Past Winners

2006 Excellence and Innovation Award Winners

Outstanding supervisors are the liaison between management and production employees. They must keep the production line going and meet output expectations for the company. These are just some of the qualities Patrick McGown possesses that make him an excellent production supervisor. Affectionately referred to as "the gray hairs" by his co-workers for his wealth of knowledge and experience, McGown has worked at Fiberglass Systems (commercially known as Best-Bath Systems) for 20 years. He supervises the accent department, which includes six staff members who are responsible for accenting tiles and shower walls to match any given customer's color scheme. His duties include the hiring and training of employees who must meet high-level expectations and maintain a high degree of quality workmanship. His staff has a heavy workload, but is able to meet production deadlines due to McGown's motivational and organizational skills, and the example he sets. "He does not ask them to do anything he is not willing to do himself," said Fiberglass Systems President Gene Thurston. McGown has consistently demonstrated leadership and highly specialized skills for Fiberglass Systems, most recently accepting a challenging project where he had to dedicate a great deal of time and energy to finish the seam of a solid surface walk-in bathtub door, which he produced at a quality the manufacturing team did not think possible. "His skills have allowed Best Bath Systems to advance to the next level in providing unique high quality bathing products to our customers" added Thurston.

EXCELLENCE AS A MANUFACTURING EMPLOYEE
Winner: David Louthian, Appalachian Plastics, Glade Spring, Va.

Superb manufacturing employees, those who go above and beyond expectations, and are on the front lines of keeping production going, deserve to be recognized, which is why David Louthian was nominated for an E&I award. Louthian has been with Appalachian Plastics (API) for more than 22 years where he has demonstrated an excellent work ethic and commitment to the company. Always leading by example, Louthian works very hard to maintain a high level of quality and takes pride in his work. He has earned the respect of his fellow employees, as well as upper management in the company for both his initiative and company pride. Always punctual, Louthian epitomizes reliability and dedication. He shows a determination to complete every job he takes on and is always willing to put in extra time necessary to complete a project. Allen DeBusk, API general manager notes "He has been essential to the growth of our company for the past 22 years, and is certainly a strong and valuable asset to Appalachian Plastics." Louthian exceeds expectations by providing strong leadership and unwavering dependability, continually exhibiting his excellence as a manufacturing employee.

INNOVATION IN COMPOSITES ENGINEERING
Aaron Leichner. Microcosm, El Segundo, Calif.

First-rate engineers solve serious problems, which is why the Innovation in Composites Engineering award category was added to the E&I program for 2006. Nominees in this category were engineers that developed an innovative solution to a particularly obstinate challenge related to composites product development, design, manufacture, and/or testing. The award category's first recipient is Microcosm's Lead Structures and Composites Engineer Aaron Leichner. Launch vehicle designers face a crucial, persistent task to decrease the structural weight of the vehicle, with the single largest mass driver of the vehicle being the propellant tanks. Leichner was given the job of decreasing the weight of propellant tanks, while simultaneously increasing the performance of tanks for the Scorpius launch vehicle family currently under development at Microcosm. His job was further complicated because one of the two propellants used is cryogenic liquid oxygen. Leichner and his team had to develop the first ever large-scale, high pressure, all-composite cryogenic liquid oxygen tank. The tank, as designed for the pressure-fed Scorpius vehicles, had to withstand temperature and pressure extremes previously unattainable in a composite vessel of this size (-300 degrees F, 550 psi MEOP, >2000psi burst pressure, >750 gallon liquid capacity). Leichner took an innovative approach in developing the all-composite carbon fiber tank, working with multiple materials vendors to develop a resin system that could withstand extreme temperatures, while implementing a unique design that shortened and isolated cracks to maintain structural integrity. "This award reflects the innovative work and commitment of Aaron Leichner and the other members of the tank development team at Microcosm, as well as new materials technology from Composite Technology Development," commented Maj. Gen. (ret.) Jack Kulpa, CEO and president of Scorpius Space Launch Company, which now manufactures and markets the tanks developed by Leichner and his team.

EXCELLENCE IN PLANT OR PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Will Ingold, Wausaukee Composites, Gillett, Wis.

