From left to right: Kevin Hogan, chief executive officer, DPI; Annette Lund, vice president, DPI; Rob Gilman, general manager PPIM; Lucy Huynh, controller, PPIM; Jae English, founder, PPIM; Roger Vang, chief financial officer, DPI

Diversified Plastics, Inc. (DPI) has acquired the assets of Pacific Plastics Injection Molding (PPIM) in Vista, Calif.  PPIM offers custom plastic-injection molding as well as design and custom mold making services to industrial, electronics, telecommunications, medical and filtration markets.

“The acquisition of PPIM provides synergy with DPI’s services and customers as well as geographic benefits and diversification into new industry segments,” says Kevin Hogan, chief executive officer for Diversified Plastics, Inc. “We are very excited about the unique capabilities, overseas tooling supplier relationship and location advantages that PPIM will add to our organization. Additionally, the company will benefit from DPI’s experienced sales team and advanced technologies and manufacturing processes, such as Carbon 3D-additive manufacturing.”

PPIM provides a single source for injection-molded plastic parts, product design and design support, in-house and offshore tooling, and value-added assembly and packaging services. ISO 9001:2015 registered, the company has 30 employees and an 18,000-square foot facility in Southern California.

“DPI has a similar culture,” says Rob Gilman, general manager of  PPIM. “Our operation will continue with its full staff as PPIM, and Jae English, PPIM’s founder, will be working with DPI’s management and our team for a smooth transition. The PPIM employees are excited about the opportunity to eventually participate in the employee stock ownership plan.”

PPIM is Diversified Plastic, Inc.’s first acquisition. The PPIM purchase is part of DPI’s strategic growth initiative.

Visit www.pacificplastic.com for details on Pacific Plastics Injection Molding’s services and capabilities or call +1 760.598.5333. For more information about Diversified Plastics, Inc., visit www.divplast.com, call +1 763.424.2525 or email dpisales@divplast.com.

Each year Santa comes to give the employees of DPI a turkey for all their hard work throughout the year! Here’s a small sampling of the pictures! Happy Holidays!

Diversified Plastics, Inc., (DPI), a custom plastic-injection molder and digital manufacturer of high-precision components, has appointed Gary LaTraille as quality director.  LaTraille will be responsible for strategic advancement, optimization and enforcement of DPI’s regulatory and quality protocols to ensure that materials, products and processes meet or exceed customer and company requirements.

LaTraille has more than 30 years of experience in medical device manufacturing, quality management and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining DPI, LaTraille was manager of quality assurance and regulatory affairs at Kips Bay Medical, Plymouth, Minn. He also served as quality manager at superDimension, Inc. and senior quality assurance/design assurance engineer at AGA Medical (now Abbott), both in Plymouth. He held the position of design assurance engineer/engineering supervisor, quality assurance for St. Jude Medical, AF Division in Minnetonka, Minn. and quality assurance engineer at Thomas Engineering Company, Brooklyn Park, Minn. LaTraille advanced his career at Schneider USA (Boston Scientific)/American Medical Systems where he was promoted to quality assurance engineer/supervisor.

“LaTraille is integral to DPI’s strategic initiative for continued growth and improvement,” says Annette Lund, vice president of Diversified Plastics, Inc. “His leadership skills, background in the medical device industry and knowledge of global regulatory compliance will be a true asset for our customers and the company.”

LaTraille received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, Minn. He has earned many quality certifications, including ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), ASQ Certified Quality Manager (CQM), ISO 13485:2003 Lead Auditor and ISO 13485:2016 Lead Auditor.

For more information about Diversified Plastics, Inc., visit www.divplast.com, call +1 763.424.2525 or email sales@divplast.com.

Great turnout for the Lunch and Learn about Carbon, sponsored by DPI, at MD&M Minneapolis. After the presentation, attendees were able to examine parts digitally manufactured with Carbon’s 3D-additive manufacturing technology. Learn more about Carbon > 

Carbon technology is next-generation 3D-additive manufacturing

Diversified Plastics, Inc. (DPI), a custom plastic-injection molder and digital manufacturer of high-precision components, has announced that it has joined the Carbon Production Network (CPN). Carbon’s innovative digital manufacturing solution gives Diversified Plastics, Inc. the ability to offer customers prototyping and end-use part digital manufacturing.

“Traditional plastic injection molding requires tooling. Until we have the tooling in place, there is little DPI can do from a manufacturing standpoint,” says Kevin Hogan, CEO of Diversified Plastics, Inc. “Carbon’s digital manufacturing technology doesn’t need tooling. This opens new markets for us and offers a manufacturing solution to customers who don’t want to invest in a steel tool for injection molding.”

Combining hardware, software and molecular science, Carbon’s proprietary Digital Light Synthesis™ (DLS) technology fuses light and oxygen to economically produce products from programmable liquid resins. Carbon manufactures nonporous parts, comparable to thermoplastic injection molding, using a wide selection of engineering-grade materials customized for mechanical properties, surface finish and stability. The list of parts that can be manufactured with Carbon is continuing to grow.

Contact Diversified Plastics, Inc. to learn if Carbon is right for your end-use part, visit www.divplast.com/carbon, call +1 763.424.2525 or email dpisales@divplast.com.

Digital manufacturing is backed by DPI’s inhouse design for manufacturing assistance, inspection, injection molding, cleanroom assembly and packaging expertise. Carbon allows many parts, including some previously un-manufacturable products, to be produced economically. Precision components are manufactured without the time or expense of creating molds and are inspected under the company’s stringent quality system.

