We are so excited to have the Foam EXPO North America back on our horizon! Our team exhibits and attends annually in Novi, Michigan every March. Leading up to the technical foam conference, Foam EXPO organizers invited David Bolland, President and CEO of Plymouth Foam for an exhibitor interview.
In the following Q&A session (full article available here, Dave provides his insight on our company’s current manufacturing objectives:
Which customer or market demands were the biggest drivers of your company’s growth during the past three years?
We’re very diversified. We continue to diversify with the sole purpose of continuing to provide more value to our customers. We continue to broaden our materials, process and new ideas in the market. This is our biggest driver for growth.
Do you anticipate that those demands will continue to be your biggest growth drivers for the next three years, or are you anticipating new trends?
Yes, those demands will continue and we are always pivoting as the climate changes and new opportunities approach however, we stay focused on strategy and execution to meet our current and future customer needs.
What are your areas of R&D focus, and what timeline do you anticipate for bringing your next new products to market? Can you tell us anything about those products?
Our R&D focus has been and will continue to invest in new technology, capital equipment and automation. And you need to have things in the funnel that are revolutionary as well as function to support the operation. We view our focus as an extension of our customers R&D needs for their growth.
What new trends do you anticipate and what market demands do you see evolving/changing over the next 5 years?
New trends and market demands changing over the next 5 years will be disruptive technologies. It’s from supply chain models like Amazon to the evolution of health care. Technology will rapidly change how we administer healthcare using sensor technology and apps. Some of these trends will extend to our markets as well as our manufacturing operations and our new product development.
What would you say are the key challenges and opportunities currently faced by the industry?
The ability to balance all of the program and projects that we are presented with. And we will need to continue to work strategically toward our vision for growth.
What is your company’s approach to strategic partnerships or joint ventures, and what kinds of partnerships are you most open to exploring?
At Plymouth Foam, we are very well known for developing and cultivating strategic partnerships and joint ventures. The partnerships that we are most open to exploring are connected to our strategic initiatives for growth.
What products will you be featuring at the show this year and what response are you expecting?
We are featuring our depth and breadth of process and materials to meet and exceed the diverse needs of our customers and markets. Our customers tell us that they appreciate how we can meet their needs applying technology and great people.
Why are you exhibiting and what connections do you hope to make there?
We are exhibiting to continue to support the niche that Foam Expo offers across different products which open the dialog for collaboration among different categories.
Thank you to the Foam Expo organizers for continuing to grow this conference and trade show for our industry!
We are extremely appreciative to the Foam EXPO for choosing to feature Dave as one of their interviewees. We look forward to attending the conference. To learn more about the EXPO, please visit: http://www.foam-expo.com/.