March 25, 2002
Article - Plastics News
DeKalb creates recycled bumpers
DeKalb Molded Plastics Co. is molding recycled plastic and rubber
into highway guardrail bumpers being used across the United States.
DeKalb of Butler, Ind., has begun molding the bumpers with a Uniloy
structural foam molding press using recycled high density polyethylene
and automobile tires. It expects the project will divert a minimum of
675 tons of HDPE and nearly the same amount of tires from Indiana's
landfills annually.
The blocks are sandwiched between metal guardrails and metal posts
driven into the ground. They are easier to install than the wood blocks
they replace and, unlike the chemically treated wood blocks, don't pose
disposal problems.
Although they address landfill issues in Indiana, the blocks can end
up on highways across the country because they are approved by the Federal
Highway Administration.
October 2001
News Release
DeKALB Molded Plastics named a 2001 Growth 100 Awardee
Butler, IN. - The Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation,
part of Indiana University's Kelly School of Business, recognized Indiana's
leading high potential, high growth companies at this 8th Annual Growth
100 Dinner and Awards Banquet Thursday evening, October 25th at the
Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.
DeKALB Molded Plastics was founded in 1979 and was purchased by local
owners, Jeff Rodgers and Rick Walters in 1997. The company employs (100)
people in the Butler facility. Jeff Rodgers, Pres. & CEO states
that he is proud to be recognized as an Indiana Growth 100 Company.
"Besides the personal satisfaction, this is a great reward for
our employees who have worked so hard to support Rick and I since we
purchased the company. By adding (35) jobs to our company in the year
2000 DeKALB has had a positive effect on the economy of our community.
Being a good and contributing neighbor is a part of our overall approach
to the business." DeKALB has enjoyed 56% growth since the time
of the change in ownership. This is well ahead of the company's business
plan. 2000 year-end revenues were in excess of $13 million,
DeKALB Molded Plastics is a custom molder of large structural plastic
parts. The company is ISO 9002 registered and was presented with the
"Indiana 2000 Quality Improvement Award".
The Growth 100 award honors Indiana's rapid growth, high potential
entrepreneurial companies with annual sales of at least $1 million.
This year 77 highly qualified privately owned companies were selected
from nearly 200 applications across the state. Growth 100 companies
are identified through an analysis process that is based upon High Performance
Organization research conducted by The Johnson Center.
Press Release October
23, 2000
Indiana Quality Improvement
Award Presented to DeKALB Molded Plastics
Seated: Jim Burns, Q. A. Mgr.,
Betty Tustison, Q.A. Tech, Rick Walters, V.P.
Standing: Jeff Rodgers, Pres.
& CEO
On October 16th, the State of Indiana
presented DeKALB Molded Plastics with its Quality Improvement Award. The
award recognizes manufacturers or organizations that have achieved measurable
progress in improving quality. The award is presented by the Indiana Business
Modernization Corporation (BMT).
Lt. Governor Joe Kernan, who is vice
chairman of the BMT Board, said, "The State of Indiana Quality Improvement
Award is a high honor, and yet it is one that virtually any company or
organization in Indiana can earn. It is a great recognition for achieving
excellence."
Del Schuh, president of BMT, summarized
the importance of the Quality Improvement Award. The award is an expression
of the public support for the highest standards of quality leadership and
achievement by Hoosier organizations. It is designed to foster continuous
improvement.
Governor Frank O'Bannon established
the State of Indiana Quality Improvement Award in 1995.
DeKALB Molded Plastics is a custom
molder of large structural plastic parts, primarily structural foam. DeKALB
is an ISO 9002 certified company located in Butler, Indiana.
Press Release January 11,
2000
On December 27, 1999, DeKALB
Molded Plastics was awarded its ISO 9002 certification through registrar
SRI. The company was awarded the certificate upon completion of a near
perfect audit.
The Company's President, Jeff
Rodgers, stated "ISO certification is another major accomplishment for
our continuous improvement program. We work diligently to provide more
value for our customers, and this is another milestone in that quest.."
In addition to the ISO certification
DeKALB has received several quality and performance awards from World-Class
customers. Some of the more notable have come from IBM, Eastman Kodak,
Brunswick and Sprectra-Precision. DeKALB has long been recognized as "The
Quality Supplier" to the Structural Plastics Industry.
Structural Foam, Gas Assist, Structural Foam
Plastics, Injection Molding, Structural Foam Molding, Gas Assist Molding,
Many structural foam applications.
