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History

In the mid 1980s, three young plastic engineers (Gary, Craig and Jim) had a common dream of starting a world class plastic molding company. They saw the need for someone to supply the international automotive suppliers setting up operations in the Midwest. Although they had a passion for plastic injection molding, they lacked the capital necessary to bring their dream to reality. Undeterred by the sad, empty state of their pockets, the three engineers went to family and friends to raise the capital. Eventually, they managed to gather the $110,000 necessary to start building their plastic injection molding company.

Soon, everything was set up to begin production of injection mold plastic. Unfortunately, business was slow at first for the new company. They made their first profit after 18 months which was just in time since all but $2000 of the original capital was gone. After getting up and running, Team 1 Plastics took off at a remarkable speed. In 1993, Team 1 was the 101^st company in Inc. Magazine’s top 500 fastest growing private companies in the United States!

Throughout all the ups and downs that Team 1 has experienced, they have never lost their passion for plastic injection moldings and producing better and better insert molding products.

Interview with Craig Carrel & Gary Grigowski

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MAPP Plastics Business Cover Story - Team 1 Plastics

Print a copy of the article.

Timeline

May	1987	Incorporated as Team 1 Plastics, Inc. – a Michigan Injection Moldings Corporation Three equal owners: Craig Carrel, Gary Grigowski and Jim Capo
Sep	1987	Rented 5,000 square feet in the Albion business incubator
May	1988	Started production of injection molded plastics
Jun	1991	Won the Annual Incubator Tenant Award – Michigan Business Incubator Association
Jun	1992	Moved into new, 15,000 square foot facility at 927 Elliott Rd. in Albion, MI
Oct	1993	Named 101^st fastest growing company in Inc. Magazine’s list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States over a five year period
Aug	1994	Converted to a four shift – 24/7 production schedule
Jan	1995	Completed plant expansion to 25,000 square feet
Feb	1997	Received first 150 ton Nissei vertical molding machine at the Team 1 Michigan facility for ASMO North Carolina insert molding project
Nov	1997	Named Albion Public Schools Business Partner of the year
Jan	1998	Developed 1^st activity based quote model with John Daly
May	1998	Began production of insert molding components for ASMO North Carolina at Team 1 Carolina in Greensboro, NC
Nov	1998	Expanded warehouse by 20,000 square feet with the purchase of the 925 Elliott Rd. building
Jan	1999	Implemented open-book bonus program and began sharing financial information with all team members
May	2000	Formed minority joint venture company, Team Emergent, to service ASMO North Carolina
Apr	2002	Obtained ISO/QS 9000 certification
Oct	2002	Merged Team 1 Carolina into Team Emergent after Team Emergent bought 51% of their assets
Jan	2004	Changed to two owners after Jim Capo left to pursue other opportunities. His interest was purchased by Craig and Gary
Feb	2004	Moved Team Emergent to a larger facility in High Point, NC
Feb	2005	Obtained TS 16949 certification
Jul	2007	Sold remaining 49% interest in Team Emergent
Feb	2008	Plastics Business magazine cover story - "Forward Thinking at Team 1"
Jun	2008	Received 2007 Nissan Forklift Spirit Award
Jun	2009	Presented "Pricing for Profitability - Activity Based Pricing for Competitive Advantage" at National Plastics Exposition (NPE) in Chicago
Feb	2010	Plastics Business magazine article - "Pricing for Profitability"
Mar	2010	Passed TS 16949 recertification audit
May	2010	Passes 3,500 days without lost time accident

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Timeline

May 1987 Incorporated as Team 1 Plastics, Inc. – a Michigan Injection Moldings Corporation

Three equal owners: Craig Carrel, Gary Grigowski and Jim Capo

Sept. 1987 Rented 5,000 square feet in the Albion business incubator

May 1988 Started production of injection molded plastics

June 1991 Won the Annual Incubator Tenant Award – Michigan Business Incubator Association

June 1992 Moved into new, 15,000 square foot facility at 927 Elliott Rd. in Albion, MI

Oct. 1993 Named 101^st fastest growing company in Inc. Magazine’s list of the fastest growing

private companies in the United States over a five year period

Aug. 1994 Converted to a four shift – 24/7 production schedule

Jan. 1995 Completed plant expansion to 25,000 square feet

Feb. 1997 Received first 150 ton Nissei vertical molding machine at the Team 1 Michigan for ASMO North Carolina insert molding project

Nov. 1997 Named Albion Public Schools Business Partner of the year

Jan. 1998 Developed 1^st activity based quote model with John Daly

May 1998 Began production of insert molding components for ASMO North Carolina at Team 1 Carolina in Greensboro, NC

Nov. 1998 Expanded warehouse by 20,000 square feet with the purchase of the 925 Elliott Rd. building

Jan. 1999 Implemented open-book bonus program and began sharing financial information with all team members

May 2000 Formed minority joint venture company, Team Emergent, to service ASMO North Carolina

April 2002 Obtained ISO/QS 9000 certification

Oct. 2002 Merged Team 1 Carolina into Team Emergent after Team Emergent bought 51% of their assets

Jan. 2004 Changed to two owners after Jim Capo left to pursue other opportunities. His interest was purchased by Craig and Gary

Feb. 2004 Moved Team Emergent to a larger facility in High Point, NC

Feb. 2005 Obtained TS 16949 certification

July 2007 Sold remaining 49% interest in Team Emergent

June 2008 Received 2007 Nissan Forklift Spirit Award