Hoffer Plastics Highlights
Catch Hoffer Plastics in the News
Hoffer Plastics Expands Family Leadership Roles
SOUTH ELGIN — Hoffer Plastics Corporation, an industry leader and innovator in the custom injection molding industry, recently announced that CEO William Hoffer will take on a new role as Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2020. These changes come on the heels of promotions for the third generation of Hoffer family leadership: Gretchen Hoffer Farb, Charlotte Hoffer Canning, and Alex Hoffer, collectively known as "G3" — or “third generation.” William is the second...
Remembering Cal: A Story of Pediatric Cancer
As we slip into October, let us also remember that September represented Pediatric Cancer Awareness, a time for us all to commemorate those who have lost their fight —and share a moment of reflection to honor those amidst the battle for their young lives. In my recent history, as a Board member of a local Illinois a non-profit pediatric cancer foundation, Cal’s Angels, I’ve learned that awareness is the key to working towards the obstacles...
Five Human Resource Tips To Improve Your Bottom Line
When most organizations think about human resources, they think of workplace mechanics like compensation, performance, safety, wellness, benefits, and training. When I think about human resources, I think about people. Without a human resource department, there is no dedicated team for attracting, training, and retaining talented people. And without people, there is no business. People should be top of mind for every executive, director, human resources professional, and CEO. Here are five people-focused HR tips...
Gretchen Farb Named Crain’s Notable Women in Finance
Gretchen Farb, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Value Creation At family-owned Hoffer Plastics, Gretchen Farb oversees the finances of the plastic injection-molding business as well as the Hoffer Foundation. She manages the company’s investments and its 401(k) plan. In the last 12 to 18 months, Farb instituted new enterprise resource planning software and helped lead the company to a record year. Revenue last year rose 12.5 percent to $90...
Limited Growth Among Top 100 Injection Molders
Must be summer because it is time to look at the numbers behind Plastics News' ranking of the Top 100 North American injection molders. Look to next week's issue for the smaller firms. There are 102 firms in the top 100 this year, that's due to the three ties at No. 100. The companies have combined molding sales of $29.1 billion. The top 10 alone make up 34 percent of that total revenue. The average...
China Tariffs Will Hit Consumers Hard
For many Americans, President Donald Trump's trade war may soon get very real. His administration is preparing to extend 25% tariffs to practically all Chinese imports not already hit with duties, including toys, sneakers, shirts, alarm clocks, toasters and coffeemakers. That's roughly $300 billion worth of products on top of the $250 billion targeted earlier. "The administration's decision to announce a tax on every product coming from China puts America's entire economy at risk," the...
Fallout from China Trade War
Tony Ward, left, and Bob Leadingham inspect parts in the tool room at Hoffer Plastics on May 13, 2019 in South Elgin. The custom injection molding company shifted suppliers from China to other countries, such as Vietnam, after the first round of tariffs last year. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) With China and the United States embroiled in an all-out trade war, Illinois companies are scrambling to find new overseas suppliers, even as...
Hoffer Plastics Adds High-Speed Lining Machine
Hoffer Plastics Corp. (South Elgin, IL) is known for its innovations in cap and closure technology, including its signature Drop-Lok closures used in a range of rigid and flexible pouch packaging across many industries. The closure features a traditional one-motion, twist-off design, and is available in many types of resin. In many Drop-Lok applications, a lined cap is a key element, providing a crucial barrier for product integrity, quality, shelf life and, most importantly, safety....
Hoffer hopes to lead family business to 100 years
Alex Hoffer Founded in 1953 by Robert and Helen Hoffer, Hoffer Plastics Corp. is a custom injection molder that serves customers in the packaging, automotive, appliance and consumer industrial industries. Hoffer Plastics was named the Plastics News Processor of the Year in 2012. Alex Hoffer's first job at Hoffer Plastics was to clean the air conditioners on top of the 365,000-square-foot facility in South Elgin, Ill. "It was hot, boring, and...
Highlighting the best millennials in plastics
From golf to fast food restaurants and even newspapers, it seems like millennials get accused of ruining or killing industries all the time. I often get frustrated when my generation gets maligned in the media and elsewhere. Yes, don't let the bald head fool you: Technically, I'm a millennial. When it comes to gripes about my generation in the workplace, the typical refrain is that millennials are entitled. Conventional wisdom is because we were given...
Hoffer Plastics Scores Two Big Wins with Flexible Pouch Closures
Tether-Lok Custom injection molder Hoffer Plastics Corp. (South Elgin, IL) is launching two innovative closures for flexible pouch packaging. The closures offer significant advances and benefits in terms of manufacturing compatibility, industry applications, product safety, tamper evidence and seal integrity. The first new product, Tether Lok, leverages Hoffer’s successful Trust-T-Lok basic design and properties, but goes a lot further. Tether Lok is a one-piece spout and neck fitment, ready to be...
