The post Hoffer Plastics Partners with Food for Greater Elgin to Combat Food Insecurity appeared first on Hoffer Plastics.

The post Hoffer Plastics to Participate in U46 School District’s 20-23 Explore Event appeared first on Hoffer Plastics.

The post Hoffer Plastics Celebrates 5,000th Boys and Girls Club Opening in South Elgin, IL+ appeared first on Hoffer Plastics.

Hoffer Plastics saw the need and decided to break the mold. Literally.

The South Elgin-based custom injection molder launched its Break the Mold initiative last year with the plan to prove to youngsters entering the workforce that this ain’t your granddaddy’s factory.

Break the Mold is an informational partnership driven by Hoffer Plastics with School District U-46 and its five high schools: Elgin, Larkin, Streamwood, South Elgin and Bartlett. The impetus was a pre-COVID-19 diminishment in job applications, which increased after the pandemic was established.

Hoffer hosted more than 30 school counselors from those schools in two sessions in January to give them a sense of what they wanted students to understand about manufacturing, like job growth, diversity of jobs, flexible scheduling and compensation.

That led to three groups of Larkin students — about 20 students apiece — who visited between the end of February and the most recent visit, March 9. Another group of Elgin students will visit April 8.

Read More

The post Hoffer Plastics is Manufacturing a Change in Perception appeared first on Hoffer Plastics.

Manufacturing today typically offers well-compensated, high-tech jobs that can lead to fulfilling careers. Unfortunately, that’s news to many educators and young people. Custom injection molder Hoffer Plastics Corp. is doing its part to raise awareness among school counselors in its neck of the woods by inviting them to tour its facility in South Elgin, IL, and learn about career opportunities available to young people in the plastics industry and manufacturing in general.

On Jan. 28, Hoffer will welcome Elgin Area School District U-46 and western Kane County suburban school counselors to its plant in an effort to educate them and, in turn, students about the benefits and career opportunities that are available. This effort aligns with its Break The Mold initiative to hire, train, and retain employees, and offer young people alternative career path options.

Read more here

The post Hoffer Plastics Schools Educators on Careers in Manufacturing appeared first on Hoffer Plastics.

Among the chief priorities for the Club is the ability to provide warm meals for the students. In addition, volunteers and Clubhouse leaders and employees will work to ensure the programming remains inclusive of basic life skills such as culinary programs and garden programs focused on nutrition, as well as homework and after-school activities such as physical, emotional, and sensory education.

Cathy Russell, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of South Elgin said: “The Boys & Girls Club of South Elgin is committed to enriching the lives of youth in the surrounding area through its range of programs and initiatives. We see a need in South Elgin now more than ever.” She continued, “The COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertain and frightening times for kids and families. Exposed to empty shelves in grocery stores, a 24-hour mounting news cycle, school closures, and job loss leaving many families in a difficult situation, the anxiety felt by youth today is overwhelming.”

The Club is well positioned to prepare young people for 21st century success through its 26 plus years of experience serving at-risk youth in the Elgin area, dedicated social/emotional resilience trainings, mentorship programs, focus on skills development in STEM and the arts, workforce development initiatives, and its strong community partnerships in South Elgin.

Steve Super, the Village of South Elgin Administrator and the Boys & Girls Club of South Elgin Board Member said, “South Elgin is home to over 4,000 hardworking families, many of which rely on public and private services and programs to support their wellbeing. We are proud to welcome the Boys and Girls Club to South Elgin as the first major youth focused non-profit in the Village and look forward to enhancing the vibrancy of this great community.”

Major donors of the Boys and Girls Club of South Elgin include the South Elgin-based Hoffer Foundation and the Wayne-based Wisdom Family Foundation — each gifting $1 million towards the $4.25 million fundraising goal.

To learn more about the Boys and Girls Club of South Elgin, please visit: http://www.bgcelgin.org/southelgin

About Boys and Girls Club

Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

At the Boys & Girls Club of South Elgin, we believe that every child deserves a place to feel safe and connected —but most importantly, a place to belong.