Plant or Project management requires a special and diverse skill set, and epitomizes the ability to multi-task. All personnel, production, and special tasks must be coordinated with schedule, quality control, and cost. For his ability to perform these tasks exceptionally well, and via his success in returning Wausaukee Composites to target profitability, Will Ingold was awarded the E&I in Plant Management. Ingold joined Wausaukee Composites in September 2004, tasked with turning around a non-profitable company and improving overall productivity. He not only met this challenge, but also boosted overall plant morale. Since October 2004, Ingold and his team have successfully turned around the Wausaukee Composites Gillett plant. In addition to returning the plant to target profitability, Ingold and his team increased average monthly production by 95 percent; achieved growth in production employees of 25 percent; increased direct labor efficiency by 13 percent; and delivered a year-to-date on-time delivery record of 99.3 percent. They also have reduced scrap costs by 50 percent and supply spending by 27 percent.

INNOVATION IN MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Fiber Dynamics, Wichita, Kan.

Fiber Dynamics, designer and fabricator of complex structural composite components, has received the Innovation in Manufacturing Process Award due to the company's innovative approach to developing a proprietary Lost Core Resin Transfer Molding Process (LCRTM). The process was initially developed to produce high performance, structurally demanding hollow composite products for the bicycle industry, but is now used for applications in the automotive, aerospace, and other high performance mar kets. The process starts with a proprietary core material formulated to melt and wash out from small openings after the part is molded. The core is wrapped with fabric in the appropriate orientation, and then placed in a mold to be infused with low-viscosity resin. The core is then removed, yielding a product with hollow cavities, high fiber volume, and precise wall thickness. This process yields economical structures that perform under very high stress level, with minimal weight, and al lows for intricate as semblies, including metal details and inserts that are molded in a single operation with no sec ondary bonding or fast ening required. This process has been used for applications in automotive induction systems, aircraft parts, military unmanned vehicles, and motorcycle components. Confederate Motor Company chose Fiber Dynamics to produce fuel tanks and seats for its Helcat bike. Success in this project led to the co-development of the revolutionary Wraith motorcycle. Fiber Dynamic's LCRTM and RTM processes were used to produce the front forks, frame backbone and seat of the Wraith. The all-composite Wraith motorcycle was featured on the cover of CM's November/December 2005 issue.

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
Strongwell Corporation, Bristol, Va.

The E&I for Community Stewardship is awarded to a company for having a positive and proactive influence on community relations. This year's winner, Strongwell, was an easy pick for the numerous ways the company engages communities surrounding each of the company's divisions. Strongwell's Bristol division supports the local United Way, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bristol, Va. and Tenn. The company also participates in the American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life campaign and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's annual Race for the Cure. Strongwell employees serve on the Boys and Girls Clubs board of directors, and organize and gather sponsors for an annual Steak and Burger Dinner, which is a key fundraising event for the organization. Strongwell also donates computers and other materials to local schools and organizations in need. The Bristol division is one of the community's top contributors in blood donations, and blood drives are held at the company frequently throughout the year. Equally supportive is Strongwell's Chatfield division, a major sponsor of the Chatfield Community Chest and an active member of the Chatfield Commercial Club. The division sponsors several community and school fundraising activities, and makes donations to community television, the local ambulance service and fire department. The Chatfield division also supports the Chosen Valley Care Center, the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Lions Club, and the Chatfield VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). "Strongwell encourages employees at all divisions to be active members in their respective communities on an individual level," reports Strongwell's Corporate Marketing Manager Glenn Barefoot. "Our employees represent the company in almost every major civic organization imaginable." These organizations include the Boy Scouts of America, the American Red Cross, the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Junior League, the Jaycees Club, and the YWCA. Strongwell manufactures pultruded fiber reinforced polymer composite structural products, and is headquartered in Bristol, Va., with divisions in Chatfield, Minn. and Abingdon, Va.

EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND SAFETY PRACTICES
Triad Technologies, Syracuse, N.Y.

