The History of Elkhart Plastics
Elkhart Plastics is the premier provider of engineered plastic products for multiple industries; committed to technical leadership, environmental stewardship, innovation and being the employer of choice.
Rotomolding Parts for More Than 30 years
Humble Beginnings
Elkhart Plastics was founded on Nov. 15, 1988, in a 16,000-square-foot building in Elkhart, Indiana. The location had one rotomolding machine, and its primary goal was to serve the recreational vehicle industry in Northern Indiana. The first machine is still running in the Elkhart location.
Company President Jack Welter first joined Elkhart Plastics in 1989. He’s been with the company for more than 30 years.
By 1991, Elkhart Plastics opened a new location in Middlebury, Indiana. In this location, Elkhart Plastics pioneered rotomolded storage boxes for RVs, and we began the conversion from wood to plastic seating in the pontoon industry.
Over the years, Elkhart Plastics has grown its footprint through numerous purchases and acquisitions. In November 2020 Myers Industries, Inc. (NYSE: MYE) acquired the assets of Elkhart Plastics, and the company now operates under Myers’ Material Handling segment.
Growth Through the Years
Elkhart Plastics continues to serve the RV and marine industries in Northern Indiana. Over the past 32 years, Elkhart Plastics has expanded into a wide variety of industries and has produced hundreds of different products for customers across North America. The company now operates six manufacturing facilities in South Bend, IN (corporate headquarters); Elkhart, IN; Middlebury, IN; Ridgefield, WA; Littleton, CO; and Atlantic, IA.
Elkhart Plastics is one of the top 10 rotational molders in North America. The company ranked at No. 7 in overall sales in a 2019 report by Plastics New. As part of the 2020 Myers acquisition, Elkhart Plastics joined forces with Myers’ Ameri-Kart Corp. business to create the fifth largest rotomolding business in the U.S.
The company attributes its successful track record to strong values, high quality, and good people.
RITE Values
Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Effort (RITE). These are the values Elkhart Plastics strives to embody across the business. This is how we approach each other, our customers, and our work.
High-Quality Manufacturing Facilities
Elkhart Plastics takes pride in our facilities. All six locations are clean and well-organized. Across the company, Elkhart Plastics operates 55 rotational molding machines. Additionally, the company is are ISO 19001:2015 and 14001:2015 certified at multiple locations.
A Dedicated Team
We are proud to employ more than 500 workers across the country. Elkhart Plastics employees are well trained, dedicated experts in all areas and levels of the business. Many Elkhart Plastics employees work in the industry and stay with the company for many years, guaranteeing high quality output.
Proprietary Brands
In addition to custom rotomolding projects, Elkhart Plastics maintains four proprietary brands under its wide-reaching umbrella of products. These include TUFF Series intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), KONG Coolers, Connect-A-Dock, and SUV Cargo Caddy.
In the video below, President Jack Welter shares a bit about the company’s history, and why we’re proud to be founded and headquartered in Indiana.