What Petersen Brothers Plastics does

Petersen Brothers Plastics is a fourth-generation, family-owned plastics fabricator and distributor founded in 1943 and headquartered at 2929 N. Pulaski Road in Chicago, Illinois. The company operates two integrated business lines: (1) custom fabrication of acrylic and polycarbonate products — including ADA-compliant signage, wayfinding systems, display cases, pedestals, machine covers, marine replacement parts, and flatbed printing jigs — and (2) wholesale and retail distribution of raw plastics materials including acrylic sheets, polycarbonate sheets, PETG, PVC, ABS, HDPE, Styrene, Coroplast, polypropylene, and extruded acrylic rods/tubes/shapes.

The company's production capability is anchored in in-house equipment for CO2 laser cutting and engraving, multi-axis CNC machining, UV flatbed printing (including 2.5D textured printing for ADA raised characters), and vinyl cutting/plotting. These capabilities allow vertical control from raw material intake through finished custom product delivery, which the company cites as the basis for its pricing competitiveness and fast turnaround. The four-decade-plus operating history and continuous family ownership underpin a craft-skills base in ADA compliance, marine-grade plastics work, and specialty fabrication.

Petersen sells through a hybrid go-to-market model: a quote-based direct-sales channel for custom fabrication projects, an e-commerce storefront (shop.petersenplastics.com) for material distribution, wholesale pricing for high-volume ADA signage manufacturing partnerships, and physical will-call distribution from its Chicago warehouse. Customer segments span signage and display businesses, industrial manufacturers, marine buyers, contractors, and DIY/individual material purchasers. The company ships nationally with a regional concentration in the Midwest. No external investment, M&A activity, or AI/ML capability has been disclosed.

Name

Petersen Brothers Plastics

Legal name

Petersen Brothers Plastics

Website

https://petersenplastics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Petersen Brothers Plastics is a fourth-generation, family-owned Chicago fabricator and distributor founded in 1943, offering custom acrylic and polycarbonate signage, fabrication, and wholesale/retail plastics material distribution via in-house laser, CNC, UV printing, and vinyl capabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Plastics Fabrication and Distribution

NAICS

All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (326199), Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261), Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326)

SIC

Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080), Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Protective Thermoformed Packaging (Dunnage, Trays, Clamshells) (IMANAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plastic Packaging Products Manufacturing (Rigid & Flexible) (IMANAOAF), Acrylics & Methacrylates (PMMA, Acrylic Resins) (IMAEANAG)

Keywords

• Custom acrylic fabrication
• Plastic sheet distribution
• ADA signage manufacturing
• Laser cutting services
• Polycarbonate fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Fabrication Services: One-time custom fabrication of acrylic and polycarbonate products including signage, displays, pedestals, podiums, machine covers, boat parts, and printing jigs. Projects range from single custom pieces to large production runs. Revenue generated through project-based quotes.
2. Plastics Material Distribution (Wholesale & Retail): Distribution of acrylic sheets, polycarbonate sheets, industrial plastics (PETG, PVC, ABS, HDPE, Styrene, Coroplast, Polypropylene), and acrylic extruded rods/tubes/shapes. Offers full sheets, precuts, and cut-to-size options. Both wholesale pricing for volume orders and retail pricing for smaller quantities.
3. E-commerce Material Sales: Direct online sales through shop.petersenplastics.com offering acrylic, polycarbonate, and industrial plastic materials in various sizes with online purchasing capability.
4. Fabrication Services (Laser, CNC, UV Printing, Vinyl): Processing services including laser cutting, laser engraving, CNC machining, UV printing, and vinyl applications charged as part of custom fabrication projects or as standalone services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Petersen Brothers Plastics manufactures custom acrylic and polycarbonate products — including ADA-compliant signage, wayfinding systems, display boxes, pedestals, machine covers/guards, marine replacement parts, and flatbed printing jigs — using in-house CO2 laser cutting, multi-axis CNC machining, UV printing, and vinyl application. The company also distributes wholesale and retail acrylic sheets, polycarbonate sheets, industrial thermoplastics (PETG, PVC, ABS, HDPE, Styrene, Coroplast, Polypropylene), and extruded acrylic rods, tubes, and shapes. Customers can purchase materials through the online storefront at shop.petersenplastics.com or request custom quotes for fabrication projects.

