Press Releases
Intek Plastics Sets Course for Solid Future by Promoting Two to Co-Lead the Company
Intek Plastics Acquires Elite Plastic Corp.
Driving Lean through Your Supply Chain
White Paper a Valuable Tool for Evaluating Lean Suppliers
Intek Plastics Scores Big on Safety for NHL
Intek Plastics Honored as 2006
“Manufacturer of the Year”
Intek Plastics Awarded ISO Certification
Intek Plastics Sets Course for Solid Future by Promoting Two to Co-Lead the Company
Kinning named President; Glienke promoted to Chief Operating Officer
HASTINGS, MINN. (June 22, 2010) - Intek Plastics, Inc. announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Mike Kinning as President and Steve Glienke as Chief Operating Officer. Bringing a balance of company, industry, and operational expertise to their roles, the two will serve as co-leaders of the company effective immediately.
"I am confident that co-leadership of the company will serve customers and the company well because Mike and Steve's skills complement each other perfectly and they work seamlessly together," said John Penn, Chairman of the Board and acting CEO. "I have never seen two senior leaders work together as well as they do. That's why I recommended this co-leadership model to the board." Penn will vacate his role as CEO and continue to serve as Chairman of the Board for Intek.
Kinning started at Intek in 1991 as a Sales Engineer, and went on to serve the company as Business Manager, Manufacturing Manager, and Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In 2009, he was named Vice President and General Manager. He has bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of Minnesota, and holds certificates for Lean Manufacturing and Lean Leadership from the University of Kentucky as well as a Product Management Certificate from the University of Wisconsin.
"Steve and I are excited about the opportunity to lead Intek and are very optimistic the company is well positioned to capitalize on improving economic conditions," Kinning said. "We look forward to working closely with our valued customers, suppliers, and employees as we continue to provide the highest quality products at the lowest total cost."
Glienke, a CPA, joined Intek in 2003 as a Controller and became the company's Chief Financial Officer in September 2004. Prior to joining Intek, he was the Controller and Logistics manager for Satellite Industries, Inc., and the General Manager of a local construction supply company. His plastics background includes blown-sheet film, blow molding, thermo forming and roto molding. He has also led numerous Lean Accounting workshops in the Twin Cities area. Steve has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota.
"During the past several months, we've focused extensively on reducing overhead costs and improving operational efficiencies to better position the company for the future," Glienke said. "Our dedicated employees are committed to continuous improvement and have sustained excellent quality and service during these difficult economic times."
About Intek Plastics
Intek Plastics (www.intekplastics.com) is a privately held company that engineers, extrudes and fabricates custom plastic extrusions for medium-to-large OEM's requiring unique, high-performance solutions. Intek's scale and sophistication allow it to serve any industry with world-class manufacturing, including construction, retail point-of-purchase displays, window and door manufacturing, agriculture, recreation, appliance, telecommunications, transportation, commercial refrigeration and LED lighting. Intek and its 250 associates create value for customers through a commitment to continuous improvement, lean manufacturing methods, and investment in materials and process technology. Founded in 1961, Intek is headquartered in Hastings, Minn., and also has a location in Hawthorne, N.J.
Intek Plastics Acquires Elite Plastic Corp.
Move expands Intek’s reach to new markets, materials and capabilities
HASTINGS, MINN. (March 19, 2008) – Intek Plastics, a leader in custom plastic extrusion and fabrication, announced today it has acquired the assets of Elite Plastic Corp. of Hawthorne, New Jersey. Elite Plastic is a privately held manufacturer of custom plastic profiles for the point-of-purchase market in the northeastern United States that has been in business for 25 years.
The acquisition allows Intek Plastics to serve a broader customer base with new materials and greater extrusion expertise in the point-of-purchase industry. “The addition of Elite Plastic opens the door to a whole new customer base,” said Rob Tracy, President and CEO of Intek Plastics. “By uniting two companies that are very strong in their respective markets, both businesses will grow, improve and serve customers better.”
