History of Colors For Plastics, Inc.
Jack Dalleska starts Colors For Plastics in a 1,500 sq. ft. building in Niles, IL, producing dry color for a handful of plastics manufacturers. Jack’s focus on quality product and personalized customer service translates into a rapidly expanding customer base. Within a few years, he adds an extruder and begins supplying color concentrate.
In just three years, the young company outgrows its original home and moves to a 5,000 sq. ft. building on Kelly St. in Elk Grove Village, IL.
Continuing to grow, the company again moves into bigger facilities – this time a 15,000 sq. ft. building in Bensenville, IL. Over the next decade, 6 extruders are added, 4 molding machines, and a 5,000 sq. ft. addition. There are now 25 employees. With Jack’s commitment to take care of his team, many of these team members are still with the company today.
Growth forces yet a third move, this time to the company’s current headquarters and plant – a 45,000 sq. ft. facility on Pratt Blvd. back in Elk Grove Village. Liquid color capabilities are added, becoming one of Color’s core product offerings.
Colors For Plastics sees the need for local precolor capability. The plant at 2239 Pratt is opened solely for the purpose of producing its precolor production lines. Robert Dalleska joins his father in the company business in the Elk Grove locations.
Action Compounding realizes the continuing and mounting difficulties of maintaining a successful business and is purchased by Colors. Colors becomes ISO 9000 Registered.
The company opens its first plant in South Carolina in a 10,000 sq. ft. building, former home to a resin compounding company. Much of the machinery is sold to Colors For Plastics, enabling it to serve the Southeast region with a full line of thermoplastic colorants.
Jacqueline Dalleska joins her father and brother in the family business. She becomes a pillar of the family tradition of focusing on quality product and personalized customer service for the South Carolina facility.
Growth in the Southeast region requires a new 40,000 sq/ft facility and added lines. The plant in Spartanburg, SC now has 4 production extruders, 3 lab lines, and 3 molding machines, and business continues to grow.
Colors For Plastics celebrates 40 years in business, compiling a proud track record of service and excellence, helping to see its customers through economic boons as well as downturns. Colors consistently provides service to over 500 active customers throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
South Carolina facility doubles in size, finds a permanent 80,000 sq/ft home.
With over 140,000 sq feet of manufacturing, research, laboratory and office space in three locations , Colors For Plastics is poised to tackle the newest opportunities and challenges, partnering with its customers to help them reach their goals and better serve their own customers far into the future.
Colors For Plastics introduces a new Entek twin screw extruder to its South Carolina facility. The addition increases total capacity by over 2 million pounds of concentrate production. This brings the company's extruder count to a total of 23.
After the untimely passing of Cynthia Verity, Colors honors the dedication, knowledge, and leadership of our hugely influential VP of Sales. Cindy had been with the company since the late 1970s, working her way up to achieve a level of professional excellence not often matched. Cindy's dedication to the success of Colors helped to build an overall culture of positive change and growth. It is because of her mentoring that many members of the Colors team have reached higher success. It is our privilege to honor her legacy by presenting the Cynthia Rose Award to a team member who best captures her amazing qualities.
Robert Dalleska transitions into the position of President.
Industry trade publication Plastic News once again names Colors For Plastics as one of the "Best Places to Work in 2018". Plastics News compares company culture, benefits and activities as well as detailed employee and management surveys to determine who will be awarded the honor.
Colors adds machine capacity to one of its Elk Grove facilities with the purchase of new Coperion 35mm and 50mm twin screw extruders.
As an essential business, Colors meets the challenges of remaining open during the global pandemic. We are proud to say, that because of our team’s commitment and dedication, we were able to provide critical components needed to meet healthcare and community needs during the nationwide shutdown.
Colors For Plastics adds 2 new extruders. In South Carolina a 70mm twin screw extruder is installed and a 25mm twin screw is installed in Illinois.
With the cancellation of NPE 2021 Colors holds 3 webinars covering the topics of Color Evaluation and Spectrophotometry, Liquid Color Solutions and Color Application Development.
2022 marks the 50th year of business for Colors For Plastics. Since 1972 Colors has provided high quality colorants and service throughout the plastics industry and is proud to celebrate its 50th Anniversary with thanks to the loyal and valued team members, suppliers and customers that have made it possible.
Colors continues to be a respected provider to the plastics industry as evidenced by it's core group of employees, customers, and vendors. This is highlighted by the distinction as being a "Best Places to Work" honoree by Plastics News for the third time.