Contact: Paula Weis
(202) 974-5282

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPI'S Thermoforming Institute Announces 2005 "TINA" Award Winners

IRVINE, CA (March 29, 2005) - Continuing its tradition of promoting and recognizing superior manufacturing quality, innovation and use of materials in thermoformed parts, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) announced the winners of its Thermoforming Institute National Awards (TINA) for 2005.

The overall winner was Gage Industries of Lake Oswego, OR, which entered a One-way Front Opening Shipping Box into the heavy-gauge electronics category. The one-way front opening 300mm silicon wafer shipping box is manufactured utilizing twin-sheet thermoforming and clean room assembly processes. It eliminates cleaning and re-use logistics costs associated with two-way containers. The twin-sheet fold-up design combined with tight tolerance and cleanliness requirements provided unique design and manufacturing challenges.

The only competition of its kind for custom thermoformers in the nation, SPI's TINA program is open to members of SPI's Thermoforming Institute. The entries must be a production item - not a prototype - and must be a custom design. This year's competition attracted submissions from 10 states, including Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, California, Oregon, Massachusetts and Florida.

Entries were judged in nine categories representing heavy gauge and light gauge products, as well as best overall design, by attendees of the Thermoforming Institute's 2005 winter meeting. "SPI is committed to promoting the growth and prestige of the thermoforming industry by encouraging the use of good manufacturing practices," said Brian Schell, chairman of SPI's Thermoforming Institute and president of Buckell Plastics, Lewistown, PA. "The caliber of this year's entries demonstrates true innovation and creativity in the design of the parts."

The other 2005 "TINA" winners are:

Heavy Gauge Categories:

• Medical: Comfort Scan Covers, Kintz Plastics, Inc. (Howes Cave, NY)
• Consumer: Replicated Rock, The Fabri-Form Co. (New Concord, OH)
• Electronics: 1-Way Front Opening Shipping Box, Gage Industries, Inc. (Lake Oswego, OR)
• Industrial: Pie Plate Plenum, Kintz Plastics, Inc. (Howes Cave, NY)

Light Gauge Categories:

• Food Packaging: Ten Inch Wedge Clamshell with Vents, Plastic Ingenuity, Inc. (Cross Plains, WI)
• Industrial: 70 Cavity Injector Tray, Innovative Plastech, Inc. (Batavia, IL)
• Consumer: State Quarter Clamshell, Plastic Ingenuity, Inc. (Cross Plains, WI)
• Medical: Resting Heart System Package, Prent Corporation (Janesville, WI)
• Electronics: Microsoft for Mac, Transparent Container Company (Berkeley, IL)

The awards were announced during the Institute's annual winter meeting, held March 13-16 in Naples, FL.

SPI's Thermoforming Institute is composed of presidents and CEOs of companies significantly engaged in the manufacture of custom thermoformed products. Its mission is to promote the growth and prestige of the thermoforming industry. To learn more about the Thermoforming Institute or this year's TINA award winners, link to the Web at www.thermoforminginstitute.org or contact Jill Brandts, (949) 261-6979; e-mail jbrandts@socplas.org.

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., is the trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.4 million workers and provides nearly $310 billion in annual shipments. For more information, visit SPI on the Web at www.plasticsindustry.org.

Back to Top

More About SPI:   Vision and Mission . Membership . Business Units . Regional Offices . News and Publications . Calendar of Events . Terms and Conditions of Use