The ability to comply with industry standards and regulations, or self-imposed environmental, health, and safety standards is growing increasingly difficult, and involves special administrative skills, as well as technical insight. These skills, and six years of research, development, design, prototyping and testing have earned Triad Technologies an Excellence in EH&S Practices Award. With funding assistance from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) coordinated by NYSERDA's Senior Project Manager of R&D Barry Liebowitz, and with assistance from Anthony G. Hay, associate professor of microbiology at Cornell University, a line of engineered bio-furniture has been developed and is currently under test for future commercialization. The project was initially driven by Triad's need to economically and efficiently meet the current and future OSHA, EPA, and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) requirements for styrene abatement and odor control, but in an environmentally friendly fashion. The new concept uses biofiltration for the capture and control of styrene on the production floor. According to Triad's research, prevailing biofiltration methods and installations were analyzed for consistency, simplicity, ease of use, industrial suitability, building heat loss, removal efficiency, installation and expansion costs, lifespan, maintenance, and failure modes. None met the criteria required by the company. Based on these drawbacks, Triad defined a new set of engineered biofiltration criteria, and developed a new biofiltration concept. The patented system they created is housed in production floor bio-furniture, such as worktables, dividing walls, wall panels, etc., and air is cycled through the system in a closed loop. Consistent removal efficiencies on the order of 75 percent and above were recorded in lab testing done by Cornell and Triad, and preliminary readings of prototype bio-furniture installed on the production floor showed the average shop floor styrene levels dropped from 30 PPM to 18 PPM with less than half of the initial calculated number of systems installed and operational. Triad is a Syracuse, N.Y.-based manufacturer of custom fiberglass fabricated parts.

2005 Excellence and Innovation Award Winners

In a comprehensive approach to improving the skills of frontline supervisors, Piedmont management has implemented several popular programs. "Book Nook" is a lunchtime effort to keep up with the latest business literature. Concepts and philosophy are discussed, and the trends of various thinkers and strategists are applied to Piedmont's style and goals. Supervisors start each day with a 15 minute standup ala "Mastering the Rockefeller Habits" to improve communication. They meet with a business advisor every six weeks for a full day session and also take the American Composites Manufacturers Association's Certified Composites Technician class. Although Piedmont has been in business for 30 years, the company has only had supervisors for eight. With little or no experience when they started, these supervisors have helped Piedmont triple its revenue.

EXCELLENCE AS A PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Winner: Howard Guidry, Leisure Pools, San Antonio, Texas

Howard Guidry joined Leisure Pools in May 2004 to set up and manage a new, state-of-the-art facility in San Antonio. Officials of the Australian-based company wanted to be up and running by July '04 to capture what was left of the summer swimming season. Guidry spent three weeks in Australia learning plant design, manufacturing processes, quality control, and quality measurement and reporting. Upon his return and as testament to his managerial skill, Guidry got the San Antonio plant up and running by early July and pool production quickly accelerated to meet business plan requirements while maintaining stringent quality requirements. Guidry has continued to innovate and enhance efficiency as well as manage the company's entire raw material supply.

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
Winner: Plastech T.T. Ltd., Gunnislake, Cornwall, UK

Compelled to act, Plastech responded to last December's Tsunami by coordinating the company's expertise with the needs of those whose lives were uprooted. Instead of offering funds to the many organizations collecting for victims, the UK-based equipment and tooling manufacturer decided to restart the cycle of sustainability by donating closed mold injection equipment, technology, training, materials, and molds for a 14-foot Dory to the Trincomalee district, Kinniya region of Sri Lanka so local fisherman can get back out on the water and harvest the sea. With the help of Noor Nizam of McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada and the Canadian government's Fisheries Relief Fund, Plastech plans to build workshops in Sri Lanka, produce duplicate molds for a variety of boats, train workers in LRTM, and to put all this together with the willingness of local populations to help themselves and start communities working and fishing again. This approach by Plastech is better than charities and governments simply shipping in goods and supplies past the point of emergency and not creating sustainable development.

EXCELLENCE AS A MANUFACTURING EMPLOYEE
Winner: Richard ("Rich") L. LaFountain, Molded Fiber Glass Companies, Gainesville, Texas

Rich LaFountain, CCT, began his career at MFG's Union City, Pa. operations making power and sail boats. He later took on several challenges that called him away from home and family for months at a time. In the hot and unforgiving Florida sun he spent many 18-hour days managing, training, and working with others to complete icons for Disney. He later went to Texas to help start and eventually manage MFG's wind turbine operations. From eight new and unskilled workers in 1997, Rich, working around the clock, built the wind blade operation to more than 180 skilled teammates by the winter of '98. For an undying, lifetime dedication to his job, remarkable knowledge of materials and processes, and skills in sharing that experience and information with fellow teammates, Rich LaFountain is a well-deserved winner.