Intek Plastics and Elite Plastic plan to retain their workforce and company leadership with the acquisition. Both companies will continue operating in their current locations.
About Intek Plastics
Intek Plastics (www.intekplastics.com) is an ISO 9001:2000 certified, privately held company that engineers, extrudes and fabricates custom plastic extrusions for medium to large OEMs requiring unique, high-performance solutions. Intek’s scale and sophistication allows it to serve any industry with world-class manufacturing, including construction, point-of-purchase, refrigeration, agriculture, recreation, appliance, telecommunications and transportation.
Founded in 1961, Intek is headquartered 30 minutes south of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Intek also has a location in Hawthorne, NJ, specializing in point-of-purchase. Intek’s associates work together to create value for customers through their commitment to continuous improvement.
Driving Lean Through Your Supply Chain
White Paper a Valuable Tool for Evaluating Lean Suppliers
Includes 15-point checklist for determining whether suppliers are truly lean
HASTINGS, MINN. (September 19, 2007) – Lean manufacturing alone is not enough to prosper in today’s global market. Lean enterprise – integrating lean into every facet of business including the supply chain – is now the gold standard. Yet many suppliers are still lagging in lean. Why is this so and what can be done about it?
"Driving Lean Through Your Supply Chain" is a free white paper from Intek Plastics. It answers these and other vital questions. From understanding the value of a lean supply chain to identifying the telltale signs of a real lean supplier, the article provides useful information for building a complete lean enterprise.
White Paper Includes 15-Point Lean Supplier Checklist
Closing with a 15-Point Lean Supplier Checklist, the white paper provides a convenient resource for evaluating suppliers’ lean initiatives. The checklist will help manufacturers determine whether suppliers are positive contributors to their lean enterprise goals.
The Driving Lean through Your Supply Chain white paper is now available as a free PDF.
Intek Plastics Scores Big on Safety for NHL
Plastic extruder engineers a system to make league’s boards more forgiving
HASTINGS, MINN. (January 4, 2007) – Bone rattling board collisions are an inevitable part of life in the National Hockey League. This season, however, more NHL players will skate away without serious injuries thanks to a new product from Intek Plastics, a custom plastic extruder, and Athletica, a rink systems provider.
SoftCap is a flexible extruded plastic cover that sits on top of rink dasher boards. Its design uses hollow channels to absorb impact 96% better than the material previously used, according to NHL testing. The league expects SoftCap will reduce head, chin, elbow and other injuries and has approved the product for all team arenas. The New York Islanders was the first team to install the product and several more orders have followed.
Complex Product Requires Sophisticated Extruder
Minneapolis-based Athletica, which supplies 75% of NHL dasher boards, developed an initial concept for SoftCap in April. When the company approached plastic extrusion manufacturers to produce the product, they were often turned down. Most plastic extruders considered the job too challenging due to the large size and complexity of the parts.
Athletica eventually discovered Intek Plastics, which is also in the Twin Cities area and specializes in custom plastic extrusions. Intek had extensive experience with complex plastic extrusion jobs and was confident it could successfully produce the product.
"Having the knowledge, skill and the right equipment to create a product like this is vital,” observed Joel Rhode, applications engineer for Intek Plastics. “It allows us to produce large, more intricate extrusions with superior quality.”
Finding the Sweet Spot
To design and produce a prototype in time for the fast-approaching NHL season, Intek employed its Rapid Design for Lean Manufacturing process. This included a collaborative daylong brainstorm in which the companies devised a solution that met both Athletica’s performance needs and Intek’s manufacturing requirements.
The resulting design accomplished both goals. The SoftCap is manufactured from Santoprene a flexible, colorable plastic that performs well in cold conditions. In addition to absorbing impact, the design evolved into a four-piece, modular system that would compensate for rink variations and while minimizing any effect on play. A friction-reducing coating was also added.
