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Snapshot of Orange County’s Plastics Industry
NOM
The Plastics and Rubber Products subsector includes businesses engaged in the
ECO
manufacturing (NAICS 326) and distribution (NAICS 424610) of plastic and rubber
products. The local industry is comprised of 31 businesses that employ over 750
people. In addition, there are 14 companies within related industries that employ
“Plastics… There’s a great future in plastics” (The Graduate, 1967). over 400 people (Infogroup, 2011). This is a total of 45 companies that employ
close to 1,200 people.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE LOCAL PLASTICS INDUSTRY
Luis Nieves-Ruiz, AICP
Orange County’s Plastics and Rubber Product Manufacturing industry’s location
Introduction quotient is 0.33, which means that the majority of these establishments mainly
serve the local market (see box). However, the County has an advantage in
Plastics was the topic of conversation last month when Orange County
Plastic Bottle Manufacturing (NAICS 326160), which has a location quotient of
successfully hosted the NPE2012 plastics exposition, which attracted more
2.7. Another industry with export potential is the Plastic Materials Wholesalers
than 1,900 exhibitors and 55,359 plastics professionals from all over the
(NAICS 424610), which has a location quotient of 1.54. These establishments
world. The NPE is one of the largest industrial tradeshows in the country
distribute plastic resins and shapes such as rods, sheets, and film.
and serves as a showcase for the latest plastic and resin manufacturing
technologies. Besides demonstrating the capacity of the County’s
convention and tourism industry, this event could also serve to attract What is a Location Quotient?
plastic companies to our area. The prospects are promising, as
A location quotient (LQ) is a measure of economic specialization that compares a sector
manufacturing exports are leading the US recovery (Istrate & Marchio, in the local economy against a reference economy. They can help to differentiate
2012). Moreover, after years of decline, the Plastics and Rubber Industry between non-basic (import) and basic (export) industries. A location quotient higher than
grew 3.5 percent during the past two years (Helper, Krueger, and Wial, 1 implies that an industry is producing more than needed for local consumption. This
surplus is exported outside of the region. On the other hand, an LQ lower than 1 reflects
2012). To take full advantage of any forthcoming opportunities, it is
an industry that does not meet local demand, which fuels the need to import more of the
important to understand the characteristics of the local plastics industry. product. To calculate the location quotient, staff uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics
This brief provides an overview of Plastics and Rubber companies in Location Quotient Calculator. Industries are grouped using the North American Industry
Orange County, including company types, the number of jobs, and business Classification Code (NAICS), a comprehensive system used to group establishments into
industries according to their production processes. NAICS organizes industries into 20
agglomerations.
sectors and 1,175 industries. Staff used the nation as a reference base area to do the
analysis.
Orange County Planning Division– Outlook May 2012 1
2. A geocoded database provided by Infogroup, which lists over 40,000 business is likely to be in demand due to its proximity to the Florida Turnpike. There is
records in Orange County, was used to study the local industry in detail. This not, however, a direct connection between any of these businesses .
information was supplemented with internet searches to help find additional
information about individual businesses. A list of companies by NAICS sector Conclusion
and their products can be found here. The Plastics and Rubber Industry is expected to grow because of the
renaissance of manufacturing in the United States. The importance of
manufacturing is in its exports, its capacity for innovation, and its large
multiplier effect on the economy. Orange County’s Plastics sector is
comprised of about 45 companies that employ close to 1,200 people. These
companies supply to other industries, such as food processing,
manufacturers, and packaging. Based on this economic analysis, the
County’s biggest niche strength is in the Plastic Bottling Manufacturing
subsector (NAICS 326160). This industry was recently strengthened by the
opening of the Pelliconi Group’s U.S headquarters in south Orlando.
Pelliconi manufactures plastic and metal caps, crowns, and closures for the
bottling industry. In the near future, the County could also work to attract
plastic manufacturers that supply to other sectors like defense and leisure
and hospitality. Orange County has a great future in plastics, and hopefully
Figure 1. Most Plastic businesses are the local industry will be even more vibrant when the NPE tradeshow comes
located along Orange Blossom Trail, John
Young Parkway, and the Florida Turnpike. back in 2015.
Click picture for larger map.
Selected References
Infogroup lists three bottling companies that produce plastic bottles for the food Helper, S., Krueger, T., and Wial, H. Why does Manufacturing Matter? Which
and beverage industry. Besides food and beverage containers, Orange Manufacturing Matters? Brookings Institute, February 2012 [electronic version]
County’s plastic manufacturers also make a variety of products, including
Istrate, E. and Marchio. N. Export Nation 2012: How U.S. Metropolitan Areas are
prepaid gift-cards, plastic tubes, laminates, foam building insulation, mold Driving National Growth. Brookings Institute March 2012 [electronic version].
control systems, packaging, and custom parts. In addition, the County has
other establishments that use plastic to produce custom made orthopedic About the Author
Luis Nieves-Ruiz, AICP has a Master's Degree in Regional Planning from Cornell
devices, adhesives, and small custom parts for the marine, aerospace, and University and works as a Principal Planner for Orange County.
