Aztec Plastic

What Aztec Plastic does

Aztec Plastic Company is a custom plastic injection molding manufacturer founded in 1970 and headquartered at 1747 W Carroll Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. The company operates a single-site facility running presses from 45 to 500 tons and provides an integrated suite of services — injection molding, CNC machining, centerless and cylindrical grinding, prototyping/3D printing, assembly, decorative finishing, and contract manufacturing — with production runs spanning from as few as five pieces to over ten million pieces annually. Its technical core is high-performance thermoplastic processing: Torlon (PAI), PEEK, PAEK, Ultem, Delrin, and Ryton, used primarily for metal-replacement components where weight reduction, chemical/corrosion resistance, high-temperature tolerance, or tribological performance matter.

Aztec is the oldest existing processor of Torlon, having molded it since its 1970s invention by Amoco, and currently holds Approved Vendor Status from Solvay Advanced Polymers. The business serves primary verticals including defense and aerospace, healthcare and medical devices, automotive, off-highway and agricultural equipment, and mining/oil and gas, with secondary exposure to fluid handling, marine, and general industrial applications. Defense work flows primarily through DoD Tier 1 contractors under AS9100 Rev D, ITAR, NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, and Joint Certification Approved (JCP) status; the company also holds PPAP Levels 1-4 for automotive and PPAP/DPAR, FDA-compliant processing for medical, and WBENC/WOSB woman-owned business certifications.

The company runs a quote-based, sales-led go-to-market: customers initiate engagement via website form, phone (312 733 0900), or email, then work consultatively with in-house plastic experts on material selection and tolerances. Revenue derives from one-off custom manufacturing orders and contract manufacturing/assembly engagements (one-time project and professional-services revenue), with no disclosed recurring software, subscription, or licensing component. Marketing is content-led through a website resource library of material data sheets, case studies, and industry articles, and the 2022 IMEC-led 5S/Kaizen engagement drove $1.1M in new/retained sales, $165K in cost savings, and 15 new/retained jobs in a single program.

Name

Aztec Plastic

Legal name

Aztec Plastic Company

Website

https://aztecplastic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aztec Plastic Company is a Chicago-based custom plastic injection molder founded in 1970, specializing in high-performance thermoplastics such as Torlon, PEEK, and Ultem for defense, aerospace, medical, automotive, and oil & gas manufacturers requiring precision metal-replacement components.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Plastic Injection Molding

NAICS

Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261), All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (326199), Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (32619)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Injection Molding & Contract Manufacturing (Job Shops/CMs) (IMANAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Automotive & Transportation Injection Molded Parts (IMANAFAB), Medical & Life Sciences Injection Molding (Devices, Diagnostics, Cleanroom) (IMANAFAC), Industrial & Machinery Injection Molded Components (Gears, Wear Parts) (IMANAFAF)

Keywords

• Plastic injection molding
• Custom plastic manufacturing
• Contract manufacturing services
• Engineering thermoplastic molding
• Metal replacement plastics

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Plastic Injection Molding: Core revenue stream from custom injection molding of thermoplastic, thermosetting, and composite materials. Services include specialty high performance molding, over molding, and insert molding for precision components across multiple industries.
2. Contract Manufacturing & Assembly: Integrated end-to-end supply chain management for custom contract manufacturing and assembly services. Manages complete product lifecycle from conception through end of product life, including sourcing, purchasing, molding, finishing, assembly, and shipping.
3. Machining Services: CNC machining, cutting, turning, milling, drilling, and grinding services for thermoplastics, thermoset plastics, and metals. Includes centerless grinding, cylindrical grinding, and secondary machining operations.
4. Prototyping & 3D Printing: Rapid prototyping and 3D printing services for product testing and validation before full production runs. Creates prototypes in hours rather than weeks.
5. Decorative Services: Value-added decorative services including pad printing, hot stamping, laser etching, painting, plating, and EMI/RFI shielding for plastic parts.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aztec Plastic Company is a custom plastic injection molding manufacturer founded in 1970 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The company specializes in molding high-performance engineering plastics such as Torlon (PAI), PEEK, PAEK, Ultem, Delrin, and Ryton into precision components for defense, aerospace, automotive, healthcare, oil & gas, and industrial customers. It provides end-to-end contract manufacturing capabilities including custom molding, machining, centerless grinding, assembly, prototyping, and 3D printing.

