In addition to being a major port in the state of Missouri, St Louis is the largest metropolitan area in the state, and second-largest in bordering Illinois after Chicago. Prior to European settlement, the area served as a major regional center of Native American Mississippian culture. But after the region was acquired by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase, St Louis became a bustling sea port.
Today, the city’s economy is based on service, manufacturing, tourism and the transportation of goods. Major corporations call St Louis home, including Anheuser-Busch, Boeing Defense, Energizer, Panera, Monsanto, Edward Jones and more.
St Louis Plastics Provider
Polymershapes has been a trusted provider of plastic products for over seven decades. And with a facility located in nearby Bridgeton, we’re proud to be a major supplier of St Louis plastics.
Food and Beverage Production
Food and drink manufacturers – like Anheuser-Bush, Panera and Monsanto – have experienced a boom in plastic materials used in food and beverage processing and preparation, replacing traditional metal pieces. In addition to easier fabrication and lighter weight, plastics don’t rust like metal, and come in a variety of colors and patterns.
When creating materials for food and beverage preparation, it’s required that they meet certifications for FDA, USDA, NSF or 3-A Dairy. And because these materials need to adhere to clean-in-place (CIP), clean-out-of-place (COP) and sterilization-in-place (SIP) guidelines, it’s crucial that they also be chemical resistant. Plastics’ inherent chemical resistance gives it a significant advantage over metals.
Plastics are also preferred because higher machine speed demands require lighter weight materials. The materials’ faster speeds require less energy as well. During the machining process, plastic-on-plastic interactions are exceptionally quieter than metal-on-metal, improving the overall working environment for operators.
But plastics aren’t just used in conveyors, belt guides, and thrust washers within the food and beverage production lines. The versatile product can be used in a wide variety of applications throughout the industry. Plastic tubing can be used for fluid handling, and polypropylene is often used in the production of cutting boards. UHMW is a plastic compound that is used to make wear strips on bottling and canning lines to ensure higher machine speeds and longer time between repairs. From back splashes and funnels to scraper blades and mixing paddles, plastics have revolutionized the food and beverage industry in St Louis and beyond.
As a proud provider of St Louis plastics, Polymershapes is dedicated to the creation of high-quality materials to meet and exceed the needs of our clientele.