With the help of professional and caring mentors, use of enriching programs, and support from community members, the Boys & Girls Club of South Elgin can provide such a place for kids to feel safe, connect with others, and build the skills and confidence needed to reach their highest potential.

More

Chicago Tribune: Boys & Girls Club of Elgin planning clubhouse in South Elgin, more after-school programs in Streamwood

Daily Herald: Boys & Girls Club gets massive mask donation in South Elgin

Daily Herald: Boys & Girls Club of Elgin gets $1 million donation to expand into South Elgin

Chicago Tribune: Wisdom foundation donates $1M to Boys & Girls Club of Elgin’s new South Elgin clubhouse project

WGN Radio: Interview with CEO Cathy Russell.

The post Boys & Girls Club South Elgin Breaks Ground, Begins Construction appeared first on Hoffer Plastics.

The way the Illinois-based injection molder makes a point of hiring veterans, and the way its employees rallied to support one of their own during his deployment shows how deeply that commitment is held.

The South Elgin, Ill., company recently welcomed home Army Sergeant Keith Kuhns after an eight-month deployment with his National Guard unit in Afghanistan.

Hoffer Plastics has made hiring veterans a priority, but does much more to support those who deploy to combat zones. The company regularly sent care packages, members of his department at Hoffer kept in touch with letters and photos, and after the deployment Kuhns was given time to settle in before returning to his job as a technician.

“It meant so much that my colleagues would send me these packages,” Kuhns said in a press release distributed by Hoffer Plastics. “While they contained what many would define as common goods, many of us didn’t have access to these items where we were stationed. It went to show that they were more than just a workplace. One of Hoffer’s core values is ‘family’ — treating everyone as if they were family — and it couldn’t be more true.”

Kuhns was hired as a molding technician. He applied to become an apprentice in the mold room but his three-year course of study was interrupted by the deployment. He has now resumed that classroom study.

Kuhns spent eight years in the Marines and has been in the National Guard for nine years. He has been deployed six times.

Charlotte Canning, Hoffer’s VP of Brand and Culture, said the company has always tried to hire veterans. “We continue to see veterans thrive at Hoffer because of their innate ability to work in a dynamic and team-oriented environment where they are trained to find innovative solutions, problem solve and provide outstanding outcomes,” she said.

Canning said Hoffer has made hiring veterans in its tooling, maintenance, automation and general manufacturing departments a top priority for the company in 2021.

This story has special meaning to me. I spent several years on active duty in the Army and many years in the Army Reserves. I can’t tell you how many times my young Army Reserve soldiers returned from deployments to find that their civilian job had been given to someone else and their employer did not have another job for them. Some employers would even tell a soldier that if he went on a deployment he would lose his job.

There is a federal law that gives National Guard and Reserve soldiers re-employment rights, but it can be difficult to enforce.

Hoffer Plastics is a great example of an employer doing more than required to support its employees. The company currently employs six veterans who have served a combined 43.5 years. Two of the six are currently serving in the National Guard.

Wednesday is Veterans Day. Be sure to salute Hoffer Plastics and all the companies that actively recruit and employ veterans.

The post Hoffer Plastics Stands Tall with Veteran Community appeared first on Hoffer Plastics.

Like many companies facing massive disruption as COVID-19 spreads across the world, Hoffer Plastics Corp. had to make hard decisions.

Among the tough choices was fulfilling its customers’ needs while simultaneously protecting the health and welfare of its employees. As a global supplier of custom injected plastic parts used in everything from baby food pouches to lawnmowers, deadlines still had to be met despite the growing pandemic.

Most of the company’s 350 employees were working in three shifts at Hoffer’s 360,000-square-foot plant in the Chicago suburb of South Elgin. They couldn’t simply tuck a laptop under their arm and manufacture blender parts or speaker covers from their dining room table. They had to clock in every day as COVID-19 spread, seeking direction and support from company leaders.

Read More

The post Hoffer Plastics’ Philosophy Puts People over Profits appeared first on Hoffer Plastics.

