Leon was founded in 1958 in Detroit, Michigan.  The Company’s entry into the automotive market occurred in 1964, when the Company began producing molded seat belt sleeves for Oldsmobile.  Following the 1966 Safety Act, which required seat belts in every car, 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 subsequently acquired a plastics manufacturer in Grand Island, Nebraska – Holiday Mfg. Inc. (“Holiday”).  During the 1970’s, Leon continued to expand in automotive areas as new technologies and new markets were developing. 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, Michigan which now serves as the Company’s headquarters.

In 1984, U.S. Industries was purchased by Hanson PLC, and Leon became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hanson Industries, PLC (“Hanson”). In June 1995, Hanson spun-off a number of companies which included its automotive segment, thus making Leon part of the new company which reverted to the name of U.S. Industries Inc. In 2000, Leon was divested by U.S. Industries and SILLC Holdings, LLC was formed. The Company established its Mexico facility in 2005 to serve local markets and to provide a low cost manufacturing location for labor intensive products, such as hand wrapped trim components and urethane foam products.

Leon currently has approximately 440,000 square feet of manufacturing space, of which 300,000 square feet is owned and 140,000 square feet is leased, with 92 injection molding presses at its Michigan, Nebraska and Mexico facilities. Presses range up to 2,500-ton clamp capacity. Manufacturing processes include conveyorized paint lines, injection molding, urethane foam, vacuum forming and assembly.  The Company has made substantial investments in 2005 and 2006 to support its future sales.  Leon invested approximately $14.0 million during this timeframe, largely to develop its low cost capabilities in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, including the purchase of 20 injection molding machines and the installation of two over/under foam lines.

Leon’s history is one of steady growth based on the Company’s ability to adapt to the VM and Tier I customers’ ever changing and increasing demands for engineering and technical support and manufacturing excellence, as well as the consumer’s sense of touch and visual aesthetics. The Company’s innovative approach to broadening its core niche product line has set the stage for continuous growth in revenue and profitability.