General Plastics Inc., a Milwaukee-based industrial thermoformer, won a Grand Award in the small company category at the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards.
The winners were announced Feb. 23 at a black-tie dinner in Milwaukee.
General Plastics' owner, Robert Porsche, and Patrick Cain, the plant manager, attended the event. Cain said the small company category covers companies with fewer than 100 employees.
The four Grand Award winners, categorized by the number of employees, were recognized for superior, overall performance. Criteria included financial growth and consistency, technological advances, product development, environmental solutions and sustainability, operational excellence/continuous improvement, commitment to employees and the future workforce of Wisconsin, community stewardship and effective research and development.
During the day, Porsche and Cain went to the Manufacturing Matters conference, attended by people from all over the state. General Plastics, a custom thermoforming company, runs some of the biggest forming equipment in that sector.
Cain presented on the topic of “business sustainability expectations.” He said it covered “mainly environmental best practice and tying it to lean initiatives.”
Twenty-six Wisconsin companies were nominated for the 29th Annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards.
General Plastics is a finalist for the Plastics News Processor of the Year Award. The winner of that award will be announced at the Plastics News Executive Forum, set for March 27-29 in Naples, Fla.