What Universal Plastics Corp. does

Universal Plastics Corp. is a privately held, family-owned custom plastics manufacturer founded in the early 1970s and headquartered in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The company operates four specialized manufacturing facilities across the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and midwestern United States (Holyoke MA, Howes Cave NY, Middlefield OH, and Latrobe PA), totaling more than 470,000 square feet of production space. It employs between 51 and 100 people and serves Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized OEMs, and startups across medical, aerospace, transportation, electronics, and outdoor/recreation verticals.

The company operates three core plastic forming processes: custom thermoforming (heavy gauge, pressure forming, vacuum forming, twin sheet), large-part injection molding (including structural foam and gas assist), and custom extrusion blow molding. It distinguishes itself as an industry pioneer in gas assist injection molding, having commercialized more than 500 parts using the technology since the early 1980s. Universal Plastics also provides in-house tooling and engineering, Class A automotive-quality painting (capable of handling parts up to 11'x11'x3'), complex assembly, EMI/RFI shielding, and warehousing, positioning itself as a one-stop shop for large, complex, highly aesthetic plastic parts. The firm holds ISO 9001:2015 certification across all four sites, FDA registration as a Medical Device Establishment and as a contract manufacturer of sharps collectors, UL Yellow Card certification for gas assist processes, and minority-owned business certification.

Universal Plastics generates revenue through custom manufacturing services priced via a Request for Quote (RFQ) process, with contracts ranging from one-time projects to multi-year production agreements. Revenue streams include part production, tooling, design and engineering services, and secondary operations. The company grew through the November 2019 acquisitions of Premium Plastics Solutions (blow molding) and W. Kintz Plastics assets, and consolidated all operations under the Universal Plastics brand in January 2020. President and owner Jay Kumar leads the company, which maintains no external private equity or venture capital ownership.

Name

Universal Plastics Corp.

Legal name

Universal Plastics Group, Inc.

Website

https://universalplastics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Universal Plastics Corp. is a family-owned custom plastics manufacturer operating four specialized facilities (thermoforming, injection molding, blow molding) across the eastern and midwestern United States, serving Fortune 500 companies and OEMs in medical, aerospace, transportation, and industrial markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Plastic Manufacturing

NAICS

All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (326199)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

Thermoformed Plastics Manufacturing (IMANAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Custom Injection Molding & Contract Manufacturing (Job Shops/CMs) (IMANAFAJ), Thermoformed Consumer Products & Housewares (IMANAHAD)

Keywords

• Custom thermoforming
• Injection molding
• Blow molding
• Plastic manufacturing services
• Industrial fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Holyoke

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Manufacturing Services: Universal Plastics generates revenue through custom manufacturing of plastic parts using thermoforming, injection molding, and blow molding processes. They offer one-time project work as well as ongoing production contracts with customers ranging from Fortune 500 companies to smaller OEMs and start-ups. Revenue is generated from part production, tooling, design/engineering services, and secondary operations (painting, assembly, etc.).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Universal Plastics Corp. is a custom plastic parts manufacturer producing large, complex, highly aesthetic parts via three core processes: custom thermoforming (vacuum forming, pressure forming, heavy gauge, large part, twin sheet), injection molding (including structural foam and gas assist), and extrusion blow molding. Services span full part lifecycle from design assistance and tooling through Class A automotive-quality in-house painting, complex assembly, EMI/RFI shielding, and warehousing for medical, aerospace, transportation, electronics, and outdoor/recreation OEMs.

