Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Sustainable Plastics
  • Rubber News
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Processor News
    • Suppliers
    • More News
    • Digital Edition
    • End Markets
    • Special Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Videos
    • Injection Molding
    • Blow Molding
    • Film & Sheet
    • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
    • Rotomolding
    • Thermoforming
    • Recycling
    • Machinery
    • Materials
    • Molds/Tooling
    • Product news
    • Design
    • K Show
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Sustainability
    • Public Policy
    • Material Insights Videos
    • Numbers that Matter
    • Automotive
    • Packaging
    • Medical
    • Consumer Products
    • Construction
    • Processor of the Year
    • Best Places to Work
      • 2023 winners
    • Women Breaking the Mold
    • Rising Stars
    • Diversity
    • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
  • Opinion
    • The Plastics Blog
    • Kickstart
    • One Good Resin
    • Pellets and Politics
    • All Things Data
    • Viewpoint
    • From Pillar to Post
    • Perspective
    • Mailbag
    • Fake Plastic Trees
  • Shop Floor
    • Blending
    • Compounding
    • Drying
    • Injection Molding
    • Purging
    • Robotics
    • Size Reduction
    • Structural Foam
    • Tooling
    • Training
  • Events
    • K Show Livestream
    • Plastics News Events
    • Industry Events
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Livestreams/Webinars
    • Editorial Livestreams
    • Ask the Expert
    • Plastics News Events Library
    • Processor of the Year submissions
    • Plastics News Executive Forum
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Plastics News Caps & Closures
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
    • Plastics in Automotive
    • Bioplastics Live
    • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Polymer Points Live
    • Numbers that Matter Live
    • Plastics in Politics Live
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
    • Plastics in Healthcare Library
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
  • Rankings & Data
    • Injection Molders
    • Blow Molders
    • Film Sheet
    • Thermoformers
    • Pipe Profile Tubing
    • Rotomolders
    • Mold/Toolmakers
    • LSR Processors
    • Recyclers
    • Compounders - List
    • Association - List
    • Plastic Lumber - List
    • All
  • Directory
  • Resin Prices
    • Resin Prices Overview
    • Commodity Thermoplastics
    • High Temperature Thermoplastics
    • Engineering Thermoplastics
    • Recycled Plastics
    • Thermosets
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
    • Conair Sponsored Content
    • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
    • ENGEL Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • Sign up for Early Classified
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
March 21, 2016 02:00 AM

Techmer encourages an 'open style'

Jeannie Reall
Correspondent
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print
    Techmer PM LLC
    Techmer PM LLC employees at a dragon boat race during a company event.

    The No. 13 company in Plastics News' Best Places to Work ranking is making its second appearance on the annual list: Techmer PM LLC, which also ranked in 2014.

    The compounder in Clinton, Tenn., is by far the largest company to make the list, with about 600 employees. It's hard to get that many people to agree on anything, but apparently the lion's share of Techmer's workers believe the company is doing something right.

    “Our culture is meant to be very personal. We encourage an open style,” said founder, Chairman and CEO John Manuck. “A key part of this philosophy is one of collaboration. It's a creative environment that encourages communication.”

    That kind of environment doesn't happen by accident, and Techmer places great importance on hiring the right people. Manuck looks for honesty and integrity in potential hires, as well as people who are — or at least have the potential to be — good communicators.

    Every year, Techmer takes part in a “collegiate mixer” in which the company interviews potential employees from 17 universities around the country. Techmer flies the top 10 or 12 candidates to its Tennessee site for a full day of interviews. Then Manuck hosts an evening dinner party for the students at his home.

    “It's important to see people in a social environment,” he said. “These are engineering and science [students], but can they relate to other people? If they can't do that internally, how will they do it in the supply chain and with customers?”

    Jessica Jordan

    Techmer identifies high-performance and high-potential people and then looks for other qualities, Manuck said: “Are they fun to work with? Are they people who want to work in teams, collaborate and share? Do they have a certain level of self-confidence?”

    That kind of hiring gives the company a strategic advantage, Manuck said, but also, “It's more fun to work in that kind of environment.” Given how much time people spend at work, “you want an environment that lifts you up and makes you feel positive.

    “Imagine grumpy people snapping at each other. Why would anyone want to work in that type of environment?” he said.

    Manuck is preparing for what could be a “seismic generational shift” in his company's staff, he said.

    “I started over 30 years ago. The company's population has aged. In a few years, some key people most likely won't be here. So we're getting the next generation ready,” he said, referring to family members who are already involved, and employees in the company's leadership development program.

