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Performance Plastics
  • Capabilities
    • Precision Injection Molding
    • Net Shape Molding
    • Design Engineering
    • Direct Gating
    • Industrial CT Scanning Service
    • Quality Control & Credentials
    • Polymer Seals
  • Materials
    • FEP & PFA (Fluoropolymers)
    • PAI (Polyamidimide) TORLON®
    • PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)
    • PEI (Polyetherimide) ULTEM®
    • Ryton® PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide)
    • TPI (Polyimide) EXTEM®
    • Celazole® PBI (polybenzimidazole)
    • Nylon (Polyamide)
  • Industries
    • Aerospace & Defense
    • Medical & Life Science
    • Diversified Industrial
  • EnduroSharp®
    • About EnduroSharp®
    • Tools
      • Segmented Mandrels
      • Standard Mandrels
      • Locating Buttons
      • Back Up Pad “Quick Change” Adapter
      • Swivel Assembly
      • “Pocket” Scraper Blade Holder
      • Standard Scraper Blade Holder (Standard Handle)
      • EnduroSharp® Pneumatic Tool for Scraper Blades
      • Holder Adapter for Gap Blades (Gap Blade Adapter)
      • Scraper Blade Sharpener
      • Ratcheted T-Handle
      • Multi Wrench
      • Combination Alignment and Spindle Lock Tool
      • Torlon® Adhesive Cutter Adapter
      • Torlon® Aircraft Maintenance Tools
    • Kits
      • Deluxe Gap Blade & Holder Kit with Pneumatic Tool
      • Deluxe Scraper Blade & Holder Kit with Pneumatic Tool
      • Gap Blade & Holder Kit
      • Scraper Blade & Holder Kit
      • Surface Prep Kit
      • C-130 Prop Hub Adhesive Removal Kit
      • Nutplate Abrasion Tool “The NAT”
      • Mandrel Torlon® Adhesive Cutter (TAC) Kit
      • Andrew Tool Torlon® Adhesive Cutter (TAC) Kit
      • ABNIR, Fly Away Compact Surface Prep Kit
      • Pad Refills for NAT Nutplate Repair Kit
    • Consumables
      • Torlon® Scraper Blades (TSB)
      • Torlon® Gap Blades (TGB)
      • Torlon® Gap Filler Removal (GFR) Bits
      • Torlon® Gap Filler Removal (GFR) Discs
      • Torlon® Adhesive Cutter (TAC)
      • Torlon® Adhesive Reamer (TAR)
      • Nutplate Abrasion (NAT) Pads
      • C-130 Prop Hub Abrasion Pads
      • Abrasive Mixing Tip
      • Bottle Brush
      • Abrasive Pads for Mandrels Drill Motor and Ratcheting T-Handle Pads
      • NAT Abrasive Pads for Surface Prep
    • EnduroSharp® Price List
    • Instruction Manual
    • My Account
    • View Cart
    • View Quote List
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Case Studies
    • Videos
  • About
    • About Performance Plastics
    • Tour Our Facility
    • Management Team
    • Performance Plastics News
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Request a Quote
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You are here: Home1 / About – Main

About Us

We aspire to be the best, not the biggest. Our goal is to become an invaluable customer resource and build close, long lasting relationships. Our customers count on us to solve technically challenging jobs requiring some combination of ultra or high performance injection molding thermoplastic expertise, insert molding (a.k.a. overmolding), tight tolerances and intricate or thin walled part geometries. We are committed to solving your engineering challenges and delivering a component that enhances product performance.

Tour our Facility

Company History

Performance Plastics was founded in 1982 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since inception, we have partnered with our customers to leverage the performance advantages of high temperature thermoplastics.

In 1997, the company was acquired by Tom Mendel who brought his passion for solving customers’ most difficult problems along with his two decades of technical and management experience. Since that time, Performance Plastics has expanded its engineering and thermoplastic manufacturing bench strength with key team additions.  Additionally, in 2015 Tom brought in MCM Capital, a microcap private equity firm, as a value added partner and source of additional capital to accelerate Performance Plastics’ growth.

In 2022 Performance Plastics was added to the Pexco family of companies.  Based in Atlanta with multiple plants across the United States and Mexico, Pexco is a North American leader in the design and fabrication of engineered plastic components. Pexco www.pexco.com  offers a full range of custom design, engineering, and fabrication services, across its manufacturing operations.

Our facility has recently been expanded and we have made significant investments in state-of-the-art tools in the form of the latest in electronic injection molding presses, robotic handling, automated vision inspection and quality equipment to facilitate our goal of being a world class manufacturer and designer of ultra and high performance thermoplastic components.

