Owner of Universal Plastics & Mayfield Plastics Selected as Rising Star by Plastics News
(PRWEB) August 20, 2014 -- Jay Kumar, Owner and President of Universal Plastics, has been selected as a Rising Star by Plastics News in their August 11, 2014 edition. Kumar is one of 20 top achievers under age 40 selected by Plastics News for recognition as the plastics industry’s best and brightest stars. The selection process focused on individuals who are on the path to becoming plastics industry leaders – or who are already there.
June of 2014 marked the second anniversary of Jay Kumar’s introduction to Advanced Manufacturing in the Plastics Industry when he purchased 47-year-old Universal Plastics in Holyoke MA from Joe, Mike and Rich Peters, the second generation owners who had run the thermoforming operation for over 25 years. Alongside growing Universal and less than 18 months after the acquisition, Jay acquired a second facility when he bought out Sutton, MA-based Mayfield Plastics with the intent of growing the thermoforming business locally through the combined strength and synergies of both companies.
What is most unusual about this story is that all of Jay’s business experience came from being a Wall Street Trader for ten of his thirty-five years. States Joe Peters, CEO of Universal Plastics, “Jay has been here for 2 years and has no plastics, manufacturing or management background. What he has done is tremendous in terms of learning, adapting, and growing the business.”
Jay’s entrepreneurial drive is manifest in his focus on results. Says Don Andreoli, Universal Plastics’ Head of Engineering, “With Jay, it’s all about results. It’s that very thing that is in his ‘sight’ from the beginning. Keeping his eye on this is a key factor to his success in managing this business. To help take this company from where it was to where it is speaks to his entrepreneurial drive. He has a vision and knows how to chart the course to get there. ” According to Terry Minnick, Owner & President of Molding Business Services who has worked with Jay on a variety of projects including the Mayfield acquisition, “In addition to his compassion and integrity, Jay is a visionary thinker in the plastics business. He understands the market for thermoforming and is looking for ways to offer more solutions to his customers. This forward thinking almost guarantees success. If Jay gets locked onto a project, you know without a doubt it will get done.”
Don Loepp, Plastics News editor, said, “I’m really excited about our inaugural group of Rising Stars honorees. The interest and response to the call for nominees was outstanding. We accomplished our goal of finding some of the best and brightest young talent in the plastics industry.”
Complete profiles of all Rising Stars may be viewed in the Aug. 11, 2014 edition of Plastics News or on the organization’s website at http://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20140812/NEWS/140819983/the-next-generation-of-leaders.
About Universal Plastics
Universal Plastics is a custom thermoformer based in Holyoke, MA with strong legacy of expertise in manufacturing thermoformed plastic parts of the highest quality with a distinct focus on customer satisfaction. Universal has been in business for over 45 years with a world class management team and currently serves customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, medical device manufacturers, transportation, consumer products, food packaging and electronic companies.
As a custom manufacturer, Universal has made kayaks, air ducts, bus stop signs, kayaks from recycled detergent bottles, etc. In 2008 they added a 30,000-square-foot addition to their Whiting Farms Road building for a total of 100,000 square feet of production and office space. The company is ISO 9001 certified.
For more information, visit http://www.universalplastics.com.
Pia Kumar, Universal Plastics, +1 800-553-0120, [email protected]
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