Vital mixes unusual model, fun culture

Baldwin, Wis. — Vital Plastics Inc. has an employee-friendly culture that starts at the top with CEO Terry Townsend.

"Going to work shouldn't be drudgery; it shouldn't be a soul-numbing exercise. It should be a favorable part of your life, and that's what we strive for," Townsend said. "We try hard to make culture a part of it because, I think, first of all it's the right thing to do. Second of all, it pays huge benefits because people that enjoy what they do and who they work with are more productive."

The Baldwin-based custom injection molder has a unique business plan that includes many home-based employees who do complex assembly. The company is the 2018 winner of the Plastics News Excellence Award for employee relations.

"The company's foundation is actually the assembly business," President George Hauser said. "We started doing outsource assembly back in 1994, and it wasn't really until 1996 that we ever actually molded products."

He added: "What's unique about it is we've used home-based employees to do this, and it serves a variety of needs. It serves our community; it serves people who maybe otherwise wouldn't be employable or people who would not have access to jobs because of their situation, stay-at-home moms, retired folks, etc."

The stay-at-home workers come to the Baldwin plant once a week and pick up boxes of parts to assemble, instructions and sometimes fixtures to help do the piecemeal work. They bring the assembled parts back a week later, and the cycle continues.

Vital actually installed a drive-through in its factory so the at-home workers can conveniently pick up and drop off work.

Townsend and Joe Ahlm started the company in 1994, along with a silent partner. Vital Plastics has made it through some tough times over the years, including Ahlm's death of pancreatic cancer in 2011, at age 54.

Chief Financial Officer Matthew Fish said 2018 was an excellent year for the company.

"2018 was our best year. 2019 marks our 25th year in business, and 2018 was a record year in terms of profits, in terms of revenue. We invested record amounts into equipment and machinery; we've hired some key strategic positions," Fish said. "It's really a pivotal year in terms of catapulting our growth, is what I truly believe."

The company's 2018 sales were about $18 million. Vital Plastics employs more than 300 people, including about 140 in-house and anywhere from 150-170 homeworkers. The company runs 57 injection molding presses, ranging in clamping force from 33-400 tons, at two molding and assembly facilities totaling 70,000 square feet. One of the plants primarily runs automotive work, and the other does a wider variety of custom molding.

When it comes to employee relations, Vital Plastics is about more than at-home workers. Townsend said he likes the company to be a fun place to work, as well as a rewarding career that encourages workers to get training and sharpen their skills.

Some 54 people have worked at Vital Plastics more than five years, 33 for 10-20 years and 12 for more than 20 years.

"This company has been really nice to me. Since I've been here, I was deployed overseas, and they helped my family out and I will forever be thankful for that," said Tim Driscoll, production manager.

"The cool thing about the shop is that it's pretty laid-back. We come here, we get our work done, but it's a great group of people to work with. It's fun," he said.

"I like the whole aspect of it feels like a family," said Tammy Fedderly, assembly manager. "I honestly think that Vital cares about us. If you have an issue or a problem, they're always there to help you."