Alcot Plastics
Alcot Plastics is a Canadian manufacturer of closed-cell extruded polyethylene foam products, including backer rods, pool noodles, screening spline, and pipe insulation, sold via regional distributors and direct quote-based sales to construction, recreational, and industrial customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersGuelph, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Alcot Plastics does
Alcot Plastics Ltd. is a Canadian manufacturer of closed-cell extruded polyethylene foam products, founded in 1983 in Milton, Ontario by Jan Alac and now headquartered at 31 Malcolm Road in Guelph, Ontario after a 2012 move into a facility four times larger than its prior Acton plant. The company operates a proprietary single-screw polyethylene foam extrusion system developed by the founder, which is described as more efficient than conventional extrusion technologies, offering a 15-minute startup versus hours for competitors, efficient small-batch and short-shift production without waste, and automatic laser diameter control with 0.001 inch sensitivity. Its product portfolio centers on five core categories: backer rods (including a non-gassing soft variant), pool noodles, foam screening spline, pipe insulation, and custom polyethylene foam profiles used in packaging, mattress components, and specialty industrial applications such as roll-bar padding.
The company sells primarily B2B through a quote-based pricing model, reaching end customers via three regional distributor partners across Canada and the northeastern United States (Cascade Aquatech, Construction Distribution and Supply / CDS Corp, and Arrow Construction) plus direct sales for custom and enterprise orders, with stated export reach into Far East markets. Revenue mechanics are one-time product sales rather than subscriptions or licensing, and customer segments span construction/contractor, recreational/aquatic, packaging, and custom industrial buyers. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, no institutional funding rounds have been disclosed, and in May 2026 Alcot was acquired by W. R. Meadows, an Illinois-based construction materials manufacturer, while continuing to operate under its existing name and management as an independent business unit.
Alcot Plastics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alcot Plastics
- Legal name
- Alcot Plastics Ltd.
- Website
- http://www.alcotplastics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Alcot Plastics is a Canadian manufacturer of closed-cell extruded polyethylene foam products, including backer rods, pool noodles, screening spline, and pipe insulation, sold via regional distributors and direct quote-based sales to construction, recreational, and industrial customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alcot Plastics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Polyethylene Foam Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (32619), All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (326199)
- SIC
- Plastics Foam Products (3086)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Foam Plastics (EPS/PU/PE) Manufacturing (IMANAOAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Foam Protective Packaging (EPS/EPE/EPP, PU, Molded Foam) (IMALAFAA)
Keywords
Where Alcot Plastics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Guelph
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Alcot Plastics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Polyethylene Foam Products: Manufacturing and selling extruded polyethylene foam products including backer rods, pool noodles, screening splines, pipe insulation, and custom profiles. One-time product sales with quote-based pricing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based custom pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Alcot Plastics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alcot Plastics Ltd. manufactures closed-cell extruded polyethylene foam products at its Guelph, Ontario facility using a proprietary single-screw extrusion system. Its five core product lines are Backer Rods, Soft Backer Rod, Spline, Pool Noodles, and custom Polyethylene Foam profiles, sold to construction contractors, distributors, and industrial customers across North America and the Far East.
Product overview
Alcot Plastics is a manufacturer of closed-cell extruded polyethylene foam products. The company operates a single-screw extrusion system that founder Jan Alac developed in 1983, offering faster startup times and more efficient small-order production compared to conventional extrusion technologies. The product portfolio centers on five core offerings: Pool Noodles (buoyant water toys and swimming aids), Backer Rods (construction joint sealing products), Soft Backer Rod (bi-cellular backup material for irregular joints), Spline (window and door screen securing products), and custom Polyethylene Foam solutions for industrial applications including pipe insulation, packaging, and specialty components. All products are manufactured at the Guelph, Ontario facility and distributed across North America.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pool Noodles Flexible, buoyant, closed-cell polyethylene foam tubes used as water toys, swimming aids, and for creative applications. Available in various colors and sizes, with optional hole-in-middle design. Target buyers include swimming clubs, aquatic programs, pool retailers, and arts organizations.
- Backer Rods Closed-cell polyethylene foam rods used in construction joints to provide support for sealants, reduce caulking material usage, and improve insulation. Available in diameters from 1/4 inch to 4 inches. For construction contractors, engineers, and building professionals.
- Soft Backer Rod Soft, non-gassing, pliable bi-cellular backup material for construction joints and applications requiring sealants. Suitable for irregular joint widths and prevents bubbling concerns when punctured. For construction contractors handling irregular joints.
- Spline Foam screening spline used to secure window and door screens to their frames. Durable, flexible, weather-resistant, and maintains grip over the screen without losing color over time. Custom spline solutions available. For window/door manufacturers and contractors.
