TriStar Plastics
TriStar Plastics is a specialty manufacturer and exclusive North American distributor of self-lubricating plastic and composite bearings (CJ, Ultracomp, TriSteel, Rulon, Meldin), serving industrial verticals including aerospace, medical, food & beverage, marine, and semiconductors via custom fabrication and e-commerce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersShrewsbury, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What TriStar Plastics does
TriStar Plastics, LLC is a Massachusetts-based, privately held specialty manufacturer founded in 1982 that engineers, fabricates, and distributes self-lubricating plastic and composite bearing materials for industrial customers. Its core product portfolio spans filament-wound composite bearings (CJ/FCJ, Ultracomp), metal-backed self-lubricating bearings (TriSteel), proprietary filled PTFE materials and plane bearings (Rulon), and high-temperature polyimide polymers (Meldin), complemented by custom precision plastic components, stock-shape distribution, and the Enhanced Materials Division (EMD) offering plasma surface treatments and contract manufacturing. The company holds an exclusive North American distribution partnership with Saint-Gobain for the Rulon, Meldin, and Fluoroloy product lines and operates from a Shrewsbury, Massachusetts headquarters plus four additional U.S. sales and distribution centers in Denver, North Carolina, Yorba Linda, and Hoffman Estates.
TriStar serves 13+ vertical end-markets — including railroad, military/defense, marine, medical, food & beverage, agriculture, construction, oil & gas, aerospace, robotics, general manufacturing, pulp & paper, and semiconductors — addressing pain points such as lubrication-related bearing failure, washdown and salt-water corrosion, grease contamination, and weight reduction. Its revenue model combines quote-driven custom fabrication and engineered solutions sales (1-800-TRISTAR, Ask the Expert portal, direct engineering consultation) with listed-price e-commerce through webstore.tstar.com and a self-service customer portal for account management. The company markets primarily via technical content (450+ material database, 100+ educational videos, white papers, blog, newsletter), maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification alongside FDA 21 CFR Part 820, USP Class VI, REACH, and California Prop 65 compliance declarations, and operates a 'Doctor Bearing' AI-enabled website assistant for material queries. Ownership is held under TriStar Plastics, LLC with operating leadership comprising Richard Cedrone (CEO) and David Mello (President and owner), and Graycliff Partners is listed among investors as of May 2025.
TriStar Plastics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TriStar Plastics
- Legal name
- TriStar Plastics, LLC
- Website
- https://tstar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- TriStar Plastics is a specialty manufacturer and exclusive North American distributor of self-lubricating plastic and composite bearings (CJ, Ultracomp, TriSteel, Rulon, Meldin), serving industrial verticals including aerospace, medical, food & beverage, marine, and semiconductors via custom fabrication and e-commerce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TriStar Plastics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Bearings and High-Performance Plastics Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261), Plastics Materials and Basic Forms and Shapes Merchant Wholesalers (424610)
- SIC
- Plastics Products, Nec (3089)
- akta.pro primary industry
- High-Performance & Specialty Polymers (PPS, LCP, PI/PAI, PAEK) (IMAEANAI)
Keywords
Where TriStar Plastics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shrewsbury
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
TriStar Plastics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Bearing Products: Sale of self-lubricating plastic and composite bearings including CJ, FCJ, Ultracomp, Rulon, and Meldin product lines. Both standard catalog sizes and custom fabricated components.
- Custom Fabrication: Precision plastic component manufacturing from prototype to production, serving unique application requirements from small-diameter to large-diameter parts.
- Material Distribution: Distribution of high-performance plastic stock shapes, engineered materials, and value-added services including close-tolerance cutting and just-in-time delivery.
- Surface Treatment Services: Plasma treatment and surface modification services through Enhanced Materials Division for improved bonding and adhesion performance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Catalog Products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
TriStar Plastics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TriStar Plastics designs, engineers, custom fabricates, and manufactures self-lubricating plastic and composite bearing materials — including CJ/Ultracomp composites, Rulon PTFE, and Meldin high-performance polymers — for industrial buyers. The company also distributes high-performance plastic stock shapes and provides plasma surface treatment services through its Enhanced Materials Division, holding exclusive North American distribution rights for Saint-Gobain's Rulon, Meldin, and Fluoroloy product lines.
