In 2012, Outwater Plastics Industries Inc. (www.outwater.com) is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The company was founded by former president Moe Kessler in August 1972, with the goal of providing small furniture and cabinet manufacturers with a source for purchasing extruded plastic mouldings in amounts that reflected their actual requirements rather than set minimum quantities set by plastic extrusion manufacturers.
Moe Kessler's son, then 15-year-old Chip took over the company after a car struck Moe in New York as he crossed the street, fracturing his leg in multiple locations and leaving him unable to run the business and immobile for an extended period of time. It was also after the accident that Moe began promoting the company's products through a catalog, since he was immobile and could not make in-person visits to customers. The catalog, which are still used today, replaced Moe as the full-time company salesperson sometime later after he was able to return to work.
From the vendor of a single product line, the Plastic Sliding Glass Door Track, in August 1972, Outwater Plastics now manufactures and distributes more than 65,000 standard and innovative component products to a range of commercial and retail customers. The company operates 300,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facilities in New Jersey and Arizona.