TAMPA, FLA. — Three custom molders — injection molders Hoffer Plastics Corp. and Rodon Group LLC and DeKalb Molded Plastics Co., which does both structural foam and injection — are the finalists for Plastics News' 17th Processor of the Year Award.

A team of judges from the Plastics News editorial department in Akron picked the finalists.

DeKalb is based in Butler, Ind. Hoffer hails from South Elgin, Ill. Rodon, a custom molder also known for K'Nex construction toys, is in Hatfield, Pa. Rodon was a finalist last year for the award.

The winner will be announced March 5 at the Plastics News Executive Forum in Tampa, Fla. The finalists and winner will be honored at a reception, and the next morning, executives from each finalist company will hold a best practices panel discussion.

Plastics News will profile the Processor of the Year winner in the March 11 issue.

Judges evaluated all candidates on seven criteria: financial performance, quality, customer relations, employee relations, environmental performance, industry/public service and technological innovation.

Check out video features of each finalist by clicking on the company names: DeKalb, Hoffer, Rodon.