Product overview

Petersen Brothers Plastics is a fourth-generation family-owned acrylic fabricator and plastics distributor established in 1943, offering a comprehensive portfolio of signage products, fabrication services, and material distribution. The company's product lineup centers on custom signage solutions (ADA-compliant signs, wayfinding signage, photopolymer signs, custom logo signage, name badges, and workstation nameplates), precision fabrication of acrylic and polycarbonate products (display boxes, custom displays, pedestals/podiums, machine covers/guards, boat parts, and flatbed printing jigs), and wholesale/retail distribution of plastics (acrylic sheets, polycarbonate sheets, industrial plastics, and extruded acrylic shapes). The company provides complementary fabrication services including laser processing, CNC machining, UV printing, and vinyl applications, enabling a vertically integrated offering from raw material supply through finished custom products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ADA-Compliant Signage Custom signage designed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, featuring Grade 2 Braille, raised characters, high-contrast color, and tactile elements for accessible wayfinding in commercial and public facilities.
• Wayfinding Signage Interior signage systems combining identification, directional, informational, and regulatory signs to guide building occupants and promote efficient navigation across commercial facilities.
• Photopolymer Signs Durable ADA-compliant signage crafted from UV-reactive photopolymer resin, offering vandal resistance and long-lasting performance for high-traffic environments.
• Custom Logo Signage High-quality custom logo signage including acrylic letters, PVC signs, metal laminated signs, and full-scale environmental graphic projects with various mounting options for brand visibility.
• Custom Name Badges Personalized magnetic or pin-mount name badges fabricated from plastics and metals with laser engraving or UV printing for corporate, event, and staff identification use.
• Workstation Nameplates Custom name plates and pocket/slider signs for corporate offices, cubicles, events, and recognition awards with interchangeable inserts and ADA-compliant options.
• Acrylic and Polycarbonate Boxes Custom display and storage boxes fabricated from acrylic and polycarbonate materials for museum displays, retail, security applications, industrial storage, and general protection.
• Custom Displays Custom display cases and stands for memorabilia, art, corporate events, weddings, retail, product prototypes, and awards, crafted from acrylic and other high-quality plastics.
• Pedestals and Podiums Custom pedestals and podiums designed for displaying products, artwork, or presentations, available in various materials, shapes, sizes, and finishes.
• Machine Covers and Guards Custom polycarbonate machine covers, guards, and dust covers designed to protect machinery, enhance workplace safety, and extend equipment lifespan in industrial settings.
• Custom Boat Parts High-quality custom marine replacement parts including boat hatches, windows, frames, control panels, and panelling, using marine-grade polycarbonate and sealing.
• Flatbed Printing Jigs Precision-made custom jigs for Mimaki flatbed printers (JXF 200, UJF 3042, UJF 6042, UJF 7151) ensuring accurate placement and high-quality UV printing results, with digital master files included.
• Acrylic Sheets Premium acrylic sheets available in cast and extruded varieties, standard sizes (4' x 8', 4' x 10', 5' x 10'), thicknesses from 1/16 inch to 1 inch, and glitter cast acrylic options.
• Polycarbonate Sheets Durable polycarbonate sheets with thicknesses from 0.03 inch to 1/4 inch, available in carbon-filled, glass-filled, bullet-resistant, marine-grade, and roofing-grade variants.
• Industrial Plastics High-performance industrial plastics including PETG, PVC, ABS, HDPE, Styrene, Coroplast, and Polypropylene available in sheets, rods, and custom cuts.
• Extruded Acrylic Rods, Tubes, and Shapes Extruded acrylic rods (1/8 inch to 6 inch diameter), tubes (1/4 inch to 6 inch diameter), and custom shapes including angles, channels, and squares.
• Laser Processing Precision CO2 laser cutting and vector/raster engraving services for plastics, metals, and wood, with capability to produce polished edges on acrylic up to 1 inch thick for prototyping and production runs.
• CNC Machining High-precision multi-axis CNC machining including milling, 3D contouring, and engraving for prototypes, signage, and production parts.
• UV Printing UV printing services using UV-curable inks for plastics and metals, including white ink, primer, and 2.5D textured printing capabilities for ADA-compliant raised characters and decorative effects.
• Vinyl Applications Custom vinyl cutting and application services for signage, wayfinding systems, wall murals, window graphics, floor graphics, banners, and vehicle wraps.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fast turnaround times due to in-house production capabilities
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 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

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Professional Plastics: National plastics distributor with extensive catalog of engineering plastics, custom fabrication, and online ordering — broader scope than Petersen but overlapping in acrylic/polycarbonate distribution.
• Interstate Plastics: Multi-region plastics distributor serving industrial and commercial customers with custom fabrication services — comparable offering with greater geographic footprint than Petersen.
• Piedmont Plastics: Large North American plastics distributor with 50+ locations offering industrial and engineering plastics — competes with Petersen's distribution arm at greater scale but with broader geographic reach.
• US Plastics: Large catalog and online distributor of plastic sheets, rods, and tubes with nationwide reach — competes with Petersen's e-commerce material sales channel at scale.

Direct peers

• E&T Plastics: Custom plastic fabrication and distribution company serving signage, display, and industrial customers with in-house laser cutting and CNC capabilities — closely mirrors Petersen's core offering.
• TAP Plastics: Multi-location West Coast plastics fabricator and retailer offering custom cutting, fabrication services, and retail material sales — highly comparable business model and customer base to Petersen Brothers.
• A&C Plastics: National plastics distributor of acrylic, polycarbonate, and engineering plastics with custom cutting and fabrication services — comparable product mix and B2B customer base.
• Ridout Plastics: Southern California plastics distributor and fabricator selling acrylic, polycarbonate, and industrial plastics with custom cutting services — direct overlap with Petersen's distribution-plus-fabrication model.

Emerging players

• Marlin Steel: Custom metal fabrication house with growing plastics capabilities for industrial machine guards and enclosures — overlaps with Petersen's industrial fabrication (machine covers/guards) segment.
• Rowmark: Specialty manufacturer of ADA-compliant signage materials, engravable plastics, and photopolymer signage substrates — overlaps with Petersen's ADA signage fabrication niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Petersen Brothers Plastics