AKRON, OHIO — Plastics News is seeking nominations for its annual Processor of the Year Award, which honors a leading North American plastics processor for its performance, corporate responsibility and overall excellence.
Some procedural changes should heighten the excitement about this year's award. Instead of announcing the winner in advance and presenting the award the following week, the finalists will be announced in advance, with an Oct. 4 story in Plastics News.
The winner will be kept secret — Academy Awards-style — until the Oct. 15 awards banquet at the Oct. 13-16 Executive Forum 2000 in Orlando, Fla.
``In addition to increasing anticipation about who the winner may be, this change also will allow us to recognize the efforts of more than just one worthy company,'' said Publisher Anthony Eagan.
The award is open to all private and public companies or corporate operating divisions in North America that engage mainly in plastics processing and have done so for at least five years. A team of judges from Plastics News' editorial staff will select the finalists and eventual winner from the eligible nominees based on verifiable accomplishments in areas such as financial and quality performance, customer and employee relations, industry and public service, and environmental consciousness.
To nominate a company — be it your own or that of a supplier or customer — submit a statement of 250 words or less outlining why the firm deserves the award. A nomination form will be posted on Plastics News' Web site at www.plasticsnews.com.
Forms also will be available at Plastics News' booths at upcoming trade shows, including Antec '99 in New York the week of May 3, the Medical Design & Manufacturing Show East in New York three weeks later, and Plastics Fair Chicago in mid-June in Rosement, Ill.
Submit nominations using the online form, or mail or fax entries to: Processor of the Year, Plastics News, 1725 Merriman Road, Akron, Ohio 44313; fax (330) 836-2322.
The 1999 winner will join an impressive group.
Last year's winner was Courtesy Corp. of Buffalo Grove, Ill., chosen from a field of more than 30 entries, the most ever. In 1997, Nypro Inc. of Clinton, Mass., took home the honors.
The first winner, in 1996, was Bryan Custom Plastics of Bryan, Ohio.
All three past winners happen to be custom injection molders, but the award is open to companies engaged in any type of processing, including blow molding, thermoforming, extrusion and rotational molding.
Senior reporter Bill Bregar will be coordinating the award this year. He can be reached by calling (330) 865-6158 or by e-mailing him at [email protected]