United Resins Inc. is now known as US Cast Inc., a name which it hopes will better reflect what it does and highlight that its cast acrylic tubes and rods are American made.
The Pittsgrove, N.J., company was founded by World War II veteran Albert O'Brien in 1954 and he personally managed operations until he died at age 92 on Dec. 5, 2012. O'Brien, who had a chemistry degree from West Virginia University, created the formulations and even his own machinery while building the business.
His sister Margaret McCutcheon is the new owner and continues the family tradition. She has taken steps to see that his legacy continues and pointed to the name change as a reflection of his belief in the community and the American way.
The company has invested in the 30,000-square-foot facility, adding oven capacity as well as polishing and trimming machinery. It also worked to improve efficiencies in quality control, logistics, inventory management and customer service. It distributes to its customers through various distributors and has also opened a new web site, www.uscast.net.
Plant manager Salvador “Salvi” Cortes, who has been with the company for 40 years, remains as part of the 15-employee team.
US Cast's largest tubes are now 14 inches, where before they were 12 inch. Its cast acrylic tubes are made in 29 diameters from 1.5 inches to 14 inches. Its wall thicknesses can be made from 1/8 inch to a ½ inch.
US Cast's acrylic rods are made in lengths from five to eight feet and have 34 diameters ranging from ¼ inch to 6 inch.
The clear rods and tubes are used in hundreds of applications. They include furniture frames and knobs, electrical and electronic components, sight gauges, candle molds, filter changers, signs and displays, outdoor lighting lenses, decorative and art projects, clear fluid movement monitors, food canisters, oil filter housings, pressure vessels, pneumatic conveyor tubes, clear fasteners, museum-quality displays, kidney dialysis connectors and generator insulators.