Product overview
TriStar Plastics is an engineering-driven bearing manufacturer offering a portfolio of self-lubricating plastic and composite bearing products. The core product line includes CJ Bearings (filament-wound composites), TriSteel (metal-backed with multiple liner options), Ultracomp (high-load composites), Rulon Bearings and Materials (PTFE-based), and Meldin (high-temperature polyimides). These are complemented by custom fabrication services, stock shapes for distribution, and an Enhanced Materials Division offering plasma treatments and surface modifications. The company serves as the exclusive North American partner for Saint-Gobain's Rulon, Meldin, and Fluoroloy product lines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Enhanced Materials Division (EMD): Cutting-edge enhancements that improve and extend the performance of polymers, elastomers, and specialized membranes. Services include plasma surface treatments, specialized membranes, and contract manufacturing.
- CJ Bearings
- TriSteel
- Ultracomp
- Rulon
- Meldin
Products and services
- CJ Bearings Filament-wound composite bearings with embedded lubricant providing high load capacity, low friction, and maintenance-free operation. Available in standard and metric sizes as a drop-in brass/bronze replacement option for industrial buyers seeking lubrication-free operation.
- TriSteel Metal-backed self-lubricating bearing system with multiple liner options (PT, AC, PE, PR/P4, AT) for demanding environments. Features a sintered polymer/bronze interlayer supporting high loads and speeds, and continues to lubricate after wear-through.
- Ultracomp Self-lubricating composite bearings designed for high-load, low-speed applications, combining mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and resistance to corrosion and harsh environments for linear, oscillating, and rotary motion.
- Rulon Bearings PTFE-based plane bearings offering heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant, long-wearing performance for high-load, dry-running environments. Delivers maintenance-free operation by eliminating greasing systems and reducing wear.
- Rulon Materials Proprietary filled PTFE materials engineered for high-performance self-lubricating wear applications. Combines high compressive strength, low friction, and excellent abrasion and corrosion resistance, with FDA-compliant grades (Rulon 1439, Rulon 1337) and USP Class VI grade (Rulon 641) available for regulated industries.
- Meldin High-performance engineered polymers (thermoplastic and thermoset) designed for severe wear and temperature environments. Offers excellent dimensional stability, low friction, and strong mechanical properties from cryogenic to elevated temperatures, suitable for semiconductor plasma etching chambers and aerospace applications.
- Custom Plastic Components Precision plastic components manufactured to customer specifications using small-diameter screw machines to large-diameter turning centers and high-capacity milling centers, supporting prototype-to-production runs of unique application parts.
- High-Performance Plastic Stock Shapes High-performance plastic stock shapes for demanding applications, including engineered materials, Rulon PTFE grades, and standard self-lubricating bearings. Includes value-added services such as close-tolerance cutting and just-in-time delivery.
- Enhanced Materials Division (EMD) Services Performance-boosting polymer and elastomer enhancements including plasma surface treatments, specialized membranes, and contract manufacturing services that improve bonding, adhesion, and extend the performance of polymers, elastomers, and specialized membranes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Grease elimination reduces maintenance hours and lubrication costs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use TriStar Plastics
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments13 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
TriStar Plastics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
TriStar Plastics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Saint-GobaincoreTriStar is the exclusive partner for the Rulon, Meldin, and Fluoroloy product lines in North America with the largest global inventory for immediate shipment. This exclusive distribution partnership provides access to industry-leading PTFE and polyimide bearing materials.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
TriStar Plastics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Igus: German manufacturer of polymer bearings, bushings, and energy chain systems. Igus offers a broad catalog of self-lubricating plastic bearings for similar applications as TriStar, including food-grade, medical-grade, and high-load industrial use cases, with strong direct-to-customer e-commerce presence.
