History
The history of POLYCAST® is like a roller coaster ride in the world of polymer company restructuring. If you speak to people at Strongwell, you learn that Shell Oil Company bought the predecessor of Strongwell (MMFG) and Quazite, Inc. (Polymer Concrete products) in a series of acquisitions in a period of growth between 1985 and 1993. During that time, John D. Tickle was the General Manager of MMFG and the Shell Division that was involved in the acquisitions.
Quazite, Inc. was already using polymer concrete technology to make electrical pull boxes at the time of the Shell acquisition. Two plants were involved in the Quazite purchase; plants in Lenoir City, TN and San Jose, CA. However, under John Tickle's leadership, the trench drain product line and the POLYCAST® product name was established.
In 1993 the company (Strongwell) was purchased from Shell by John Tickle, members of his family and an outside investor, and again became an independent, private company. Strongwell's focus was on pultruded fiberglass products (used for making the POLYCAST® 3000) and pre-cast polymer concrete. They were the largest manufacturer of both products in the United States.
On June 1, 2006, Strongwell sold its polymer concrete business to Hubbell Incorporated. The sale of the Lenoir City Division of Strongwell included the company's two polymer concrete plants in San Jose, California and Lenoir City, Tennessee.
Hubbell Inc. is an electronics supply company. The Quazite product line of electrical boxes were a primary interest to Hubbell at the time of acquisition. However, Hubbell has made a commitment to the POLYCAST® line of trench drain and is preparing for another period of growth.
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