Product overview

Universal Plastics Corp. is a custom plastic products manufacturer offering three core manufacturing processes: Custom Thermoforming, Injection Molding (including Structural Foam and Gas Assist), and Custom Blow Molding. The company provides end-to-end manufacturing solutions complemented by in-house secondary services including Class A automotive painting, complex assemblies, EMI/RFI shielding, and engineering & tooling support. Their expertise lies in manufacturing large, complex, highly aesthetic plastic parts serving medical, aerospace, transportation, and general industrial markets. The product portfolio spans from custom thermoformed trays and enclosures to injection molded medical equipment components and blow molded containers, with capabilities ranging from small precision parts to large components up to 12 feet in size.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Thermoforming Custom plastic thermoforming service converting sheets of plastic into detailed finished products for medical, aerospace, transportation, electronics, and industrial OEMs. Includes heavy gauge, pressure forming, vacuum forming, twin sheet, large-part, and medical device thermoforming capabilities in four US facilities, with parts up to 12ft x 9ft.
• Injection Molding Large-part injection molding service including structural foam molding and gas assist injection molding, for medical, laboratory, manufacturing, retail, and dispensing-machine industries. Operates on presses ranging 85-1,500 tons to produce parts up to 70" x 80".
• Custom Blow Molding Custom extrusion blow molding for medical, waste management, automotive, safety, recreational equipment, and large-capacity potable water bottle applications, with shot sizes from 1.5 lbs to 30 lbs and parts up to 36" wide x 66" long. FDA registered as a contract manufacturer of sharps collectors.
• Engineering & Tooling In-house design assistance, tool making, and production support including Haas Mold Maker machining centers, Prototrack full 3-axis CNC machines programmed via MasterCam, plus wood, metal working, and welding shop capabilities for global tooling programs.
• Secondary Services Complete secondary operations bundled with custom plastic parts production, including complex assemblies, Class A automotive-quality high gloss painting, RFI/EMI shielding, screen printing, drape forming, and warehousing.
• In-House Painting Class A automotive quality high gloss painting service with state-of-the-art paint booths capable of handling part sizes up to 11'x11'x3', available to custom thermoforming, injection molding, and blow molding customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8-12 weeks from tool design to production for thermoforming projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)minorOthersIndustry association membership providing access to manufacturing resources, advocacy, and industry networking.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AptarGroup: Global provider of dispensing, sealing, and active material science solutions, including custom molded plastic components for medical, beauty, and food/beverage. Comparable to Universal Plastics in custom molded plastic parts for medical and consumer OEMs but at much larger scale and with broader product portfolio.
• Berry Global: Large diversified plastic packaging and engineered products manufacturer with blow molding, injection molding, and thermoforming operations. Comparable to Universal Plastics at the process level but competes across a much broader portfolio rather than specializing in custom mid-volume work.

Direct peers

• EVCO Plastics: Wisconsin-based custom injection molder with gas-assist and structural foam capabilities. Comparable to Universal Plastics in custom injection molding services, gas-assist technology adoption, and broad industrial/medical OEM customer set.
• Placon Corporation: Custom thermoformer and rigid plastic packaging manufacturer serving medical, food, and consumer goods. Directly comparable to Universal Plastics' thermoforming business and end-market mix in medical and consumer-adjacent enclosures.
• Tessy Plastics: New York-based custom injection molder with significant medical device and industrial exposure. Closely comparable to Universal Plastics in process portfolio (injection molding focus), medical OEM customer base, and U.S. Northeast footprint.
• Plastic Molded Concepts (Teamvantage): Custom injection molder and mold builder serving medical, industrial, and aerospace customers. Comparable to Universal Plastics in custom molded part production for regulated end-markets and integrated tooling capabilities.
• Dymotek: Connecticut-based custom injection molder with liquid silicone rubber and two-shot capabilities. Comparable to Universal Plastics as a U.S. custom plastics CM serving medical and industrial OEMs in the Northeast.
• Mayco Plastics: Michigan-based custom plastics manufacturer offering injection molding and secondary services. Comparable to Universal Plastics in serving Midwest industrial and transportation OEMs with custom molded components.
• Thermo-Plastics Industries (TPI): Custom thermoformer specializing in heavy-gauge, large-part thermoforming for industrial, medical, and transportation customers. Comparable to Universal Plastics' heavy-gauge thermoforming and large aesthetic parts business.
• Engineered Components Corp. Mid-sized custom injection molder serving medical, industrial, and electronics OEMs. Comparable to Universal Plastics in custom part manufacturing for regulated, specification-driven end markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Universal Plastics Corp.