The Carbon Production Network is an elite ecosystem of industry-leading design firms and contract manufacturers that have implemented Carbon’s technology and demonstrated advanced capabilities in additive manufacturing, design, production, machining and injection molding. The network offers a true partnership model that focuses on hands-on advanced training and certification, production engineering, marketing and sales to help ensure its partners’ continued success.

About Carbon
Carbon is a Silicon Valley-based company working at the intersection of hardware, software and molecular science to deliver on the promise of digital manufacturing. The company empowers its customers and partners to evolve beyond 3D printing for basic prototyping to production at scale by revolutionizing how they design, engineer, make and deliver their products. With Carbon’s Digital Light Synthesis™ technology and its SpeedCell™ system (M Series Printers and Smart Part Washer), manufacturers can unlock new business opportunities such as mass customization, on-demand inventory and differentiated products made with unique functional materials. Carbon’s solutions also provide substantial operational efficiencies, such as the elimination of tooling costs and decreased time to market. To learn more, visit www.carbon3d.com.

A Carbon production partner, Diversified Plastics, Inc. is sponsoring a lunch and learn about Carbon on Thurs., Nov. 1 at 12:45 pm at MD&M Mpls. in room 101H. Register now, space is limited. #AdvMfgExpo #MDMMinneapolis https://goo.gl/7NAeBV

Roger Vang, chief financial officer at Diversified Plastics, Inc., was honored with the NHACC’s Steve Lampi Service to the Chamber Award. The award, started in 2011, is named in honor of the late Brooklyn Park, Minn., mayor, Steve Lampi. It is given annually to a NHACC member who has displayed dedication to the chamber’s communities.

The award recognizes chamber and community leaders that serve, without personal gain, in the business, social, cultural or educational advancement of others. Award recipients contribute beyond the level of ordinary chamber membership and have the strength of character to serve as role model and mentor for present and future generations in the chamber and community.

Dedicated to help make the community a better place to live and work, Vang volunteers on several community advisory panels and boards that include six years on the NHACC board of directors. He has served the NHACC as vice chair, chair and immediate past chair. He is a chief source for advice, counsel and courage to help the chamber with its continued growth. A strong supporter of the Manufacturers Consortium, Vang has also been an active member of the NHACC committees for the winter gala and leadership academy events.

“I am honored to receive this award,” says Vang. “Helping area businesses grow and prosper enhances the entire community.” Vang is one of the 15 people selected by U.S. Representative Erik Paulsen to be on the congressman’s small-business task force to discuss pertinent issues. In addition, he served on the Worksite Advisory Council for Hennepin County for three years. A reputable and knowledgeable speaker, Vang has made presentations to the NHACC Leadership Academy as well as the Hennepin County Board about wellness programs. He has also spoken at the Manufacturer’s Alliance on a variety of topics, including employee stock ownership plans, health care costs and financial analysis.

About North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce
NHACC’s mission is to be a leading resource for members, providing programs and services to maximize their potential, while being a driving force to build stronger communities. NHACC leads, advocates and partners with area businesses as well as civic and education communities to build a stronger, more vibrant future.

Diversified Plastics, Inc. (DPI), a custom plastic-injection molder of high-precision thermoplastic components, has released a new white paper titled Avoid Pitfalls: Tool Transfer Protocols. This white paper provides information to minimize risk or impact on production and streamline the process of transferring tools to a new vendor.

Changing plastic injection molding vendors may be necessary for a variety of reasons, including mergers, supplier base consolidations or dissatisfaction with a current supplier. Up-front planning and effective communication are needed to successfully transfer tools to a new vendor.

“Every mold transfer can have challenges,” says Annette Lund, vice president of Diversified Plastics, Inc.  “This white paper is a roadmap, providing original equipment manufacturers with inside information to help them plan for success.”

The white paper offers recommendations to original equipment manufacturers for assembling a tool transfer team. It also outlines what the new vendor needs to make the process as smooth as possible. The white paper provides tips on what to look for and document at an on-site visit with the current vendor. Additionally, it outlines the typical steps the new supplier will follow, from documenting receipt of the mold and evaluating the parts for manufacturability, to preparation of the first-article inspection report (FAIR).

To download a copy of this white paper, visit www.divplast.com/tool-transfer, call
+1 763.424.2525 or email sales@divplast.com.

MINNEAPOLIS—Diversified Plastics, Inc. (DPI), a custom plastic-injection molder of high-precision thermoplastic components, has appointed James Garvin to its board of directors. Garvin has an extensive background with 34 years of experience in manufacturing and management. He will provide leadership and strategic guidance and serve as an adviser to DPI’s CEO and executive team.

“We welcome James to the board and look forward to his contributions as we grow the company,” says James Dow, Chairman of the Board at Diversified Plastics, Inc. “His well-rounded background in management, operations, business development and quality makes him ideally suited to help guide the company.”

Garvin is the president of Cass Precision Machining, a Brooklyn Center, Minn., contract manufacturer. Prior to joining Cass Precision Machining, he was chief operating officer at Hutchinson Manufacturing, Inc. in Hutchinson, Minn. In addition, he held several leadership roles at Hutchinson Technology, Inc. Garvin started his career as a supplier and product quality engineer at Unisys, Midwest Operations Group in Roseville, Minn. He received a Bachelor of Engineering Technology degree from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minn.

For more information about Diversified Plastics, Inc. visit www.divplast.com,
call +1 763.424.2525 or email sales@divplast.com.

WHITE PAPER

Every mold transfer is a challenge. Transferring tools from one plastic injection molding company to a new supplier, with uninterrupted production, requires up-front planning and effective communication for a successful outcome. This white paper provides steps to take when transferring tools.