other industries. These companies are distributed throughout the County
(Figure 1). There are four small agglomerations of plastic companies. Of Outlook is a publication of the Orange County Planning Division. Follow us on Face
particular interest is the Taft area, which houses the largest concentration of book @ http://on.fb.me/K2lSDD.
plastics businesses, including two foam manufacturers, one tire retreading
company, two bottling companies, and two plastic device companies. This area
Orange County Planning Division– Outlook May 2012 2
3. Overview of Plastic and Rubber Product Companies located in Orange County
NAICS Sector Description Companies Types of Products
326113 Unlaminated Film & Sheet Mfg 1 Prepaid-gift cards
326122 Pipe & Pipe Fitting Mfg. 2 Drainage tubes for septic systems.
326130 Laminated Plate, Sheet & Shape Mfg 1 Laminates for home counters &floors.
326150 Urethrane & Other Foam Products Mfg. 3 Building insulation & carpet cushion
326160 Plastic Bottle Mfg. 3 Food & beverage containers
326199 All Other Plastics Products Mfg 9 Sheets, signs, props, & custom products
3263112 Tire Retreading & Fixing. 2 Reused car tires
326199 All Other Rubber Product Mfg. 3 Balloon sculptures, resurfacing, & water ski products
424610 Plastic Materials Basic Forms & Shapes Wholesalers 3 Variety of products
325211 Plastics Materials & Resin Mfg. 1 PET cups & lids
339113 Surgical Appliance & Supplies Mfg. 2 Custom braces & other plastic orthopedic products
423830 Industrial Machinery Merchant Wholesalers 2 Plastic materials & engineered resins
424690 Other Chemical Merchant Wholesalers 2 Adhesives from various providers
453998 Plastic Products Retailers 2 Plastic bags & packaging
332710 Machine Shops 3 Custom parts on order basis
332912 Fluid Power Valve & Hose Mfg 1 Hydraulic hoses, fittings & die cut gaskets
332919 Other Metal Valve & Pipe Fitting Mfg. 1 Industrial piping products
Source: INFOUSA
Orange County Planning Division– Outlook May 2012 3
![A geocoded database provided by Infogroup, which lists over 40,000 business is likely to be in demand due to its proximity to the Florida Turnpike. There is
records in Orange County, was used to study the local industry in detail. This not, however, a direct connection between any of these businesses .
information was supplemented with internet searches to help find additional
information about individual businesses. A list of companies by NAICS sector Conclusion
and their products can be found here. The Plastics and Rubber Industry is expected to grow because of the
renaissance of manufacturing in the United States. The importance of
manufacturing is in its exports, its capacity for innovation, and its large
multiplier effect on the economy. Orange County’s Plastics sector is
comprised of about 45 companies that employ close to 1,200 people. These
companies supply to other industries, such as food processing,
manufacturers, and packaging. Based on this economic analysis, the
County’s biggest niche strength is in the Plastic Bottling Manufacturing
subsector (NAICS 326160). This industry was recently strengthened by the
opening of the Pelliconi Group’s U.S headquarters in south Orlando.
Pelliconi manufactures plastic and metal caps, crowns, and closures for the
bottling industry. In the near future, the County could also work to attract
plastic manufacturers that supply to other sectors like defense and leisure
and hospitality. Orange County has a great future in plastics, and hopefully
Figure 1. Most Plastic businesses are the local industry will be even more vibrant when the NPE tradeshow comes
located along Orange Blossom Trail, John
Young Parkway, and the Florida Turnpike. back in 2015.
Click picture for larger map.
Selected References
Infogroup lists three bottling companies that produce plastic bottles for the food Helper, S., Krueger, T., and Wial, H. Why does Manufacturing Matter? Which
and beverage industry. Besides food and beverage containers, Orange Manufacturing Matters? Brookings Institute, February 2012 [electronic version]
County’s plastic manufacturers also make a variety of products, including
Istrate, E. and Marchio. N. Export Nation 2012: How U.S. Metropolitan Areas are
prepaid gift-cards, plastic tubes, laminates, foam building insulation, mold Driving National Growth. Brookings Institute March 2012 [electronic version].
control systems, packaging, and custom parts. In addition, the County has
other establishments that use plastic to produce custom made orthopedic About the Author
Luis Nieves-Ruiz, AICP has a Master's Degree in Regional Planning from Cornell
devices, adhesives, and small custom parts for the marine, aerospace, and University and works as a Principal Planner for Orange County.
other industries. These companies are distributed throughout the County
(Figure 1). There are four small agglomerations of plastic companies. Of Outlook is a publication of the Orange County Planning Division. Follow us on Face
particular interest is the Taft area, which houses the largest concentration of book @ http://on.fb.me/K2lSDD.
plastics businesses, including two foam manufacturers, one tire retreading
company, two bottling companies, and two plastic device companies. This area
Orange County Planning Division– Outlook May 2012 2](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)