According to Athletica engineer Matt Palumbo, the project was a success. “The product gave us everything we needed in a compressed timeframe,” noted Palumbo. “It was very well-received by the NHL.”
Coming Soon to a Rink Near You
When the product is released for full production in the coming year, Athletica plans to make it available to NCAA, high school and recreational rinks.
About Athletica
Benefiting from four decades of industry experience, Athletica builds world-class sport solutions, including Crystaplex ice hockey rinks and arena products, Border Patrol Permanent and Portable in-line hockey rinks and GamePlex multi-sport rinks. As a Preferred Rink Equipment Supplier to the NHL, Athletica’s ice dasher systems are found in most NHL arenas and in over 3,000 rink systems worldwide. Athletica strives to improve the game through service, safety and innovation with patents and patents pending on several of its products. It is committed to providing high-quality products customers can trust at an affordable value. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Athletica can also be found at www.athletica.com.
Intek Plastics Honored as 2006
"Manufacturer of the Year”
Commitment to lean manufacturing principles
sets Intek Plastics apart
HASTINGS, MINN. (April 17, 2006) - Intek Plastics, a leading provider of thermoplastic extrusions, was named 2006 "Manufacturer of the Year" among mid-sized companies by the Manufacturer's Alliance (MA). The MA is a Minnesota-based educational manufacturing association that annually recognizes three Minnesota manufacturers for discovering new ways to add value and become more productive. Intek Plastics was presented with the award at a banquet for all MA members, held April 13 in Eden Prairie, Minn.
The award acknowledges Intek Plastics' commitment to lean manufacturing under the leadership and vision of CEO Rob Tracy, who has worked hard to lead the organization's lean efforts and articulate his improvement expectations. "Lean manufacturing is the centerpiece of our manufacturing process," explains Tracy. "The most important element in effectively implementing lean is Intek Plastics' highly skilled work force."
Three years ago, Tracy met with all employees in small groups to explain and promote the implementation of lean principles. Management staff and union leaders attended training sessions at the University of Kentucky. Kaizen events, continuous improvement teams and an employee recognition program also helped drive the change. Tracy credits the involvement of all employees for the award. "It is a true honor to be recognized by the MA. The real lean work is done in the trenches and our hands-on team deserves all the credit."
About Manufacturer's Alliance
A Minnesota based educational association for manufacturing companies, the mission of the Manufacturer's Alliance (www.mfrall.com) is to provide peer-to-peer training, education and resources which allow manufacturers to continuously grow, improve and stay competitive.
Intek Plastics Awarded ISO Certification
Hastings-based company recognized for meeting rigorous standards of quality management
HASTINGS, MINN. (February 27, 2006) - Intek Plastics, a leading supplier of thermoplastic extrusions, announced its ISO 9001:2000 certification, reflecting the company's commitment to providing products and services that surpass customer expectations.
The widely respected certification assures that Intek Plastics meets the quality management requirements of the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) for the design and manufacturing of custom extrusion and fabrication subassemblies. By voluntarily seeking ISO certification, Intek has taken the initiative to meet the highest standards of product and service.
Recognition of Excellence
ISO 9001:2000 is based on eight quality management principles including a customer focus, a demonstration of continual improvement, and leadership ability. Intek Chief Executive Officer Rob Tracy sums up the company's dedication to these principles, Whether maintaining mutually beneficial supplier relationships, identifying new markets or developing innovative extrusion solutions, Intek Plastics continues to provide unmatched quality and value. ISO 9001 certification is our proof.
About ISO 9001
ISO 9001 was founded in 1987 as an internationally-accepted quality management certification system to define, identify and confirm quality benchmarks within organizations. But since then it has become much more. Today, ISO 9001 is helping thousands of companies worldwide manage their processes to become more efficient and cost-effective. ISO 9001:2000 is the current version of the standard, updated in 2000.
