of Blackford. “We attribute a great deal of that success to our investment in engineering, geographic diversification and strengthening of our sales infrastructure. The merger with McClarin ticks each of these boxes and further positions us to become one of the leading players in the composites market.”
Blackford, in line with its commitment to support its management teams and the expansion of its businesses, has named 11 people to the McClarin Plastics, LLC board of directors:
Martin Stein, Blackford Capital
Chuck Bennett, Dixie Chemical
Phillip Ashkettle, RESPolyflow, LLC
Michael Clifford, McClarin Plastics
Todd Kennedy, McClarin Plastics
Larry Miller, Crystal Associates, LLC
Steven Schomer, Valeo, Inc.
Greg Stone, Blackford Capital
Estella Vallejo, O’Brien Enterprises
Jim Zawacki, GR Spring & Stamping
Shirish Pareek, Hydraulex Global
MB Financial Bank and Patriot Capital provided financing for the transaction. Over the next few years, the merger is expected to create more than 150 new jobs, spread between Yakima, Hanover, and a manufacturing plant in Elmore, Ala.
About Blackford Capital
Blackford Capital is a private equity firm based in Grand Rapids, Mich., that acquires, manages and builds middle-market manufacturing, distribution and service companies, with seven portfolio companies across the country. The firm has offices in Grand Rapids (headquarters) and Santa Monica, CA. Blackford reviewed roughly 3,400 transactions in 2013, and has closed 27 transactions in the past seven years. The firm’s investment criteria includes mature, profitable businesses with revenues between $20 million and $100 million, with management teams that are either willing to remain with the company or are seeking to retire. For more information, visit www.blackfordcapital.com.
About Amtech
Established in 1987, Amtech is a diverse manufacturer of composite-based products and parts. With expertise in design, engineering, and research and development, Amtech’s products are distributed in both military and commercial markets. Amtech manufactures fiberglass, resin transfer molding (RTM), vacuum assist RTM (VARTM), large and small vacuum-form plastics capabilities, finishing, value-added assembly, and custom packaging. Amtech is owned by Blackford Capital, a private equity firm based in Grand Rapids, Mich. For more information, visit www.amtechcorp.com.
About McClarin Plastics
Founded in 1953, McClarin Plastics, Inc. is a premier contract manufacturer of large thermoformed plastic and fiberglass reinforced plastic components including ABS, polycarbonate, PETG, Styrene, TPO and PC/ABS and polyethylene components for industrial equipment, construction, rail, transportation, agricultural and medical applications. The company also offers open, cold, or multi-cavity molding options for fiberglass reinforced plastic molding and fabrication, providing production throughout North America with international exports to Asia and Europe. For more information, visit www.mcclarinplastics.com.
Education Secretary Highlights Need for Education and Manufacturing Sectors to Work Together
Hanover, PA, Aug. 21, 2012 – Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis today visited McClarin Plastics in Hanover to highlight the education recommendations contained in a report issued by Gov. Tom Corbett’s Manufacturing Advisory Council.
Tomalis urged Pennsylvania’s education and manufacturing sectors to work together to ensure students have access to quality curriculum and programs to enter the workforce upon graduation.
“Without a doubt, education impacts every facet of our lives, as well as the economy,” Tomalis said. “For the economy to grow and remain sustainable, today’s students must have access to quality educational programs that will provide them with the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in the workforce.”
Recognizing manufacturing’s value to Pennsylvania’s economy, last year, Corbett commissioned an advisory council to identify and prioritize top issues that can help influence, sustain and advance the commonwealth’s manufacturing sector.
Led by the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, the 24-member council sent its report to the Governor and the General Assembly outlining 15 recommendations it believes will help Pennsylvania remain competitive in today’s global economy.
The report highlights that many companies are having difficulties in finding workers with the education and skills to fill the growing number of advanced manufacturing positions available.
“McClarin recognized this fact several years ago and embarked on a program to establish partnerships with several school districts,” said Todd Kennedy, president of McClarin Plastics. “This program seeks to acquaint students, teachers and parents with the opportunities in advanced manufacturing through internships, job shadowing, and other programs, such as ‘Educator in the Workplace.’ McClarin felt that teachers, students and parents needed to get into manufacturing facilities and the industry needed to have a presence in the schools.”
Of particular importance is the council’s recommendation to implement a system to evaluate and provide targeted support to educators with the ultimate goal of increasing teacher effectiveness.
