Redline Plastics was founded in 1922 as Dow Canvas, manufacturing products for the tent and awning industry. It was purchased in 1975 by the Webster family and grew to become a leader in marine and powersports covers.
In 1996, it was named Dowco and grew to include plastics fabrication in 2016 with the purchase of Premier Plastics. The Webster family sold the Dowco Marine division in 2018, keeping plastics and powersports, and renaming it Redline Plastics.
The Manitowoc, Wis.-based rotational molder and vacuum former ranks No. 5 on Plastics News' Best Places to Work list for processors. This is Redline's first time on the list.
The company recently moved into a 117,500-square-foot manufacturing plant in Manitowoc, more than doubling the size of its previous facility, about two miles away. The plant was designed "from the ground up to be a facility that would enable us to make the best products," the company said on its website. It features bright, efficient LED lights "to see product defects and ensure proper color matching."
The activities committee plans and hosts enjoyable activities roughly once per quarter. Celebratory lunches were held pre-COVID-19 and will continue again after the pandemic.
Several programs exist at Redline to acknowledge its 80 employees for their hard work. There's a monthly award for Safety and Continuous Improvement Innovation for most impactful contributions. Employees with perfect attendance for the year receive a monetary award. Longevity is recognized with a financial reward based on years with the company.
"Redline Plastics is a Best Place to Work due to the friendly culture from the top all the way to the newest employees. People [must like to] work with other people and when people have a positive attitude, it makes work much more enjoyable," the company said in its Best Places to Work questionnaire.
Redline has nine paid holidays per year. Ten vacation days are available after one year of employment, plus two sick days.
Programs to promote health and wellness double as contests for employees. Redline also offers an employee assistance program and on-site personal development workshops and classes.
Employees can contribute to their retirement plan, which includes an employer match, 60 days after hire.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Redline employees who were able to do so worked remotely.
Redline's industries include powersports, construction equipment, lawn and garden, laundry and cleaning, and playground equipment. Redline ranks No. 64 among North American rotomolders, with $7 million in sales, according to PN's latest ranking.
"Redline Plastics is the best due to the friendly culture that has been created. The top reason employees like working at Redline is the people they work with," the company said. "You can offer all kinds of incentives to try to get people to stay or you can hire good people with caring attitudes who people want to be around."