Owner of American Cord & Webbing Acquires Custom Injection Molder

Earlier this year, Mark Krauss, owner of American Cord & Webbing Co., Inc. (ACW), Woonsocket, R.I., acquired 23-year-old custom injection molder Advantage Plastic Products (APP), Concord, N.H.. Founded in 1917, ACW is a fourth-generation family‐owned manufacturer of narrow textile weaving and injection molded plastic hardware serving such industries as military, industrial and commercial.  The new entity, which continues to operate under the name APP, is an engineering driven custom injection molding company serving many of the same industries as ACW including medical, electronics and environmental.

Continued growth in both of ACW’s core businesses, its narrow textile weaving division and its buckle closure line necessitated the need to separate these two core competencies which subsequently created an opportunity for ACW to begin searching for a strategic partner to expand its knowledge and expertise of plastic injection molding. Concurrently, ACW wanted to create additional space in its existing 50,000 sq. ft. facility in Woonsocket, RI to support its expanding weaving operation. APP was contacted as part of an exhaustive search and it became evident that ACW’s acquisition of APP would meet both of these objectives. With expertise in their respective industries, the combination of APP and ACW creates a larger, stronger and more diverse company that will afford more opportunities to employees, customers and suppliers alike. 

One of the primary objectives of both companies was a seamless transition, especially for its employees and customers. The management team remains in place with the addition of one of Mark’s sons from ACW, R.I. All employees of APP have been retained with new opportunities for growth. ACW has transitioned all injection molding and molding equipment to Concord.

APP continues its use of IQMS, a leading ERP operating system designed for the injection molding industry that was implemented by APP in January of 2017.