EXCELLENCE IN EH&S PRACTICES
Winner: Plastpro, Ashtabula, Ohio

For adherence to the United States Government's Energy Star Program, Plastpro's fiberglass doors have met the stringent regional standards for energy efficiency and conservation.

INNOVATION IN MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Winner: RS Technologies, Calgary, AB Canada

By combining a patented polyurethane-based Version™ resin and proprietary fiber placement technology, RS Technologies' innovative filament winding technology produces modular composite utility poles that range from 30 to 200 feet. Instead of producing single poles of varying lengths, RS Technologies met complex engineering and design challenges to produce a series of tapered modules of the same net length, each with a different diameter. These modules could then be stacked to make poles of varying lengths and classes.

EXCELLENCE IN PLANT OR PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Winner: Juan Martinez, Plant Manager; Mario Pescarolo, Raw Material Manager; Jean Louis Solari, Black Belt for Continuous Improvement; Ecuadorian Plantation Management Team, Alcan Baltek, Northvale, NJ

What separates these three individuals from others in the composites industry is the daily environment in which they work and the physical conditions they are subjected to. In the fields and forests of Ecuador these three individuals identify opportunities and put plans in place to gain access to raw materials in regions often untouched by man. The team's efforts for 2005 to meet increased demands for balsa while respecting Ecuador's pristine natural environment was extraordinary.

2004 Excellence & Innovation Award Winners

Thunderbird Products, headquartered in Decatur, Indiana, employs over 600 workers at their design, fabrication, and composites manufacturing facility. In order to keep up with yearly model changes, Thunderbird searches for the best training resources in the marine industry. In 1998, Thunderbird began a two-day, in-house educational program including a full day of hands-on composite part construction. The training, aptly termed "T-Bird University," includes a review of composites, systems, vendor processes, and a 14-class leadership curriculum series called "Champions of Reaching Excellence," or CORE. Thunderbird Products not only makes continuing education an integral part of their corporate process; but also encourages professional advancement as a personalized part of the company culture. For example, T-bird employee Dolores (Dee) Lopez holds the title of Composites Training Specialist, playing a dual role at the company by also acting as the FORMULA Boat Manufacturing Orientation Instructor. Dee obtained her ACMA CCTMarine certification in October of last year, and is currently reviewing for the CCT-I Instructors certification. In addition to Ms. Lopez, 35 FORMULA composites specialists have completed the ACMA's CCT-Marine certification and training program, and 10 additional workers have just enrolled, dedicating the company's continued commitment to excellence in employee education.

EXCELLENCE AS A PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Winner: Nick Williams, Blue Hawaiian Fiberglass Pools

Nick Williams, recently promoted to Plant Operations Manager, has headed up the production team at Blue Hawaiian Fiberglass Pools for four years. Over thirty years of experience in tooling, laminating, gel coating, and finishing enabled Mr. Williams to completely restructure the Blue Hawaiian production process, saving the company time and money. In addition to his responsibilities managing four departments, Nick evaluates and trains new personnel and manages the company's ongoing training programs. Nick is an excellent production manager, setting attainable goals to maintain efficiency, safety, and quality control. He has written all of the company's procedures for each production process, ensuring part uniformity and end-product quality. Mr. Williams also manages the Blue Hawaiian Certified Composites Technician (CCT) class, utilizing ACMA certification study materials and examinations. Nick himself is both a CCT and CCT-I (Certified Composites Instructor), and is currently studying to become a Certified Composites Manager. Nick's planning and record-keeping skills continue to have a positive effect on overall operations, and have enabled him to design and build 27 new pool models and related products, five of which have obtained US Design Patents. Each and every new model was completed within the projected budget, a further testimony to Nick's constant attention to detail. The most worthy testament to Nick's commitment to quality is not his own advancement, but the advancement of other Blue Hawaiian Fiberglass Pools employees who have been trained by Nick. Upon Nick's promotion, three of his subordinates were promoted to supervisory or higher positions. Each of these employees arrived at the company four years ago with no prior experience in the composites industry. Each of these employees were trained and CCT-certified in Nick's classes. Nick's ability to lead fellow employees by his own example is an invaluable asset to the company's continued success, and makes him a worthy winner of this year's Excellence: Production Supervisor award.

