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Team 1 Plastics Featured in The Detroit News: Addressing Tariff Challenges

Team 1 Plastics, a Tier 2 and 3 automotive supplier based in Albion, Michigan, was recently highlighted in The Detroit News for its proactive stance on navigating the impacts of new tariffs from the Trump administration. The feature spotlights the company’s resilience as it tackles economic uncertainty and strives for strong sales growth amid industry-wide challenges.

Craig Carrel – Team 1 Plastics President

President and Co-owner Craig Carrel shared Team 1 Plastics’ commitment to working closely with customers to address the financial implications of the tariffs: “We are carefully monitoring these tariffs related to the automotive industry. Once they are finalized and put into effect, we will work closely with our customers to address any cost and pricing issues. We will also be reviewing any negative impact on automotive sales and how that will affect our current sales. We are forecasting strong sales growth for 2025 and 2026 but it might slow down that growth rate and we will adjust accordingly.”

Gary Grigowski – Team 1 Plastics Vice President – Photo by David Guralnick of The Detroit News

Vice President and Co-owner Gary Grigowski also played a key role in the article, emphasizing the immediate challenges posed by the tariffs. For example, he described how a shipment of plastic containers from Mexico nearly incurred an unexpected $12,500 increase in costs due to tariff-related delays. Grigowski highlighted the unpredictability surrounding these policies, noting how it complicates decisions about sourcing tools and molds that are essential for the company’s operations. As quoted in the article, he remarked: “If your costs go up 25%, that’s a nonstarter conversation. No way you can absorb that kind of an increase.” This underscores the complexity of balancing cost management with maintaining quality and efficiency.

The article also explores broader industry issues, including labor shortages and reshoring challenges. Glenn Stevens, executive director of MICHauto, remarked that “access to hourly operators has normalized post-pandemic but isn’t necessarily abundant,” and skilled trades are facing a critical shortage. Additionally, Patrick Roussey, President of Mayer Tool & Engineering Inc., expressed concerns about infrastructure limitations for tooling demands, adding that reshoring manufacturing requires long-term workforce development.

Despite these hurdles, Team 1 Plastics continues to adapt and plan for contingencies. The company’s leadership remains committed to collaboration and customer focus as they navigate these changes, demonstrating their resilience in the face of uncertainty.

Team Member photos from the original article (above) were provided by David Guralnick of The Detroit News.

For those interested in deeper insights, the Detroit News article includes additional details and features a video where Gary Grigowski expands on these topics. The full online article and video can be accessed here. Please note that viewing the article and video requires a Detroit News online subscription.