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
    • Resin pricing news
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • Commodity TPs
    • High Temp TPs
    • ETPs
    • Thermosets
    • Recycled Plastics
    • Historic Commodity Thermoplastics
    • Historic High Temp Thermoplastics
    • Historic Engineering Thermoplastics
    • Historic Thermosets
    • Historic Recycled Plastics
  • 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
April 08, 2022 08:11 AM

Competitors offer machine time to fire-ravaged Robinson Industries

Catherine Kavanaugh
Staff Writer
Plastics News Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print
    PN20220411p19 robinson-fire-aftermath 30p_i.jpg
    Courtesy of Robinson Industries Inc.
    Robinson Industries Inc. Plant Superintendent Corey Vickery assesses the fire damage while a U.S. flag he had installed waves in the background.

    The fire that swept through Robinson Industries Inc. in Coleman, Mich., destroyed thermoforming machines, tooling and offices, but it hasn't stopped the 75-year-old company from conducting business while it plans to rebuild, thanks to some surprising support.

    "Some of our competitors amazingly are offering us machine time. We're working out the details for our employees to go there," Robinson Industries Marketing Manager Ronda Robinson said in a phone interview.

    Her grandparents, Fred and Ardis Robinson, started the company in their basement in 1947 selling artificial polystyrene foam snow.

    Robinson Industries grew to employ 200 people at two sites in Coleman, a small town of 1,250 people in mid-Michigan. The women-owned business produces pallets, packaging, ice-fishing sleds and consumer goods for Ford, GM and national retailers with about 17 machines.

    The machine fleet was almost wiped out in the March 31 fire that took six hours and 1 million gallons of water to extinguish.

    The fire started on the midnight shift, at about 5:20 a.m. Plastic sheet had been heated to a state Robinson describes as "liquid drapes" to form into parts.

    "A plastic part fell onto the burner and, being a petroleum-based product, it took off," she said. "The fire started on a machine. It was nobody's fault. It just happened."

    Employees tried to put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher and at one point it seemed they succeeded.

    "But it sparked again," Robinson said. "The focus then became finding everyone and getting them out to safety."

    The 25 employees escaped without injuries into the cold and darkness as first responders from about 20 townships, cities and counties made their way to the large rural commercial fire.

    Robinson called the actions of first responders heroic.

    "What they did gives me goosebumps," she said. "They really put themselves right on the line. They parked a truck between the fire and our propane tank then directed the water to keep flames from the tank. I'm sure it saved lives. That would have been a huge explosion."

    Still, a lot of damage was done. The main production plant is a heap of rubble. A week after the fire, insurance adjusters were still surveying the toll.

    Robinson said one machine was spared because it was in another building, so it can be used for production. Some finished goods also made it through unscathed and were shipped to the customer on April 4.

    "It looks like a bomb went off, but we never closed," Robinson said. "We stayed in business, and we're making huge advances every day."

    Several machines also look like they can be quickly rewired and refurbished.

    "We will have to get a temporary building or move them to parts of the plants not affected by the fire while we rebuild the main plant," Robinson said.

    Robinson Industries has several buildings outside the damaged area at its headquarters site that can be utilized as well as another facility about 5 miles away, where structural foam work is done.

    The molds used to form the parts are in various states.

    "Some are fine. Some need work. Others are completely demolished," Robinson said. "We're starting to rebuild those already."

    Company departments that handle product design, prototypes, sheet extrusion and maintenance weren't affected and also are back on the job or will be soon. Other workers will be called back in phases. Robinson expects everyone will get the call.

    "We really want them to stay with us," she said.

    In the meantime, workers will receive unemployment benefits and the company will pay their health insurance for three months. They will receive discounted medical care, too, through a regional agency that also has a retraining program.

    To fill orders and return more employees to the payroll as quickly as possible, Robinson said the owners will accept "wheels," which are the machines that make the thermoformed parts, from some companies in Michigan.

    "Competitors are giving us their machine time to produce our pallets, shipping trays and other products. That's generous," Robinson said. "We're talking to them individually."

    The mayors of nearby towns, suppliers and construction trade workers also have asked what they can do to help.

    In addition, former Robinson Industry workers have volunteered their skills and time if needed.

    "Retirees have asked, 'Can I come back and help?'" Robinson said. "Nobody wants money. They just want to help. The outpouring of support has been incredible. We have heard from dozens, maybe hundreds, of people between community members, businesses, service providers and competitors. It's like how we felt after 9/11. People pulled together. It's that kind of a feeling."

    Robinson said she didn't have permission yet at press time to name the competitors offering aid.

    With estimated annual sales of $30 million, Robinson Industries ranks 61st among North American thermoformers, according to Plastics News' latest ranking.

    "Right now our focus is on the immediate tasks," Robinson said. "We're cleaning up, making sure employees are OK, and each sales person is working closely with their customers to see what is needed now. What are the really hot jobs? We will move those to the machines we have or to the other locations that have offered us machine time."

    While employees and owners work to maintain operations, they also are looking ahead to what Robinson Industries will be like beyond its 75th anniversary.

    Second-generation owners who are in their 80s have led the talks about constructing a new manufacturing plant and offices, according to Robinson.

    "My uncle, Bin Robinson, called the plant manager 45 minutes after the fire broke out and said, 'Start thinking about how you want to rebuild,'" she said.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Industry sees Biden bioplastics goal as serious signal
    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
    Biden sets US goal to replace 90% of plastics with biomaterials
    2
    Industry sees Biden bioplastics goal as serious signal
    3
    Report urges treaty to regulate plastics like pharmaceuticals, limit growth
    4
    One injured in explosion at Ineos cumene plant in Texas
    5
    Engineering resin prices close the first quarter with a drop
    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
        • Women Breaking the Mold
        • Rising Stars
        • Diversity
        • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
      • Newsletters
      • Resin pricing news
      • 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
        • 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
      • Commodity TPs
        • Historic Commodity Thermoplastics
      • High Temp TPs
        • Historic High Temp Thermoplastics
      • ETPs
        • Historic Engineering Thermoplastics
      • Thermosets
        • Historic Thermosets
      • Recycled Plastics
        • Historic Recycled Plastics
    • 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