- GGB Bearing Technology: A global specialist in self-lubricating plain bearings and polymer bearing solutions (formerly Glacier Garlock Bearings). GGB competes head-to-head with TriStar in self-lubricating composite bearings across industrial, automotive, and heavy equipment applications.
- Fluoro-Plastics Inc. A US custom PTFE and high-performance plastic fabricator that competes with TriStar in custom plastic component manufacturing for industrial applications. While not a direct bearing specialist, it overlaps in custom fabrication of PTFE-based components for similar end markets.
- Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics: The original manufacturer of Rulon, Meldin, and Fluoroloy product lines that TriStar distributes in North America. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics competes directly in Europe and globally with the same product portfolio TriStar sells, making it TriStar's most direct peer in material capability and customer overlap.
- PBC Linear (Pacific Bearing Company): A US-based specialist in linear motion and plain bearings, including polymer and self-lubricating bearing solutions. PBC Linear competes directly with TriStar's Ultracomp and CJ product lines in linear and oscillating motion applications.
Broad incumbents
- SKF: The world's largest bearing manufacturer with growing polymer and composite bearing offerings within its broad industrial portfolio. SKF competes with TriStar in selected applications but does not specialize in the maintenance-free, harsh-environment polymer bearing niche.
- RBC Bearings: A US specialty bearing manufacturer (publicly traded) serving aerospace, defense, and industrial markets with engineered bearing solutions including polymer-lined and self-lubricating products. Overlaps with TriStar in military/defense and aerospace applications but operates at significantly larger scale.
- Thomson Industries: A broad industrial linear motion and bearing manufacturer (part of Altra Industrial Motion) that offers polymer plain bearings alongside its wider portfolio of ball bearings, lead screws, and actuators. Competes with TriStar in linear motion applications but is not specialized in self-lubricating composites.
- NSK: A major Japanese bearing manufacturer with a substantial industrial polymer bearing product line. NSK competes in some of TriStar's served verticals (railroad, manufacturing, agriculture) but focuses on ball and roller bearings, with polymer offerings as a smaller part of its portfolio.
Emerging players
- Boca Bearings: A smaller US-based specialty bearing company with a strong direct-to-consumer e-commerce focus, offering ceramic, plastic, and miniature bearings. Boca overlaps with TriStar's webstore business in serving smaller-scale industrial and hobbyist customers but lacks the engineered custom fabrication depth.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TriStar Plastics social profiles
Digital presenceTriStar Plastics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
TriStar Plastics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TriStar Plastics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
TriStar Plastics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TriStar Plastics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TriStar Plastics
What does TriStar Plastics do?
TriStar Plastics designs, engineers, custom fabricates, and manufactures self-lubricating plastic and composite bearing materials — including CJ/Ultracomp composites, Rulon PTFE, and Meldin high-performance polymers — for industrial buyers. The company also distributes high-performance plastic stock shapes and provides plasma surface treatment services through its Enhanced Materials Division, holding exclusive North American distribution rights for Saint-Gobain's Rulon, Meldin, and Fluoroloy product lines.
Is TriStar Plastics a public or private company?
TriStar Plastics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was TriStar Plastics founded?
TriStar Plastics was founded in 1982. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is TriStar Plastics based?
TriStar Plastics is headquartered in Shrewsbury, United States, in the North America region.
How does TriStar Plastics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Bearing Products are the primary driver. The others are custom Fabrication, material Distribution and surface Treatment Services.
Who are TriStar Plastics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Igus, GGB Bearing Technology, Fluoro-Plastics Inc., Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and PBC Linear (Pacific Bearing Company). Broad incumbents are SKF, RBC Bearings, Thomson Industries and NSK. Boca Bearings is listed as an emerging player.
Does TriStar Plastics have an API?
No public API is recorded for TriStar Plastics.
What industry is TriStar Plastics in?
TriStar Plastics's product category is Industrial Bearings and High-Performance Plastics Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEANAI, High-Performance & Specialty Polymers (PPS, LCP, PI/PAI, PAEK). Its NAICS code is 3261 and its SIC code is 3089.