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
Winner: Grant Godwin, Martin Marietta Composites

In 2003, Martin Marietta Composites (MMC) Vice President Grant Godwin volunteered to lead a business cluster development initiative at the behest of northwest North Carolina political leaders, who had commissioned a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Study measuring the economic effects of declining textile and furniture manufacturing industries. The study found that the northwestern portion of North Carolina suffers from employment gaps as a result of the manufacturing industry's continuing offshore migration. A link between the community, the educational system (both public and private), and corporations working to improve the job market was desperately needed. North Carolina's higher educational system is excellent but also stratified; the community college and university systems operate separately and have little collaborative interaction. The MMC development initiative, led by Mr. Godwin, has succeeded in bridging this gap by engaging a variety of statewide development organizations to fund a Strategic Technology Applied Research (STAR) grant that combines the resources of Appalachian State University and Wilkes Community College. Because of Godwin's advocacy and effort, small businesses in the area are expanding product lines and creating new products and processes that make composites manufacturing more efficient. Businesses in many parallel markets benefit from the MMC cluster initiative, including saw blade manufacturers, emergency vehicle manufacturers, metalworking shops, printers, graphic design firms, and transportation service companies. MMC's involvement in stabilizing regional development has been recognized by the US EDA, the NC EDA, the region's public-private economic development partnership, the Blue Ridge Business Development Center, and the NC Rural Economic Development Center, in addition to winning this year's ACMA Excellence in Community Stewardship Award. When Mr. Godwin was asked what he thought about moving to Alleghany County, he responded that it was the people of the region, their work ethic and dedication to quality that attracted him. Mr. Godwin's faith in the community's capabilities and his ability to foresee a brighter economic future continue to revitalize and reshape the businesses of northwestern North Carolina.

EXCELLENCE AS A MANUFACTURING EMPLOYEE
Winner: Samuel Chedalavada, AOC Canada Inc.

Samuel Chedalavada, Formulation Engineer at the Guelph AOC plant, has a history in the colorants/paint industry, in addition to his experience in the AOC Technical Services division. This technical background, along with Samuel's inherent enthusiasm for his job, enabled him to handle a large mandate from his Plant Manager. Samuel was required to bring all the plant's key formulations into compliance with a "One Adjustment" model. The "One Adjustment" model, with the goal of reducing batch revisions to a single adjustment, was desperately needed at the Guelph facility, which is operating at near maximum production levels. The plant was running out of available hours, even operating continuous shifts, and didn't have the capacity to process large new orders. Guelph's cycle times needed to be reduced further, and Samuel designed processes that succeeded in revising the efficacy of the factory's reformulations. Samuel worked tirelessly on the "One Adjustment" project for months, focusing his first efforts on the company's nine top volume/troubleshooting formulations. He juggled the duties of being a father with a young family and coming in at odd hours on call. During this time of intense process review, Samuel not only succeeded in reducing the average adjustments per batch from 1.43 to 1.2, but also brought 26 formulations under revisions via the "One Adjustment" model. To further improve the consistency of batch formulations, Samuel and a friend created a software interface for production operators, who can now enter in the batch data and receive a response template telling them what to put into the batch, as well as the quantity. But as any good engineer knows, the first redesign is never the end of the process. Even though his redesign has reduced the number of adjustments by over sixty per month, Samuel is still hoping to lower the adjustment rate by employing the "One Adjustment" model more extensively and simultaneously emphasizing the importance of Standard Operating Procedures already recorded for the formulation cycle. Thanks to Samuel's hard work, the plant had the capacity to take on a new large customer, and did. His Plant Manager, William Van Veen, describes Samuel's inspirational work ethic, saying, "To make something like this happen, it takes a lot of teamwork. And truly the Guelph team made it happen-but in this case one individual was the spark plug that kept up the pace. He did most of the work…and made the difference in that striving for excellence." Congratulations Samuel, for your exceptional performance at AOC, which as earned you the 2004 ACMA Excellence and Innovation as a Manufacturing Employee award.

