TriStar Plastics

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.

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

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

• Self-lubricating bearings
• High-performance plastics
• Composite bearings manufacturing
• PTFE bearing materials
• Custom plastic fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Shrewsbury

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Custom Fabrication: Precision plastic component manufacturing from prototype to production, serving unique application requirements from small-diameter to large-diameter parts.
3. Material Distribution: Distribution of high-performance plastic stock shapes, engineered materials, and value-added services including close-tolerance cutting and just-in-time delivery.
4. Surface Treatment Services: Plasma treatment and surface modification services through Enhanced Materials Division for improved bonding and adhesion performance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments13 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Saint-GobaincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTriStar 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/TriStarPlastics
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RC799
• Facebookfacebook.com/TriStarPlastics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tristar-plastics-corp-

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TriStar Plastics