Thermoformer Bardes Plastics Inc. and its sister company have a new ownership team from inside the companies, following the death last fall of the longtime owner and founder.
Bardes executives Michael Heyer and Mary Strupp bought the companies June 1.
Heyer had served as general manager and Strupp as director of sales and marketing for Bardes Products Inc., which manufactures vinyl mailer envelopes and office products.
Bardes Plastics makes thermoformed packaging and industrial dunnage trays.
The companies share a 100,000-square-foot building in Milwaukee.
Albert Bardes, who founded the thermoforming company 53 years ago, died in September 2002, Strupp said. Bardes was one of the first companies to make round, clear box lids for greeting cards and gift packaging, a product still made at the company, she said.
The company now specializes in blister and clamshell packaging for specialty food and gift items and industrial robotic trays.
Strupp and Heyer worked to keep the companies running after Albert Bardes died, while they gained bank financing to purchase the operations, she said. They have hired several other new executives, including a general manager and business development manager.
``We're trying to keep everything status quo, but look at some new ideas for continued growth in the business, including fulfillment of products,'' Strupp said.
``We'd like to continue to fill our plant with additional projects in medical, packaging and blisters for consumer use.''
The company will record sales of about $4 million this year, Strupp said.
