Custom compounder Star Plastics Inc. has added new equipment and launched a rebranding campaign.
Since late 2016, the firm has added a twin-screw extrusion line for development work at its headquarters site in Ravenswood, W. Va., president and CEO Doug Ritchie told Plastics News in a Sept. 19 phone interview.
Star also has added lab functions for work on flame-retardant plastics, as well as new feeder systems in Ravenswood. On the jobs front, Star this year has added two outside sales reps and one inside sales rep. The firm also soon will start up a new ERP computer system.
The new logo and tagline — Navigating Custom Compounds — give Star “a reenergized look and feel,” officials said in a news release. The firm “is an accomplished compounder with an eye toward future growth and innovation, two characteristics that shine through in their new brand identity,” they added.
Star, founded by Ritchie in 1988, does compounding work in polycarbonate, ABS and other engineering resins, with a focus on flame-retardant grades.
“We've done a lot of work in flame retardants, and we want to continue to deliver for our customers,” he said.
Star also operates a compounding plant in Millwood, W. Va., and two in China. The second Chinese plant — a 67,300-square-foot site in Shandong — opened in mid-2016. The firm opened a plant in Shanghai in 2012.
In addition to custom compounding, Star also offers toll compounding services. The firm employs 125 in the United States and another 50 in China.