Product overview

Aztec Plastic Company is a custom plastic injection molding manufacturer offering a comprehensive suite of manufacturing services centered around plastic injection molding as the core technology. The company operates as a single unified manufacturing platform combining Plastic Injection Molding, Contract Manufacturing, Assembly & Secondary Operations, Machining Services, Centerless & Cylindrical Grinding, Prototyping & 3D Printing, and Decorative Services. The portfolio includes specialized high-performance thermoplastic products including Torlon PAI, PEEK, PAEK, Ultem, Delrin, and Ryton materials, which are offered both as standalone products and as part of integrated metal replacement solutions. Advanced capabilities include Over Molding, Insert Molding, In-Mold Decorating, and In-House Tool Services. The company serves diverse industries including Defense Manufacturing, Automotive, Healthcare, Aerospace, Oil & Gas, and Industrial sectors, with production volumes ranging from prototypes (EAU of 5 pieces) to high-volume manufacturing (10 million+ pieces).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plastic Injection Molding
• Contract Manufacturing
• Assembly and Secondary Operations
• Machining Services
• Centerless and Cylindrical Grinding
• Prototyping and 3D Printing
• In-House Tooling

Quantifiable outcome

• Hydraulic poppets and spools made from TORLON remain leakless after more than one million cycles
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IMECcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 September 2022IMEC is a Lean manufacturing consulting organization that partnered with Aztec Plastic to implement 5S Workplace Organization and Kaizen methodologies. The partnership focused on organizing the machining area within the Injection Molding Division to eliminate waste, improve productivity and efficiency, and boost employee satisfaction. The 2.5-day training involved 6-10 Aztec team members.
• Solvay Advanced PolymerscoreTechnology or IntegrationSolvay Advanced Polymers is the current owner/manufacturer of Torlon polyamide-imide (PAI) material. Aztec Plastic maintains Approved Vendor Status from Solvay for molding and machining Torlon. The relationship spans from original Amoco invention through BP to Solvay ownership, with Aztec participating throughout each transition.
• SAE InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAztec Plastic collaborated with SAE International's Off-Highway Engineering publication to highlight how Torlon components deliver superior performance in fluid power systems compared to traditional steel. Featured in June 1999 issue of Off-Highway Engineering magazine.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AIP Precision Plastics: Custom injection molder specializing in high-performance engineering plastics for medical, defense, and industrial applications. Highly comparable to Aztec in material focus (high-performance thermoplastics) and customer vertical mix.
• Tessy Plastics: Custom injection molder and contract manufacturer serving medical, automotive, and consumer products markets. Comparable in business model and end-market exposure, particularly in regulated medical device manufacturing.
• Plastek Industries: Custom injection molder offering design, tooling, molding, and decorating services for personal care, packaging, and industrial customers. Comparable as a vertically integrated custom molder with in-house decorating and secondary operations.
• C&J Industries: Custom injection molding and contract manufacturing company serving medical, industrial, and consumer markets. Comparable to Aztec in service breadth (molding, assembly, secondary operations) and vertical mix.
• EVCO Plastics: Custom plastic injection molding contract manufacturer serving medical, industrial, and consumer markets with multiple U.S. and Mexico facilities. Comparable in business model (custom contract injection molding) but operates at larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Aztec.
• Protolabs: Largest digital-native custom injection molding and CNC machining service provider, offering rapid prototyping through low-volume production. Comparable to Aztec as a custom injection molder with similar materials expertise, though significantly larger and globally scaled.
• Mack Molding: Custom injection molder and contract manufacturer with capabilities spanning product design through assembly. Comparable in business model and end-to-end contract manufacturing value proposition, though significantly larger in scale.
• MGS Manufacturing: Custom injection molder with capabilities in multi-material molding, insert molding, and assembly for medical, consumer, and industrial markets. Comparable in advanced molding capabilities and value-added services.

Broad incumbents

• Xometry: On-demand manufacturing marketplace offering injection molding, CNC machining, 3D printing, and sheet metal fabrication. Comparable as a custom injection molding channel but operates as a digital marketplace aggregator rather than a direct manufacturer; represents both a competitor and a potential channel for Aztec.

Emerging players

• Drake Plastics: Specialty manufacturer of high-performance thermoplastic stock shapes and machined components in PEEK, Torlon, and other extreme-performance polymers. Comparable to Aztec in Torlon and high-performance material focus, though focused on stock shapes rather than custom injection molding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Aztec Plastic