Teel Plastics has grown significantly through its commitment to meet customer needs on a consistent basis. “Providing quality and service second to none” drives a company culture of continuous improvement and helps foster skilled and experienced employees dedicated to long-term customer and supplier relationships.  Teel is proud of our long-standing alliances.  These relationships are critical to our ongoing success.  The company serves a worldwide customer base from four manufacturing facilities located in Baraboo, WI.

Teel’s History

  • In 2023, Teel was named the Plastics News 2022 Processor of the Year. The award is the top recognition of excellence in the plastics manufacturing industry sponsored by the Washington-based Plastics Industry Association. Applying for the award is a rigorous process involving written submission and in-person evaluation and interviews. Companies are judged based on customer service, environmental performance, employee relations, technological performance, financial performance, quality record, and industry and public service. Teel took top honors for our 2022 performance after a comparative evaluation of the North American finalists.
  • In 2021, Teel celebrates 70 years in business (1951-2021). Teel also opened its fourth manufacturing facility in Baraboo on Industrial Court dedicated to our industrial pipe product line, including gas pipe, conduit, microduct, and multiduct.
  • In 2020, Teel was acquired by MPE Partners, a private equity firm, and became an LLC. Jay Smith remained as chairman of the board. The acquisition positioned Teel for continued growth. Also in 2020, Teel’s injection molding services received local and national media attention in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic for producing swab stick handles used in COVID-19 test kits.
  • In 2018, Teel’s quality system was certified to the ISO 13485 standard for medical devices.  This standard is internationally recognized as the mark of quality systems for companies that produce medical devices.  The certification was the culmination of two years of continuous work on improving all areas of the business.  It is part of a strategy with renewed focus on growth in the medical market.
  • Image of Teel Injection Molding MachinesIn 2017, Teel added injection molding services with the purchase of multiple Arburg injection molding machines, complementing its extrusion operation and adding new products. 
  • In 2016, Teel Plastics was named Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year for its performance during 2015.  The prestigious award compared Teel against companies in the manufacturing field throughout Wisconsin.  Teel was judged on sixteen different categories that included everything from profit and customer satisfaction to employee engagement and community involvement.  Teel is honored to have been recognized as a leader in its home state.
  • In 2013, Teel Analytical Laboratories, a division of Teel, became ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited and began offering its services to customers. The accreditation marked the organization as a first-class laboratory in the area of material science and polymer analysis. Teel Analytical Laboratories continues to offer confidential analysis services and consulting with a focus on polymer analysis.
  • In 2012, Teel sold its Pultrusion Division to Razor Composites, LLC. Razor Composites is owned by James Hardie Industries, a $1.25 billion dollar international fiber cement building products company. After an exhaustive search of pultruders in North America, James Hardie determined that Teel’s Pultrusion Division was foremost among its competitors. Exceptional engineering, product knowledge, facility design, and a first class ISO 9001 certified quality system drove James Hardie to buy Teel Pultrusion as a base for continued expansion.
  • Image of people at Teel headquarters groundbreaking ceremony.In 2007, Teel held an opening ceremony for its newly completed 150,000 sq. ft. headquarters and state of the art manufacturing location in Baraboo. Construction on the environmentally conscious building began in September of 2006 and was completed in the summer of 2007. The new building incorporates Teel’s commitment to lean manufacturing and provided space for company-wide growth. The new building’s design focuses on environmental sustainability and employee wellbeing.  The design incorporated many energy and resource saving technologies while providing an improved work environment for employees.
  • In 2006, Teel launched an initiative to transform the culture and expand lean enterprise thinking. Lean technique training was conducted through classroom and practical workshops for all employees across every position.  Lean culture is based on the philosophy of measured business metrics driving improvements for critical performance elements.  Teel continues this work today by sending employees to Yellow Belt and Black Belt training.
  • In 1999, Jay Smith and his two children, Jason Smith and Brynna London, acquired Teel Plastics. Under its new leadership, the company redefined its strategic direction. New corporate objectives based on a four-part strategy focusing on talent, supply chain management, customer focused innovation, and continuous improvement presented exciting opportunities for the organization.
  • In 1997, Teel was certified to ISO 9001.  This was an important step for Teel in showing our commitment to quality and dedication to customer satisfaction.  Teel has maintained its ISO certification ever since.  
  • In 1992, the company embarked on developing and manufacturing fiberglass thermoset profiles to meet the needs of the utility, lawn and garden, and fenestration industry through creation of its Pultrusion Division.  Teel continued to invest in the division, eventually become a recognized industry leader in the space.
  • During the 1970s and 1980s, Teel added on to its product facility numerous times to grow and meet market demand.  Teel began to design and build some of its own manufacturing equipment at this time as well.
  • In 1958, the company changed its name to Teel Plastics, Inc. to reflect its new focus on the manufacture of plastic products.  Also during this time, Teel became a manufacturer of innovative sampling bags still used today in laboratories around the world.
  • Image of Teel employees in the 1950s or 1960s.In 1951, Teel Plastics, Inc. was established as Insemikit Co.  Insemikit was a specialty manufacturer and distributor of agricultural implements and tools for the veterinary and the emerging livestock artificial insemination industry. The business foresaw a need for plastic tubing to replace glass tubes.