Less than 20% of that plastic has been recycled or incinerated, leaving nearly 80% to accumulate in landfills or as litter in our natural environment. Despite its significant contributions to innovation, the plastics industry has garnered increasing criticism over the years for its environmental impact. In a poll conducted by market research firm Morning Consult in 2018, a majority of people (55%) reported that they did not believe corporations were doing enough to reduce waste that could make it into the environment, and two-thirds of individuals (66%) reported that they would view companies more favorably if they implemented policies to reduce plastic waste.

So, why do we continue to use plastics in the first place?

The technical answer is that plastic has a high strength-to-weight ratio and can be easily shaped into a wide variety of forms that are impermeable to liquids and are highly resistant to physical and chemical degradation. These materials can be produced at a relatively low cost, making it easier for companies to sell, scale, save and so forth. The primary challenge is that the proliferation of plastics in everyday use in combination with poor end-of-life waste management has resulted in widespread and persistent plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is present in all of the world’s major ocean basins, including remote islands, the poles and the deep seas. An additional 5 to 13 million metric tons are introduced every year.

However, consider for a moment the possibility that the plastics industry is doing more good than harm, and that the environmental issues the industry faces have more to do with recycling than production.

Here is how we should be thinking about plastics in 2020.

Plastics and the environment

Austrian environmental consultancy Denkstatt recently conducted a study to determine the impact of farmers, retailers and consumers using recyclable products (wood, tins, glass bottles and jars, and cardboard) to package their goods rather than plastic. What they found was that the mass of packaging would increase by a whopping 3.6 times, and would take more than double the energy to make, thereby increasing greenhouse gases by an astounding 2.7 times.

One common proposal for replacing plastics with different materials is to replace plastic bags with paper ones in grocery stores. While this may sound like a more sustainable solution, the data does not support it. By volume, paper takes up more room in landfills and does not disintegrate as rapidly as plastic. Because of this, plastic bags leave half the carbon footprint of cotton and paper bags.

Plastics and hunger

In my visits to the Northern Illinois Food Bank, I’ve had the honor to serve those in need of access to nutritious food. While helping stock the pantry or pass out holiday baskets, I couldn’t help but notice how food packaging alone impacts visitors’ perceptions. Most of the food at the food bank is canned or jarred, yet it is the plastic-wrapped food that always looks fresher and a little less dangerous.

Now, consider the properties of plastic that make it so attractive: It is durable, flexible, does not shatter, can breathe (or not) and is extremely lightweight. As a result, food and drink are protected from damage and preserved for previously unimaginable lengths of time.

The European Packaging and Film Association (PAFA) says that the average spoilage of food between harvest and table is 3% in the developed world, compared to 50% in developing countries where plastic pallets, crates, trays, film and bags are not as commonly available. This data point shows us that plastics play an integral role in the preservation of food. In a world where many go hungry, it is advantageous to continue to support an industry that helps to keep food on tables and families fed, while reducing food waste.

Plastics and cars

Turning our attention to plastics’ relationship with the automotive industry, let’s start with safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that today’s seat belts, which are made with industrial-strength plastics, have the potential to reduce auto fatalities by as much as 45% and serious injury by 50%, compared with not being buckled in.

Beyond the seat belt and other accessories, modern plastics can be made to be resilient and flexible, soft and cushioned, or tough and shatter-resistant. This allows them to contribute to vehicle safety in a substantial way.

Car manufacturers rely on plastic to make lightweight materials that reduce the weight of automobiles so they can meet the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard, which is set to increase to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. I predict that the use of plastics to minimize the weight of cars will be an integral part of car manufacturers’ efforts to meet these new standards. Therefore, the plastics industry will be contributing in improvements to fuel efficiency that will ultimately reduce the environmental footprint of vehicles.

Plastics and healthcare

Did you know that plastic materials increase the efficiency and hygiene of your physician’s office? Plastic syringes and tubing are disposable to reduce disease transmission. Plastic intravenous (IV) bags and tubing that store and deliver blood, fluid, and medicine let healthcare workers more easily view dosages and replacement needs. Plastic heart valves and knee and hip joints save lives and make patients’ lives more comfortable. Plastic prostheses help amputees regain function and improve their quality of life.