Performance Plastics has molded PEEK since the material was first introduced in the early 1980’s and we have extensive experience injection molding Torlon, various fluoropolymers (e.g. PFA, FEP, PVDF, ETFE, etc.) and other high performance thermoplastic compounds.  Further, our company is one of the few able to injection mold fluoropolymers using 8 cavity, high volume molds with hot runner systems to produce thin walled intricate parts.

We Facilitate the Design Engineers Desire to Create Better Products.

We help you understand and apply high performance plastics. There is no magic to what we do. It is the result of hard work based on the complimentary knowledge, skill set, passion and determination of our Engineers. It is the way we are wired. We thrive on the challenge of doing what no one else has done. We become your partner from design through production. It starts with an almost supernatural attention to details, asking, listening, analyzing data so we know everything we can about your application before we even consider recommending a solution. We can quickly evaluate ideas to see what does or doesn’t work. From 3D CAD models, we can machine samples from stock materials, create resin cut or layered prototypes or provide soft, bridge tooling to prove your ideas work before you make a significant capital investment.

Our People Make the Difference

Unmatched technical knowledge, tenacity, and solutions-centered mindset integrate individual expertise with decades of ‘in the trenches’ experience applying and molding high performance plastics materials. We know what we do is unique. Since the 1980s we have pioneered the requirements and processes that would allow the benefits of high performance, injection molded plastics into repeatable, sustainable and cost-effective hig volume applications to become fact rather than fiction. Our materials knowledge – especially with fluoropolymers – is world class and our suppliers incredibly supportive. Our expertise in sophisticated tooling design and materials insures the best mold solution for each application. And, when it’s ready to move into production, it’s the same detail focus that we apply to the upfront engineering. It’s all about consistency – the right temperatures, times, pressures, cycles and a variety of other details that have to come together to create the perfect part.

We Help You Design It and Make It

Having one partner for your most complex part requirements provides simplicity and accountability from design through production. Our combination of high performance material properties knowledge, proprietary manufacturing processes and unmatched engineering support are what differentiates us from the commodity plastics manufacturers. They do the easy stuff. For us, the tougher the part, the better we like it.

Meet the Team

Chris Lawson

Chief Operating Officer

Chris has over 20 years of experience with PPL since graduating from the University of Akron with a degree in Industrial Management and Quality Control. He started as a process engineer and then advanced through roles in quality, safety, and manufacturing before assuming overall responsibility for operations. Chris has specialized knowledge in the areas of automation (for production and inspection), vision systems, high temperature polymer behavior, process optimization and employee training.

Anthony Malone

VP of Technology

Anthony’s entire professional life has been connected to the field of thermoplastics, beginning with his BS in Plastics Engineering from Shawnee State University and an MBA from University of Kentucky. He joined PPL in 2010 from a Fortune 500 plastics manufacturer as Director of Engineering prior to assuming his current expanded role. Anthony’s special expertise extends into resin selection, part design and related mold design. He works extensively with customers early on in the product design cycle to optimize part performance, manufacturability and life cycle customer costs based on his extensive knowledge of advanced manufacturing techniques

Rich Reed

VP of Sales and Marketing

Rich Reed has 30 years of experience helping customers design and develop solutions with high performance polymer materials. Rich began his career in R&D in the plastics field developing new products by focusing on customer needs. He has worked in Sales & Marketing for the majority of his career leading teams and solving customer problems in numerous markets including: medical, energy, aerospace & defense, industrial, and electronics. Mr. Reed has an A.S. in Chemistry, B.S. in Industrial Management, and an MBA with a specialization in Innovation and Technology. Rich enjoys working with design engineers to meet demanding product requirements. Contact him to discuss your project.

Key Contacts

Brian Black – Engineering

Jake Edwards – Automation

Aileen Crass – Marketing

Taylor LaValley  – Operations

Lear Jackson – Quality

Performance Plastics is a member of the Pexco Family of Companies

Our Services

  • Capabilities
  • Industrial CT Scanning Service
  • Design Engineering
  • Direct Gating
  • Net Shape Molding
  • Precision Injection Molding
  • Quality Control & Credentials

Products & Materials

  • EnduroSharp®
  • FEP & PFA (Fluoropolymer)
  • PAI (Polyamidimide) Torlon®
  • PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)
  • PEI (Polyetherimide) Ultem®
  • Ryton® PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide)

Support & Resources

  • PPL News
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Request a Quote

© , Performance Plastics LTD. All Rights Reserved.
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