The OEM Advantage in Food Equipment Manufacturing

As an OEM in the competitive food and beverage processing industry, your reputation is built on the performance, reliability, and longevity of your machines. Your customers' success is your success. When their lines run smoothly, when they pass their audits with flying colors, and when their operators work in a safe environment, they know they made the right choice with your equipment.

But we know that delivering this level of consistent quality can be challenging. From component failures to warranty claims, the road to customer satisfaction can be bumpy. It's frustrating when small parts cause big problems, impacting your bottom line and your brand's image.

We believe that a truly effective partnership is one that empowers your team. We want your sales force to feel absolute pride in the equipment they're presenting and your engineering team to be focused on innovation, not fighting component failures in the field. This is exactly what partnering with APS offers.

Here is the advantage we bring to OEMs:

• Equipment Easier to Keep in Compliance
• Reduced Warranty Claims and Service Headaches
• Differentiate Without Re-engineering Everything

We build prototypes that reflect real-world conditions and maintain long-term consistency so your teams always know what to expect. Learn more on our website! 

Make your next piece of food processing or dairy equipment easier to sell, easier to clean, and easier to support. Let’s collaborate to create a distinct competitive advantage for your company. Call us at 800-783-3674 or fill out our contact form to explore how we can upgrade your current designs and review plastic components that are causing headaches today.

Engineering a Safer, Cleaner Future in Food Processing

Navigating the demands of the food and beverage processing industry can feel like walking a tightrope. 

You're constantly balancing the need for efficiency and uptime with the non-negotiable requirements of cleanliness and safety. 

Your customers trust you to provide equipment that protects their brands, their employees, and their consumers. But traditional materials like metal can present unique challenges, from corrosion to cleaning headaches, that threaten this critical balance.

We understand the pressure you're under. You need solutions that work as hard as you do, that stand up to rigorous cleaning protocols, and that never compromise on safety.

That’s where APS comes in. We don't just build components; we build solutions that address the real-world problems you face in your processing lines. When you spec our engineered plastics into your equipment, you're not just choosing a material—you're choosing fewer headaches and greater peace of mind.

Here’s what that looks like on your floor:

• Cleaner, Faster Washdowns
• Less Corrosion, Fewer Surprises
• Safer Operators and Clearer Lines of Sight

By integrating these tailored plastic solutions, you can provide equipment that isn't just functional, but exceptional. Learn more on our website! 

Ready to elevate your food processing equipment? We work closely with OEMs in the food, dairy, and beverage industries to develop solutions that make lines safer, easier to clean, and more reliable. Let’s have a conversation about your current challenges and explore how engineered plastic components can transform your equipment—and your business. Call us at 800-783-3674 or fill out our contact form to discuss your project today.

Enclosures That Improve Safety, Quality, and Cleanliness

Enclosures around tanks often start as an afterthought, but they are central to safety, air quality, and process control. Plastic fabrication turns enclosures into engineered tools instead of improvised covers.

Thermoplastics are naturally corrosion resistant, so they stand up well to fumes, mist, and splashes from aggressive chemistries that would attack metal housings. This makes them ideal for:

• Fume containment over plating tanks to capture acid mist and vapors.
• Safety shields and splash guards that protect operators during loading and unloading.
• Full or partial enclosures around process lines to manage airflow and reduce cross contamination.
• Custom covers with access doors and viewing windows that balance containment with easy operation.

Because they’re fabricated rather than cast or stamped, plastic enclosures can integrate duct connections, drip edges, structural ribs, and mounting points right into the design. That means better fit with your ventilation system, fewer add ons in the field, and a cleaner overall layout.

Where does plastic fabrication fit in? The big advantage is flexibility. Once a design proves itself—whether it’s a tight sealing tank lid, a modular fume hood, or a clear splash shield—it can be quickly duplicated or adapted to other stations in your line. Over time, you build a consistent, safer environment around your tanks without sacrificing visibility or access for your team.

Read more on our website!

Call APS to protect your plating line

If you’re looking at aging tanks, worrying about the next leak, or already dealing with a damaged unit that is putting your line at risk, you don’t have to tackle it alone. 

We have been engineering and fabricating custom plastic solutions in the U.S. since 1945 and have deep experience with plastic plating tanks, enclosures, and related components. 

Call us today at 800-783-3674 to talk through your specific plating process, tank dimensions, and safety concerns, and let their team help you design, replace, or upgrade the tanks and enclosures that keep your operation running! Let’s build something together!

Tanks That Do More Than Just “Hold Liquid”

In most facilities, tanks are treated like background equipment—necessary, but not exciting. 

Yet in plating, finishing, and chemical processing, the right tank design can make the difference between smooth production and constant headaches.

Plastic fabrication opens up options that metal or off the shelf tanks simply cannot match. Because thermoplastics like polypropylene and PVC can be cut, bent, and welded, you can tailor tank geometry and features to your exact process: integrated weirs, sumps for easier drainage, custom baffles for better agitation, and built in mounting points for heaters, sensors, and circulation lines. 

