Automation Plastics was founded in 1979 by Mr. Henry DeRocher, a metallurgical engineer who had developed armor for US Steel and the United States Navy during World War II. After the war, Mr DeRocher was a pioneer in the nascent injection molding industry. Initial products manufactured by Automation Plastics were battery seals for Eveready Battery Company.

Harry Smith acquired Automation in June of 1999 and continues in the role of President. Under Harry’s leadership the facility has expanded to the current 50,000 square feet, housing 33 horizontal injection molding presses, a 2,800 square ft. tooling department, and a 3,000 square ft. post-mold machining department. We continue to enhance our abilities with the addition of robotics and other automated processing equipment.

Automation completed registration to the ISO 9001:2015 Standard in April 2018, marking 15 years of ISO 9001 certification to Quality Management excellence and continual improvement.

Automation Plastics Timeline

1956 - Henry DeRocher joins Nymold Corporation. Over 23 years Henry opened 3 plants and commissioned 1,000 molds

1979 - Henry DeRocher founds Automation Plastics

1980 - Automation erects 9,600 ft2 facility with 4 presses

1984 - 2,800 ft2 expansion including offices and Tool Room

1985 - Automation molds its first thick wall parts for natural gas distribution industry Automation molds Danvern aerosol valve

1990 - 12,000 ft2 expansion factory and warehouse, 4 presses added

1997 - 13,200 ft2 expansion; total 20 presses ProE modeling software implemented CNC, EDM, Vertical machining center added

1998 - Automation runs 128 cavity mold @7 second cycles producing 1.6 million parts per day

1999 - Harry Smith purchases Automation. Automation runs 160 cavity mold capable of running 1.8 million parts per day

2000 - Robotic loading of 16 & 8 cavity tools implemented

2001 - 6,000 ft2 expansion: Tool Room, Training and Conference Rooms, offices Automation runs 128 cavity mold @ 6 second cycle

2002 - 2-shot press commissioned

2003 - Automation Plastics achieves ISO9001:2000 registration

2004 - Automation runs 52 cavity insert @ 3.25 second cycle

2005 - Automation successfully molds 20.5-lb thick wall molded components for natural gas distribution valves

2006 - Full implementation of IQMS ERP system

2010 - New all electric Arburg and Niigata presses purchased

2015 - RJG eDart fully implemented on all presses

2016 - Automation Plastics adopts Dozuki documentation software and begins transition to paperless visual work guidance

2017 - Routsis Plastics Training program implemented for on-line learning. Universal Robots UR5 6-axis collaborative robot commissioned

2018 - Dave Robison, P.E., joins Automation Plastics as Vice President of Engineering