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES
Winner: Perry Bennett, Jr., REM, CEA, of Molded Fiber Glass Companies

Perry Bennett has been employed by Molded Fiber Glass Companies, known as MFG, since 1995. In his nine years of experience as Corporate Director of Health, Safety and Environment, Perry has contributed to countless company-wide improvements, including efforts to reduce emissions, cut down on workplace injuries, lower hazardous wastes and emissions, and fully meet the compliance requirements for composites manufacturing set forth by OSHA and the EPA. Perry has also contributed greatly to the good of the industry as a whole, serving on the ACMA's Government Affairs Committee, the SIRC, and also representing MFG and composites industry viewpoints during the development of the MACT standard. But Perry doesn't just meet with industry colleagues to discuss new regulatory concerns; he has testified before members of Congress on behalf of the ACMA, speaking to members of the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight of the Small Business Committee, members of the US House of Representatives on the Department of Labor's Enforcement Policies and Compliance Assistance Programs, and various other local, state, and federal officials, who have come to recognize him as a subject-matter expert in the areas of Health, Safety and the Environment. Officials who wish to discuss the potential impacts of OSHA and EPA efforts on the composites industry as a whole frequently contact Perry. Perry is an outstanding leader in employee health and safety because he shares what he learns, reporting routinely at ACMA tradeshows. He also continues to further his own education; honing his regulatory analytical skills by serving on a State of Ohio task force seeking to refine the Ohio EPA permit application and approval process. For his continued and vocal dedication to leading the composites industry towards a safer, more environmentally friendly future, Mr. Bennett is awarded this year's ACMA Excellence and Innovation Award, Excellence in Health, Safety and Environmental Practices.

INNOVATION IN MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Winner: Jeff Burgess, CCT, Acrylon Composites

The Acrylon motto reads "Excellence achieved through quality and service," and Jeff Burgess' continuing innovations in the area of closed molding help the firm find safe and affordable long-term solutions for customers' needs. The whole company is dedicated to service through innovation, producing a wide variety of low-cost, consistently high-quality parts, and Jeff has been extremely active in developing the closed molding techniques that benefit not only his own firm, but also the entire composites industry. Each part that Acrylon makes is proof of the company's commitment to continuing quality; documented procedures are followed for each item that comes off the line. And like every other inventor who is also a great leader, Jeff is never hesitant to share the fruits of his labor, devoting personal time to circulate knowledge and expertise among composites professionals who need his assistance. For years, Jeff has been infusing Acrylon with an "art to part" philosophy, employing ISO registration, design support, and standardized quality checks to ensure that customers receive a product representing the best the composites industry has to offer. Perhaps one of Jeff 's most brilliant innovations has been the advent of the RAM process, which was featured in CF Magazine. One need only visit the company's website, www.acrylon.com, and view the history of the firm to see a demonstration of the continuous improvements which make Acrylon an industry leader. The composites business has been built on the strength and forward-thinking attributes of individuals like Jeff who are willing to pass on the knowledge they gain through trial and error on the product line. Congratulations Jeff Burgess, for furthering the efficiency and environmentally friendly closed molding process. Your efforts have won you the ACMA's 2004 Innovation in Manufacturing Process award.

EXCELLENCE IN PLANT OR PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Winner: Interplastic Corporation's Thermoset Resins Division

Interplastic Corporation's Thermoset Resin Division's Fort Wright facility was recently awarded the Governor's Safety Award for the second consecutive year. The award was given at the annual Governor's Safety Conference in Louisville, KY, for continuous plant operation for over 400,000 hours without a resultant lost time injury. This exemplary safety record has earned Interplastic's Thermoset Resin Division the ACMA's Excellence in Plant Management Award for 2004. The Fort Wright plan produces the company's Silmar™ brand resins and line of clear gel coats. Silmar™ was acquired by Interplastic eleven years ago, and is a brand leader in the casting resin market. Employees at the KY plant support the fiberglass reinforced plastics and cultured marble/solid surface industries by directing a full range of technical and laboratory resources towards the formulation and customization of resins and gel coat systems. The specialized nature of the Thermoset Division's job manufacturing resins and the factory's outstanding safety record has earned Interplastic the 2004 ACMA Excellence in Plant Management. Congratulations to the Thermoset Resin Division, Fort Wright, supervisors and employees for setting an example the rest of the industry would do well to follow.