In our latest exhibitor interview, we spoke to Chuck Hoop, Director of Sales at Star Plastics.

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Ravenswood, WV, Star Plastics is a leader in providing high quality engineered compounds, product solutions, and services. With its product formulation expertise along with process technology and lab testing capabilities, Star offers a broad line of high-quality custom engineered compounds and specialty products for high-performance and demanding end-use applications. With strategic partnerships in Asia and Europe, Star is well positioned to effectively serve and support the needs of its global customers.

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What do you think sets your company apart from your competitors?

Star Plastics is set apart by our ability to color match and provide custom colors in our engineering grade thermoplastic offering, as well as by our product performance with elevated RTI’s and (f1) ratings.  We also offer a wide range of production quantities, from 55 pounds to railcars.

We produce prime-performance products at a cost savings to the processor, with less-than-market lead times (in a standard market).  We are positioned with strategic partnerships that allow us to source and supply material globally while acting locally. Star also has a history in recycling, allowing us to offer high-performance recycled content to help customers achieve sustainability goals and reduce their carbon footprint.

 

Are there any new technology developments that your company is working on at the moment?

We’ve developed and released a new technology in our Cold Temperature Impact (CTI) Modified PC-Si. This product not only provides high-impact characteristics in extreme low temperatures, it also offers V0 and 5VA ratings, elevated RTI’s, and (f1) ratings with excellent processability.

 We also have prime-performance sustainable, recycled-content product lines that offers up to 100% recycled materials and 3rd party certification.

What are the biggest challenges facing the injection molding industry today and how can this be overcome?

The biggest challenge we see facing the industry today is the sourcing of base material in an environment that has high demand and flat supply for many resins in North America. Another challenge to overcome is current freight imbalance from Asia to North America.

These types of issues can be overcome with the diversification of feedstock suppliers for resins, pigments, additives, as well as working with multiple service providers.

We also are helping our customers overcome tight supply issues by providing material alternatives that offer similar performance characteristics to resins that they may not be able to currently order.

 

How do you see the sector developing in the next five to ten years?

We believe the consolidation of the compounding sector will continue moving forward, which will benefit OEMs and processors alike. Customers, whether it be an OEM or molder, will be able to make a single call and have access to more material options from a single material producer.

 

You are exhibiting at the Injection Molding and Design Expo, what are you most looking forward to?

We’re looking forward to reconnecting with industry colleagues in person and exhibiting at a new show for Star Plastics. We’ve seen the first few in-person shows in a while have had great attendance, so we’re hoping that trend continues with the IM&D Expo!

We’re also looking forward to meeting with potential customers and understanding how they view sustainable plastics, as well as what problems they may see arising that we can get a step ahead of.

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Star Plastics are exhibiting at Injection Molding and Design Expo 2022.