Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Taco Plate Brings Attention To Polytech
COMPANY POISED FOR BIG 2015
PRAIRIE GROVE —A Prairie Grove company receiving a lot of attention for a plastic “taco plate” it is manufacturing for Walmart, actually makes more than 350 individual parts for 57 customers across the world.
PolyTech Plastic Molding, owned by Jim Benton and John McCutcheon of Fayetteville, is located in Prairie Grove’s industrial park on the western side of town.
The two worked together at Pace Industries in Fayetteville and in 2013, decided to go out on their own and purchased Polytech.
They worked in sales and marketing at Pace, an aluminum and zinc die-casting company, thinking the transition would be fairly easy because both companies had similar tooling, similar equipment and similar processes.
“In our case, it’s plastic and it acts similar to aluminum,” Benton said. However, they’ve since learned that plastic is much more high tech than aluminum.
In 2012, the company had annual sales of $5.5 million. This increased to $ 6.2 million in 2013 and Benton said they expect a small uptick this year, probably to sales of $6.5 million.
They are poised , however, for a big year in 2015.
He sa id they ’ve comp le ted several programs that will go online in 2015 and project a boost of $2 million in sales, putting total sales in excess of $8 million for 2015.
“Our plan is to grow the company to $ 20 million in sales by 2020,” Benton said. “That’s our five-year growth plan and we’re tracking for that.”
The company has 46 employees and the plant operates 24 hours a day, six days a week.
Benton projects the firm will add another 10-12 jobs over the next five years.
The “taco plate” story is an article in itself and Benton admits publicity from the story has helped bring new attention to Polytech.
The plate was invented by a Fayetteville attorney, Hugh Jarratt who owns Jarratt Enterprises. Jarratt brought the idea to PolyTech and employees there improved the technology.
Jarratt and McCutcheon then pitched the idea to Walmart and the international company ordered one million plates for its stores.
Benton said the first delivery with 60,000 plates was on its way to Walmart.
“I’m not sure where it will go from there,” Benton said.
Polytech has its own tool and dye shop in- house, services and maintains its own tools, produces the parts and then packages and ships them out to the customers.
The company has 18 molding machines that range in size from 60 tons to 700 tons.
The company has its own fulfillment warehouse where it stores up to three months of products for its customers.
“This whole (fulfillment) warehouse is geared for our customers so they do not have to wait for orders when they need them,” Benton said.
In most cases, customers bring their ideas and inventions to Polytech and its employees work with them to develop a product. Polytech employees also come up with their own inventions.
The company serves multiple industries.
It makes parts for the water infiltration industry with its largest company in Madison, Wis.
It serves the medical industry and makes parts for medical devices serving companies in Atlanta, Ga. Polytech also makes parts for the aerospace industry and military parts for companies with contracts with the U. S. Department of Defense.
Other products serve heating and air units and Nautilus exercise equipment.
One new product is called a “Christmas Tree Defender” and this plastic, round piece goes at the bottom of a Christmas tree to prevent a cat from climbing into the tree.
Another new product is a portable band- aid dispenser with a small area for ointment.
It is similar to a tape dispenser and Benton said this will be available at Walmart sometime in the future.
“Our plan is to grow the company to $20 million in sales by 2020.”
Jim Benton
Polytech co-owner
He said he sees where this will be beneficial to soldiers and anyone who wants to carry a firstaid package with them in a backpack, purse or car.
Benton said the company is community minded. It sponsors the backpack program for Prairie Grove children, is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and participates “whole heartedly” in anything on a community basis.
“We love being in Prairie Grove. We have a low turnover rate, 12 percent, and we take them on as family,” Benton said. “I have people coming to apply for jobs here daily.”
The company is open to student tours and its visitors lately have included Walmart executives and local, state and national representatives.
For more information or to schedule a tour, contact the company at 846-2121.