HEBRON, OHIO — Polymera Inc., a profile extruder and compounder of wood-plastic composite material, closed July 14, laying off about 30 people.
The company was founded in 2010 and began operations the following year in Hebron, about 25 miles east of Columbus, Ohio. Polymera management included several industry veterans with decades of experience from Crane Plastics Manufacturing Inc. of Columbus.
Polymera owner and President Maan Said did not return phone calls seeking comment.
After a tip that the company could be closed, a Plastics News reporter stopped by the factory in a Hebron industrial park on July 28. The front door was locked. No cars were in the parking lot. Then Jason Staffan, a laid-off plant worker, drove up in his pickup truck, trying to find a supervisor to sign his form to get unemployment compensation.
Staffan said the factory closed July 14. Said called an emotional meeting between the second and third shifts to announce the news, Staffan said.
Staffan had worked at Polymera for about one-and-a-half years, running extruders and pelletizers.
“I loved working here,” he said. “We had a great team.” Staffan said, “I'd definitely come back,” if Polymera can reopen.
Maan Said was a hands-on executive who often pitched in to help out in the factory, Staffan said. “Maan was a great guy. He was out there sweeping the floors with us,” he said.
Staffan said that all of management was supportive and good to work with. Asked if there were any “bad guys” in the closing, he said: “Money was the bad guy. You stop making money and you can't stay in business.”
Then management personnel drove into the parking lot, and signed his unemployment form. They confirmed the plant had closed but referred questions to Said.