Founded by L.W. Schatz in 1941, General Plastics Manufacturing Company has been a pioneer in the plastics industry for over 60 years. Specializing in making high-performance, high-density rigid and flexible polyurethane foams using superior, proprietary LAST-A-FOAM® technology, the company has built a reputation for supplying exceptional products on time at competitive prices.

During the early 1940s, and into the early 1950s, General Plastics made preservative coatings for wood and other organic materials, later gradually expanding into fabricating phenolic-resin-impregnated composites for aircraft and commercial uses. Phenolic-resin plastics are strong and have superior electrical resistance, as well as excellent fire-safety performance, and were the first materials to be used in what is now known as "the composites industry".

The demand for light, strong, versatile plastics was growing, and General Plastics developed many innovative products. During this time, the company grew into fabricating transparent acrylics (Plexiglas®) for aircraft components and for consumer products, such as backyard greenhouses and commercial signage. General Plastics' workers achieved a high level of expertise in transforming these plastic-sheet materials into practical goods meeting stringent customer requirements.

Prime mover L. W. Schatz also sought to take advantage of new polymer technologies created during WWII. One of the most useful and innovative materials to come out of the war was a family of plastics called polyurethanes. Available in several forms, with a wide and versatile range of physical properties, polyurethanes could be adapted for several uses. They could be used as paints or surface coatings, as mastics and sealants, as rubber substitutes for shoe soles, and as tires for caster wheels.

With addition of a blowing agent, a gas to create bubbles within the polyurethane plastic material, it was possible to make polyurethane plastic foams. A very large market was seen for rigid and flexible polyurethane foams for lightweight, efficient thermal insulation, soft, flexible cushions, and flotation. These new materials could replace cotton and vegetable fiber batting, as well as mineral and wood products that had been used for decades.

Lightweight, strong, and very resistant to moisture and chemical degradation, polyurethane foams offered several advantages. Through the 1950s, and into the 1960s, General Plastics manufactured LAST-A-FOAM® flexible polyurethane foams for seat cushions, shipping pads and mattresses while rigid foam was used for thermal insulation and floatation.

At the beginning of the Jet Age, LAST-A-FOAM® polyurethane foams were discovered to be suitable wood-replacement materials offering composite construction and safety improvements in aircraft interior components. This family of rigid foam products was capable of replacing aircraft-grade spruce wood, which while light and strong, was becoming scarce and expensive for airplane makers. LAST-A-FOAM® retains all those attributes, while providing greater consistency over the natural wood product, and improved resistance to burning in airplane crashes. Continued development of LAST-A-FOAM® materials, and applications for them, has created a substantial high-technology base business for General Plastics Manufacturing Company.

Ongoing research and development programs keep General Plastics ahead of market needs. The company has experienced steady, growing demand for its products in the aerospace, defense, nuclear, and construction and marine industries. Lasting partnerships have been forged with industry giants including The Boeing Company and Lockheed, ensuring a consistent demand for services and a competent operation capable of producing premium materials for a variety of customers. A comprehensive quality assurance program permeates all phases of operations and has been approved by many aerospace firms as well as the U.S. Department of Defense and the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

In 1981 the company built and moved into its current 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, and in 1985 completed a 35,000-square-foot addition. Now employing over 120 skilled professionals, drawn from the surrounding Puget Sound area, the company’s south Tacoma manufacturing and production facility has ample space and equipment to accommodate any parts production needs.