Plastics and jobs

Consider a world in which the plastics industry in America suddenly came to an end. While some would celebrate this, I imagine that the cheers from those who are “anti-plastic” would very quickly be drowned out by the 989,000 individuals in the United States who collect their paychecks and support their families thanks to job opportunities within the plastics industry.

In 2020, the argument to remove plastics from our way of life entirely is not a feasible option. Plastics’ contribution to the health of our environment, the safety and durability of our healthcare products, the fuel efficiency on our roads and the growth of the economy—and so much more—tells us that it is worth putting our best efforts toward understanding this debate further.

About the author

Alex Hoffer is Vice President of Sales and Operations at Hoffer Plastics Corp., a leading global supplier of tight-tolerance, custom injection molded parts. He leads the company’s sales growth strategy across a diverse set of markets, including flexible and rigid packaging, automotive, appliances and consumer industrial. Alex Hoffer’s leadership in developing the Trust-T-Lok product line for spouted pouches has helped to supply more than one billion Trust-T-Lok fitments to the international marketplace. Today, his focus is on launching a fully recyclable pouch, and utilizing spouted pouch technology to address food waste and other human impact challenges.

The post How to think about plastics in 2020 appeared first on Hoffer Plastics.

It’s back to school time for many – but not for all. 

September is National Childhood Cancer month. We dedicate this month’s issue to all children who inspire us with their brave fight against cancer.

Too many, too soon

Cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease among children

Roughly 16,000 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer every year – or 43 every single day.

95% of children who manage to survive childhood cancer will have significant, health related issues by the time they’re 45. These are the side effects of childhood cancer and its current treatments.

Childhood cancer rates have been rising for the past few decades – it’s up to 27% for those under the age of 19

Leukemia – the #1 form of cancer in children – is driving the increase, possibly due to environmental causes

And yet, too little

Too little funding, research, and drugs are focused on addressing childhood cancer

Only 4% of the billions of dollars that are annually spent on cancer research and treatments are directed towards treating childhood cancer.

• In the U.S., the majority of cancer funding comes from the National Cancer Institute. Out of the $5 Billion they provide, less than $200,000 is spent on children’s cancer.
• Only 4% of all federal government cancer research funding goes to studying pediatric cancer

Since 1980, fewer than 10 drugs have been developed for use in children with cancer, as compared to hundreds of drugs created exclusively for adults

Hope and Progress

Advanced understanding and treatments are improving survival rates

More than 80% of U.S. children with cancer now become long term survivors (surviving 5 years or more)

Precision radiation targeting (proton therapy), targeted drugs and immunotherapy show promise.

There is growing understanding of genetic and mutational mechanisms , particularly for brain related childhood cancers. Environmental factors are being studied for potential links to childhood leukemia.

Social media is helping to create greater awareness of the need for more dedicated focus on childhood cancer in the U.S.

Sources: National Pediatric Cancer Foundation; American Cancer Society; St. Jude’s Research Hospital, National Cancer Institute

Ways to Help

Donate, Fundraise, or Volunteer with local or national organizations that are making a difference (See Helpful Links and Resources, below).  You can also start your own crowd funding site.

Hoffer Plastics collects toys to be distributed to children fighting pediatric cancer and their siblings. Please contact us to donate.

Charlotte Hoffer-Canning, Vice President of Brand and Culture, serves on the Board of Directors at Cal’s Angels, a local pediatric cancer organization. She also helps the organization with its marketing, public relations and fundraising initiatives. To donate, click here.

Like, support and share others’ challenges and successes on social media sites

Participate in employer sponsored programs that work with children’s cancer related organizations.

Helpful Links and Resources:

• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation:  www.nationalpcf.org
• American Cancer Society:  www.cancer.org
• St. Jude’s Research Hospital: www.stjude.org
• National Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov

The post Children Fighting Cancer. What We Can Do To Help appeared first on Hoffer Plastics.