Beyond plating baths, custom plastic tanks work well for:

• Rinse and overflow tanks that need clean, smooth interiors to prevent contamination.
• Neutralization tanks for waste treatment, where chemical resistance and long life are crucial.
• Day tanks or reservoirs that integrate level indicators, sight windows, and pump mounts.
• Storage tanks that need lightweight construction for easier installation on mezzanines or tight spaces.

Because everything starts from sheet stock and CAD, plastic fabrication makes it easier to reproduce a proven tank design, make small improvements over time, or scale up an existing design to support higher throughput. You get repeatable performance without being locked into a catalog size or shape.

Read more on our website!

Call APS to protect your plating line

If you’re looking at aging tanks, worrying about the next leak, or already dealing with a damaged unit that is putting your line at risk, you don’t have to tackle it alone. 

We have been engineering and fabricating custom plastic solutions in the U.S. since 1945 and have deep experience with plastic plating tanks, enclosures, and related components. 

Call us today at 800-783-3674 to talk through your specific plating process, tank dimensions, and safety concerns, and let their team help you design, replace, or upgrade the tanks and enclosures that keep your operation running! Let’s build something together!

Why Precision Plastics are Taking Over Medical Tech

When lives are on the line, every decibel and vibration matters. In modern healthcare—specifically in surgical robotics and diagnostic imaging—the "clank and grind" of metal gears simply isn't acceptable.

Plastic gears are becoming the go-to choice for medical device engineers for three primary reasons:

1. Vibration Damping: Unlike rigid steel, polymers have an inherent elasticity that absorbs micro-vibrations, resulting in the whisper-quiet operation required in hospital rooms.
2. MRI Compatibility: Because they are non-metallic and non-conductive, plastic components can safely operate within the powerful magnetic fields of an MRI suite.
3. Lightweight Precision: For portable medical devices like insulin pumps or handheld surgical tools, every gram counts. Plastic gears offer an incredible strength-to-weight ratio that keeps devices light without sacrificing torque.

Want to see how we helped a customer solve their plastic gear challenge? Read more on our website!

By switching to engineered plastics, medical manufacturers are creating equipment that is not only more durable but significantly more comfortable for patients and providers alike. Call us today at 800-783-3674 to get a quote on your next custom plastic fabrication project!

Shifting Gears—Why the Auto Industry is Ditching Metal

Have you noticed how much quieter modern car cabins have become over the last decade? While better insulation plays a part, much of that silence comes from a fundamental change under the hood and inside the dash: the replacement of heavy metal gears with high-performance engineered plastics.

In the automotive world, the move toward plastic gears isn't just about cutting costs—it's about survival in an era of efficiency and electrification.

The Plastic Advantage in Modern Vehicles:

• Weight Reduction: Every ounce saved translates directly to better fuel economy or longer battery range for EVs. Replacing a heavy steel gear with a reinforced polymer can reduce the weight of a sub-assembly by up to 50%.
• NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness): Metal-on-metal contact creates a high-frequency whine. Plastics like Nylon and POM (Acetal) naturally dampen vibrations, making everything from power windows to electronic steering columns quiet
• Corrosion Resistance: Components located near the chassis or wheel wells are constantly pelted with road salt, water, and grime. Unlike steel, plastic gears will never rust or seize up due to oxidation.

Want to see how we helped a customer solve their plastic gear challenge? Read more on our website!

From the precision actuators that adjust your side mirrors to the robust gears found in cooling fans and electronic throttles, custom plastic fabrication is the "silent partner" driving the next generation of automotive innovation. Call us today at 800-783-3674 to get a quote on your next project!

The Fabrication Advantage for Custom Retail Displays

Do you dread the logistics of shipping and installing fragile display cases? 

Are you worried about the durability and safety of high-traffic store fixtures? 

Many retailers default to glass or wood, overlooking the superior functionality, cost-effectiveness, and design freedom offered by modern plastic fabrication.

Experienced plastic fabricators offer solutions that are engineered to last. By applying decades of expertise in plastic design and manufacturing, they produce retail fixtures—from crystal-clear showcases to robust counter displays—that are lightweight, durable, and highly secure.

Why Plastic is the Preferred Medium for Custom Fixtures

Plastic fabrication offers a versatility that materials like wood or glass simply cannot match, making it the ideal choice for creating dynamic, long-lasting custom retail displays.

Read more on our website!

Ready to Build a Durable Display?

The material you choose is just as important as the design. Don't let fragility, weight, or poor construction compromise your brand's image. Partner with a fabricator who specializes in engineering excellence for your custom retail displays!

If you’re looking to transform your retail space and drive sales, our custom retail displays offer the perfect solution. Contact us today to learn how they can bring your retail vision to life.