Leon is committed to design, manufacture, and sell
products and services which meet or exceed the
quality and reliability requirements of its customers.
COMPANY HISTORY

     In 1958 Leon Plastics was founded as Leon Chemical Industries in Detroit,
Michigan.  We were a small, but aggressive company which manufactured
industrial detergents.  After three years of growth, the fledging company moved
to Grand Rapids, and entered the dip-molding business.  The initial products
were plastic-coated wire coat hangers, but that same year Leon received its
first automotive order-dip-molded seat belts sleeves for Oldsmobile.
     Leon’s expertise increased, and in 1964 Vinyl Industrial Products was formed
for in-house compounding of the plastisols used in dip-molding.  Leon’s entry
into the seat belt market had occurred before the 1966 Safety Act required belts
in every car.  Suddenly, Leon found itself with proven technical expertise in a
rapidly accelerating market area.  All facilities were consolidated in 1966 in a
much larger plant with new equipment for injection molding, which allowed Leon
to expand into many types of  interior and exterior automotive trim components.
     In 1968 Leon was acquired by U.S. Industries, which also added a plastics
manufacturer in Grand Island, Nebraska-Holiday Mfg. Inc.  Holiday had been
founded to manufacture and market a radical new departure in oral hygiene, a
toothbrush which contained a supply of toothpaste in the handle of the brush.
    Although this product was not a market success, other ventures, such as a thread
protector for oil field pipe and custom molded products, were very successful.  In
1972 both firms were merged under the Leon name.
During the 1970’s, as Leon continued to expand in automotive areas, new
technologies and new markets were opening.  In 1978 the first paint facilities were
installed in the Grand Island plant, and Leon manufactured the first business
machine housing out of structural foam.  This technology generated exciting new
opportunities in computer and business machine markets.  In 1979 construction
was completed on a new, 200,000 square foot plant in Grand Rapids, which now
serves as company headquarters.
     Today Leon Plastics boasts almost 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space,
with over 30 injection molding presses at each of our Michigan and Nebraska
facilities.  Presses range up to 2500-ton clamp capacity and most machines are
equipped with process controls.  Manufacturing processes include state-of-the-art
conveyorized paint lines, injection molding, urethane foam, vacuum forming, raw
material compounding, and assembly.
     In 1984, U.S. Industries was purchased by Hanson Industries Inc., and Leon
became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hanson.  In June, 1995 Hanson de-merged
a number of companies which included its automotive segment, thus making Leon
part of the new company which has reverted to the name of  U.S. Industries Inc.
Leon’s history is one of steady growth, based on a commitment to the leading
edge of technology and to stringent quality control.  Our proven expertise in
automotive applications and in raw material compounds is reflected in the wide
range of quality products we manufacture.
 
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©1999-2006 Leon Plastics Inc., Grand Rapids, MI. All rights reserved.