When Gov. Corbett singed the 2012-13 state budget into law, it included a measure to ensure that every student in Pennsylvania has access to a quality educator.
Virtually unchanged for more than 40 years, the educator evaluation system will, for the first time, include multiple measures of student achievement.
Under the new system, 50 percent of an educators’ evaluation will be based on multiple measures of student achievement, with the remaining 50 percent based upon traditional educator practice and observations.
“Research shows that the most important factor in a student’s academic success is the quality of the individual’s teaching in and leading our schools,” Tomalis said. “This new evaluation method will provide critical feedback to both educators and their supervisors on where to best focus their resources to improve educator effectiveness. Pennsylvania taxpayers invest more than $500 million each year into professional development and this new evaluation system will assist in directing those dollars into areas that will benefit students.”
The council consisted of 23 members from a cross-section of manufacturing interests including heavy machinery, minerals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, steel and textiles. The council also includes three members of manufacturing trade associations and one from the Industrial Resource Center. Team Pennsylvania Foundation funded the council and no taxpayer dollars were used to support this initiative.
Tomalis highlighted the education findings in the report during a visit to McClarin Plastics, which specializes in contract manufacturing of composite, thermoplastic and/or metal assemblies offering turnkey value-added solutions. McClarin Plastics, which encompasses 400,000 square feet of manufacturing space throughout three facilities in Hanover, was founded in 1953.
“Education plays an integral part in the future success of the commonwealth and its citizens,” Tomalis said. “It’s imperative for the public and private sectors to join together to foster an environment where students are provided the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education that will pay dividends well into the future.”
Similar events were held throughout the state today with Gov. Tom Corbett in Breinigsville, Lehigh County; Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Julia Hearthway in Philadelphia; and Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Alan Walker, in Duquesne, Allegheny County.
The full report is available at www.teampa.com/manufacturingcouncil.
Media Contact:
Tim Eller, Department of Education, 717-783-9802
Todd Kennedy, McClarin Plastics, 717-637-2241
Vacuum Infusion Process Improvements Developed by McClarin Plastics Proves Promising for Wind Energy
McClarin Plastics Highlights Internal Advances to Improve Strength, Environment, Flexibility, and Life Span.
Hanover, PA, June 3, 2010 – McClarin Plastics, a leader in thermoforming and vacuum infusion of fiber reinforced plastics, believes wind energy producers will see better, stronger, greener materials/parts for their wind turbines by embracing vacuum infusion and process improvements developed by McClarin during the design and build process. General advancements over time, as well as technologies developed by McClarin, prove timely and promising as the market increases its global presence.
Vacuum infusion has been the standard process for many of these components for a number of years. Now McClarin Plastics highlights new internal developments that can enhance these parts. These components historically have been created using an open mold process; however, with vacuum infusion, the results are parts that are lighter in weight, improved physical properties, better fabrication methods, and reduced emissions into the environment. Additionally, McClarin has been able to improve the surface appearance without a costly second operation. Of other interest is McClarin’s development of adding surface details and features on the reverse side of the part, similar to the RTM process, without the costly tooling needed. This is a major advancement to improve part integration and lower over-all part quantities.
Focusing on the environment and life span as key factors for improvements, McClarin concentrated on and successfully tested an innovative new barrier coating that was tested by underwater submersion in a confidential project. “We were given a challenge and developed something unique to the market,” said Todd P. Kennedy, the Plant Manager of the Renewable Energy Division for McClarin Plastics. “The results we are seeing are surprising.” To date, this composite has exceeded the expectations in this difficult environment.
McClarin, with the vacuum infusion process, routinely imbeds components within the laminate during the infusion cycle, eliminating secondary bonding operations and insuring that these components are structurally secured. This one-step process increases the durability and time efficiencies since items/components are already infused into the laminate versus being applied secondarily.
McClarin Plastics fabricates nacelles, nose cones, and spinner hubs for industrial wind turbines utilizing the vacuum infusion process. They also make the outside shell for a smaller turbine used either commercially or residentially. As a contract engineering manufacturer, McClarin will build from a print, however they also have the capabilities and experience to work with their customer introducing new ideas that could ultimately save time and money through material selection, parts integration and assembly. To learn more about McClarin Plastics and their vacuum infusion process, please visit https://www.mcclarincomposites.com/vacuumInfusion.html.
