Industrias Vassallo
Encyclopedia
Industrias Vassallo, Inc. is a worldwide leader in the production of PVC injection moulded and extruded goods, and manufacturer and distributor of PVC pipes and accessories, related plastics products, and resin
furniture
. The company is located in Barrio Coto Laurel
in Ponce, Puerto Rico
. In 2004, the company had a workforce of 300 employees and revenues of $51M USD. Its president is Rafael Vassallo. Salvador Vassallo
was the company's CEO and president until his death in 2007.
, or PVC. With and initial investment of $3,000, their decision to start manufacturing products with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) lead to the creation of a purely Puerto Rican company that has subsequently was quite successful in the plastics industry. Today Industrias Vassallo is a world-recognized company for its quality in plastic products.
and South America
, the Caribbean Basin
, the United States
, and Canada
. Following their success of PVC pipe in the construction industry, the company established operations in the United States
during the 1970s
. At the same time, the company began export to Central and South America, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands.
In 1989, Industrias Vassallo, Inc. consolidated its operations into a new 250000 square feet (23,225.8 m²) industrial complex facility located in Barrio Coto Laurel
, on the outskirts of Ponce, Puerto Rico. In 1997, Industrias Vassallo, Inc., engaged in the modernization of their plants, inaugurating a new rotomolding plant. The new unit mad e it possible to process up to 100,000 lbs
of polyethylene per week. Polyethylene is a high impact plastic used for diverse products, such as water tank
s, security barriers, kayak
s and flowerpot
s.
In 2005, and due to the increasing cost of electricity, the company considered moving its operations to the United States, but the plans were abandoned after successful negotiations with the commonwealth government
.
use. The company manufactures products of diverse plastic materials, among them: polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), polyethylene
, and polypropylene
.
In 1983, the company established Vassallo Research & Development Corporation, to fill its R&D needs, and further enhance its product line. "The company now holds scores of world-wide patents and is constantly developing new processes and products. Many have set national regulatory quality standards for the industry."
(AWWA), the Canadian Standards Association
(CSA), the National Sanitary Foundation (NSF), Factory Mutual (FM), and Underwriters Laboratories
(UL).
turned to be a bad investment for the company. In 2008, Vassallo Industries had to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, resulting mostly from failures at the Arkansas operation. Upon reorganization a new company was created on August 26, 2010, Vassallo International Group, Inc. (VINGI), with Rafael Vassallo Collazo as its president.
Resin
Resin in the most specific use of the term is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly coniferous trees. Resins are valued for their chemical properties and associated uses, such as the production of varnishes, adhesives, and food glazing agents; as an important source of raw materials...
furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
. The company is located in Barrio Coto Laurel
Coto Laurel
Coto Laurel is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Anón, Marueño, Guaraguao, Quebrada Limon, Real, and San Patricio, and the coastal barrios of Canas and Capitanejo, Coto Laurel is one of the municipality's nine bordering barrios...
in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
. In 2004, the company had a workforce of 300 employees and revenues of $51M USD. Its president is Rafael Vassallo. Salvador Vassallo
Salvador Vassallo
Salvador V. Vassallo, a.k.a. "Chiry", was the president and CEO of Vassallo Industries, headquartered in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The company produces PVC injection moulded and extruded goods, and markets them worldwise....
was the company's CEO and president until his death in 2007.
History
In 1962, the four grandsons of Vicente Vassallo Fiorimonte, an Italian immigrant who established a metal shop in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in 1898, began experimenting with making construction products from a promising new substance, polyvinyl chloridePolyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
, or PVC. With and initial investment of $3,000, their decision to start manufacturing products with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) lead to the creation of a purely Puerto Rican company that has subsequently was quite successful in the plastics industry. Today Industrias Vassallo is a world-recognized company for its quality in plastic products.
Growth
In the last 50 years, Industrias Vassallo, Inc. revolutionized the construction industry in Puerto Rico as a pioneer in the production and distribution of PVC pipes and accessories for water and sanitary use. The company grew, distributing its products to countries in CentralCentral America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, the Caribbean Basin
Caribbean Basin
The Caribbean Basin is generally defined as the area running from Florida westward along the Gulf coast, then south along the Mexican coast through Central America and then eastward across the northern coast of South America. This region includes the islands of the archipelago of the West Indies...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Following their success of PVC pipe in the construction industry, the company established operations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
. At the same time, the company began export to Central and South America, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands.
In 1989, Industrias Vassallo, Inc. consolidated its operations into a new 250000 square feet (23,225.8 m²) industrial complex facility located in Barrio Coto Laurel
Coto Laurel
Coto Laurel is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Anón, Marueño, Guaraguao, Quebrada Limon, Real, and San Patricio, and the coastal barrios of Canas and Capitanejo, Coto Laurel is one of the municipality's nine bordering barrios...
, on the outskirts of Ponce, Puerto Rico. In 1997, Industrias Vassallo, Inc., engaged in the modernization of their plants, inaugurating a new rotomolding plant. The new unit mad e it possible to process up to 100,000 lbs
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
of polyethylene per week. Polyethylene is a high impact plastic used for diverse products, such as water tank
Water tank
A Water tank is a container for storing water. The need for a water tank is as old as civilized man, providing storage of water for drinking water, irrigation agriculture, fire suppression, agricultural farming, both for plants and livestock, chemical manufacturing, food preparation as well as many...
s, security barriers, kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
s and flowerpot
Flowerpot
A flower pot or plant pot is a container in which flowers and other plants are cultivated. Historically, and still to a significant extent today, they are made from terracotta. Flower pots are now often made from plastic, wood, stone, or sometimes biodegradable material. An example of...
s.
In 2005, and due to the increasing cost of electricity, the company considered moving its operations to the United States, but the plans were abandoned after successful negotiations with the commonwealth government
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
.
Diversification
From manufacturing and distribution of plastic pipe and accessories for sanitary and electrical applications, the company diversified into plastic furniture and accessories for householdHousehold
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
use. The company manufactures products of diverse plastic materials, among them: polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
(PVC), polyethylene
Polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons...
, and polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
.
In 1983, the company established Vassallo Research & Development Corporation, to fill its R&D needs, and further enhance its product line. "The company now holds scores of world-wide patents and is constantly developing new processes and products. Many have set national regulatory quality standards for the industry."
Certifications
Industrias Vassallo, Inc. manufactures as per the specifications established by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) agency. The company is also certified by recognized regulatory agencies such as the American Water Works AssociationAmerican Water Works Association
American Water Works Association was established as an international non-profit professional organization dedicated to the improvement of water quality and supply. Founded in 1881, it claims a membership of around 56,000 members worldwide as of 2010.AWWA has become the largest organization of...
(AWWA), the Canadian Standards Association
Canadian Standards Association
The Canadian Standards Association, also known as the CSA, is a not-for-profit Standards organization with the stated aim of developing standards for use in 57 different areas of specialisation...
(CSA), the National Sanitary Foundation (NSF), Factory Mutual (FM), and Underwriters Laboratories
Underwriters Laboratories
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. is an independent product safety certification organization. Established in 1894, the company has its headquarters in Northbrook, Illinois. UL develops standards and test procedures for products, materials, components, assemblies, tools and equipment, chiefly dealing...
(UL).
Reorganization
The acquisition of a company in ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
turned to be a bad investment for the company. In 2008, Vassallo Industries had to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, resulting mostly from failures at the Arkansas operation. Upon reorganization a new company was created on August 26, 2010, Vassallo International Group, Inc. (VINGI), with Rafael Vassallo Collazo as its president.