- Polyethylene Foam (Custom Profiles) Custom polyethylene foam products and solutions including foam sheets, pipe insulation, mattress components, roll-bar padding, custom bottle stoppers, and packaging foam for electronics, glass items, and toys. For industrial manufacturers requiring custom shapes and profiles for specialized applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15-minute startup time vs few hours for conventional systems
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Alcot Plastics
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Alcot Plastics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Alcot Plastics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- W. R. MeadowscoreAcquired Alcot Plastics Ltd. as part of W.R. Meadows' strategy to expand its product portfolio and manufacturing capabilities in foam-based materials for the concrete construction industry. Alcot Plastics continues operating under its current name and management structure as an independent business unit with all employees retained.
- Cascade AquatechcoreRegional distribution partner with 6 locations in BC and Alberta. Head Office: 3215 Norland Ave., Burnaby, BC V5B 3A9. Website: www.cascadeaqua.com
- Construction Distribution and Supply (CDS Corp)coreRegional distribution partner with 8 locations in Ontario and 4 in NY State. Address: 4630 Dufferin Street, Unit 8A, North York, ON M3H 5S4. Website: www.cdsco.net
- Arrow ConstructioncoreRegional distribution partner with 6 locations in Eastern Canada. Head Office: 50 Gervais Court, PO Box 760, Fredericton, NB. Website: www.arrowco.ca
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Alcot Plastics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Armacell: Manufacturer of engineered foams including polyethylene-based insulation and pipe insulation products — comparable in pipe insulation and foam product categories where Alcot operates.
- Pactiv Evergreen: Major producer of foam food service and packaging products including polyethylene-based foams — adjacent category overlap with Alcot's foam products.
- Sonoco Products Company: Diversified global packaging manufacturer with foam protective packaging offerings — broader portfolio but overlap with Alcot's protective packaging foam use cases.
- Sealed Air Corporation: Global packaging company producing foam-based protective packaging, including polyethylene foam products, serving industrial and consumer goods markets — broader portfolio overlap with Alcot's packaging foam products.
- Pregis: Large-scale manufacturer of protective packaging including polyethylene foam profiles and sheets for industrial and e-commerce customers — overlaps Alcot's packaging foam offering at broader scale.
Direct peers
- Nomaco: Manufacturer of closed-cell polyethylene foam profiles, insulation, and backer rod products for construction, packaging, and industrial applications — directly comparable product portfolio and end-market overlap with Alcot Plastics.
- JSP Corporation: Producer of expanded polypropylene and polyethylene foam products for packaging, automotive, and construction — competing in similar foam extrusion technology and end uses as Alcot.
- Zotefoams: Specialized manufacturer of closed-cell cross-linked polyolefin foams for construction, packaging, and industrial applications — directly comparable foam technology and end-market focus to Alcot.
Emerging players
- Kaneka Corporation: Japanese chemical manufacturer with foam and polymer product lines serving construction and industrial markets — partial overlap in specialty foam materials with Alcot's extrusion-based products.
Others
- W.R. Meadows: Alcot's parent company post-2026 acquisition; a North American manufacturer of concrete construction materials including sealants and joint products — adjacent construction products manufacturer with distribution overlap in Alcot's core concrete/sealant use cases.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Alcot Plastics social profiles
Digital presenceAlcot Plastics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alcot Plastics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Alcot Plastics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alcot 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 Alcot Plastics
What does Alcot Plastics do?
Alcot Plastics Ltd. manufactures closed-cell extruded polyethylene foam products at its Guelph, Ontario facility using a proprietary single-screw extrusion system. Its five core product lines are Backer Rods, Soft Backer Rod, Spline, Pool Noodles, and custom Polyethylene Foam profiles, sold to construction contractors, distributors, and industrial customers across North America and the Far East.
Is Alcot Plastics a public or private company?
Alcot Plastics is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Alcot Plastics founded?
Alcot Plastics was founded in 1983. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Alcot Plastics based?
Alcot Plastics is headquartered in Guelph, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Alcot Plastics make money?
One revenue line is on record: polyethylene Foam Products.
Who are Alcot Plastics's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Armacell, Pactiv Evergreen, Sonoco Products Company, Sealed Air Corporation and Pregis. Direct peers are Nomaco, JSP Corporation and Zotefoams. Kaneka Corporation is listed as an emerging player. W.R. Meadows is listed as an others.
Does Alcot Plastics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alcot Plastics.
What industry is Alcot Plastics in?
Alcot Plastics's product category is Polyethylene Foam Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMANAOAJ, Foam Plastics (EPS/PU/PE) Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMALAFAA, Foam Protective Packaging (EPS/EPE/EPP, PU, Molded Foam). Its NAICS code is 32619 and its SIC code is 3086.