    Techmer and its employees support numerous nonprofit agencies, community programs and schools. Employees can get paid time off for charity work. As the company encourages strong community ties, it also promotes strong family ties by holding events like picnics and a Halloween haunted trail for employees' children. It reimburses employees up to $150 annually for a gym membership — and $150 for each of their dependents.

    Techmer provides annual physicals for manufacturing employees at no cost.

    It has a gainsharing program that encourages employees to reduce scrap and customer returns. The savings gained are shared with workers. The company has 53 different recycling streams, and a team researching more opportunities.

    Plastics News isn't the only one to recognize Techmer with awards. The compounder received the East Tennessee College Alliance's 2015 Corporate Award for promotion and support of non-traditional, working students. Techmer also won the Large Business Excellence Award from the Anderson County (Tennessee) Chamber of Commerce in 2014.

    By the middle of this year, the company expects to open a plant in New Castle, Del. The $2 million project involves renovating a building, relocating operations from 20 miles away in Aston, Pa., and adding new manufacturing and laboratory equipment.

    By the fourth quarter, Techmer will have added 2,000 square feet of space to its Polytest independently certified testing laboratory.

    Techmer makes its value-added masterbatches and engineered compounds for the plastics and fiber industries at seven production facilities across the country. It also has offices in Brazil and Germany.

    Find an overview of the selection process and links to other Best Places to Work here.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Sustainable materials a focus of Primex expansion
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Plastics News would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor at [email protected]

    Most Popular
    1
    Treaty talks end with plans for a draft agreement, but hurdles remain
    2
    Resin Prices
    3
    Resin Prices - North America
    4
    WL Plastics building $40M MDPE pipe plant in Texas
    5
    PP recycler PureCycle sees Ohio plant as springboard for growth
    SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe today

    Subscribe to Plastics News

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Plastics News covers the business of the global plastics industry. We report news, gather data and deliver timely information that provides our readers with a competitive advantage.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI 48207-2997

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1723

    Resources
    • About
    • Staff
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Media Kit
    • Data Store
    • Digital Edition
    • Custom Content
    • People
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Sitemap
    Related Crain Publications
    • Sustainable Plastics
    • Rubber News
    • Tire Business
    • Urethanes Technology
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Processor News
        • Injection Molding
        • Blow Molding
        • Film & Sheet
        • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
        • Rotomolding
        • Thermoforming
        • Recycling
      • Suppliers
        • Machinery
        • Materials
        • Molds/Tooling
        • Product news
        • Design
      • More News
        • K Show
        • Mergers & Acquisitions
        • Sustainability
        • Public Policy
        • Material Insights Videos
        • Numbers that Matter
      • Digital Edition
      • End Markets
        • Automotive
        • Packaging
        • Medical
        • Consumer Products
        • Construction
      • Special Reports
        • Processor of the Year
        • Best Places to Work
          • 2023 winners
        • Women Breaking the Mold
        • Rising Stars
        • Diversity
        • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
      • Newsletters
      • Videos
    • Opinion
      • The Plastics Blog
      • Kickstart
      • One Good Resin
      • Pellets and Politics
      • All Things Data
      • Viewpoint
      • From Pillar to Post
      • Perspective
      • Mailbag
      • Fake Plastic Trees
    • Shop Floor
      • Blending
      • Compounding
      • Drying
      • Injection Molding
      • Purging
      • Robotics
      • Size Reduction
      • Structural Foam
      • Tooling
      • Training
    • Events
      • K Show Livestream
      • Plastics News Events
        • Plastics News Executive Forum
        • Injection Molding & Design Expo
        • Plastics News Caps & Closures
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
        • Plastics in Automotive
      • Industry Events
      • Injection Molding & Design Expo
      • Livestreams/Webinars
        • Bioplastics Live
        • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
      • Editorial Livestreams
        • Polymer Points Live
        • Numbers that Matter Live
        • Plastics in Politics Live
        • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Ask the Expert
      • Plastics News Events Library
        • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
        • Plastics in Healthcare Library
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
      • Processor of the Year submissions
    • Rankings & Data
      • Injection Molders
      • Blow Molders
      • Film Sheet
      • Thermoformers
      • Pipe Profile Tubing
      • Rotomolders
      • Mold/Toolmakers
      • LSR Processors
      • Recyclers
      • Compounders - List
      • Association - List
      • Plastic Lumber - List
      • All
    • Directory
    • Resin Prices
      • Resin Prices Overview
      • Commodity Thermoplastics
      • High Temperature Thermoplastics
      • Engineering Thermoplastics
      • Recycled Plastics
      • Thermosets
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
      • Conair Sponsored Content
      • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
      • ENGEL Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • Sign up for Early Classified