INVENTION
Mankind has always endeavoured to create items that are beneficial, but are not necessarily found in natural materials. One of the earliest documented developers of plastic is inventor Alexander Parkes, 1855. His invention was called “Parkesine” - which we know today as celluloid. A big breakthrough came in 1907 when a Belgian-American inventor named Leo Baekeland created Bakelite, the first real synthetic. Bakelite was a purely synthetic material, not derived from living matter.
Since then there have been many new plastics discovered and developed through trial and error. Wikipedia describes plastic as having a “wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic compounds that are malleable and can be molded into solid objects. Plasticity is the general property of all materials which can deform irreversibly without breaking but, in the class of moldable polymers, this occurs to such a degree that their actual name derives from this specific ability. Plastics are typically organic polymers of high molecular mass and often contain other substances. They are usually synthetic, most commonly derived from petrochemicals.”
Knowing the potential plastics could have in the industry, entrepreneur Joe Volltrauer established Volt Industrial Plastics in 1992. The company's roots actually stem from 1952, when Joe came to the United States from Vienna. Along with his worldly possessions, he brought with him the European work ethic that provided the foundation for the business that he eventually launched. “Work hard and do it in such a way that you can take pride in what you do," Joe says of his values and those of his company.
Initially, Joe landed a job as an apprentice tool and die maker for Acme Tool & Die in Chicago at which he particularly loved the challenge of mold making. “It’s like an artist sculpting,” he explained, and Joe Volltrauer has a lot of the artist in him. In 1973, he started his own company, JV Tool, and a couple of years later moved to Arkansas where he designed his exceptionally functional, high-quality molds for manufacturers of plastic components, including plastic fastener makers in the region.
His willingness to put profits back into the business to buy state-of-the-art computer-aided manufacturing equipment has enabled Volt to achieve an exceptionally efficient and responsive organization. In addition, he has attracted people who share his dedication and his skills. And, as with every truly successful company, it is the people that have made the difference.
You may already know some of the benefits of plastic parts, but if you don’t, plastics can significantly reduce the weight, cost, and assembling complexities of your projects. Plastic is lightweight, non-magnetic, non-corrosive, non-toxic, non-flammable, non-abrasive, non-conducting, and can be heat resistant, making it an invaluable manufacturing option for a wide variety of industries and applications.
Depending on the material that you select for manufacturing your fastener, you can decide whether or not you prefer it to be stronger, harder, more flexible, and temperature or UV resistant, in order to give it the exact properties desired. At Volt, we have the capability of molding 100s of different materials, and can color match each material for specific applications.
With a tradition of growth, ingenuity and hard work, VIP is committed to our customers and to our future in plastic development and uses. From our rapid response production capability to our ability to manufacture custom fasteners, Volt Industrial Plastics is ready to show you how we are different. Whether it’s a screw, rivet, dowel, clip, or clamp, Volt can get you the fasteners you need. We are American and we are the best plastics manufacturer in the USA! Give us a call or drop us an email and our staff will be glad to respond with the information you need. Volt Industrial Plastics guarantees you will save money with us!
