Robert Lebeaux, founder of materials firm Plastics Group of America, died Jan. 26 at age 69.
Lebeaux founded Ralco Industries Inc. in Manville, R.I., in 1973 as a one-man firm buying and selling scrap materials. At the time, he had just graduated from high school and was working for his father's firm — Rhode Island Polymers, a compounder and scrap broker in nearby Cranston — when a chance to market plastic film scrap came along.
Ralco in 1978 purchased a grinder, a baler, an extruder and a tractor-trailer and expanded into the recycling business. In 1979, Michael Rosenthal joined Ralco as executive vice president. He remains with the firm today in that role and as a minority owner. In 1980, Ralco began custom compounding reinforced plastics under the trade name Polifil.
Ralco in 1986 added 12,000 square feet to its facility in Woonsocket, R.I., where it had moved. That same year, the firm added another business unit, Transcontinental Polymers, which added more recycling and toll processing capabilities.
Plastics Group of America became the company's official name in 1988, combining Ralco, Polifil and Transcontinental Polymers. In 2012, Plastics Group purchased the Jules Desurmont Mill complex in Woonsocket and refurbished it into additional manufacturing, storage and office space.
Today, Plastics Group of America employs more than 60 and has annual sales of more than $50 million.
On Plastics Group's website, Lebeaux said "I attribute much of our corporate success to being part of a creative, hard-working team of talented individuals — working closely together has enabled us to both set and achieve substantive goals for corporate growth and product development."
"At the heart of our success is providing unparalleled customer service to each and every client we serve," he added. "Our customers know that they can depend on us to provide them with quality products, attentive service, and timely delivery — these deliverables are the foundation upon which our business is built."
Lebeaux is survived by his wife Marti, sons Seth and Jacob, daughter Heidi and granddaughter Maddy.
A memorial service was held Jan. 30 at Shalom Memorial Chapel in Cranston, R.I. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lebeaux's memory can be made to Community Living of Rhode Island, 1575 South County Trail, East Greenwich, RI, or to the Greg Hanna Charitable Fund, PO Box 1805, Kingston, RI 02881.