NEW PRODUCT COMING

CPI is introducing a self-closing gate for the popular 7200 pool ladder. This will allow it to meet building codes specific to the northeast. This product will be available in the early spring. More to follow.

CONFER HIRES THROUGH ADECCO

Occasionally throughout the year Confer Plastics brings on new personnel, usually one or two in a two-month span. In an effort to ramp up for 2010 production of swimming pool accessories and kayaks, we are currently hiring 11 new employees.

Those interested in becoming a machine operator should contact the local job placement agency, Adecco. We don't hire direct, but we do work with Adecco personnel with the full intent of going temp to perm.

Adecco's two locations in Niagara County are:

511 Bewley Building
Lockport, NY

1700 Pine Ave.
Niagara Falls, NY

CONTAGIOUS ILLNESS POLICY

The outbreak of, and media hysteria associated with, the H1N1 swine flu has prompted many businesses to institute contagious illness policies to prevent the spread of the disease.

This is old hat to Confer Plastics. We have had such a policy in place for years. We strongly believe that outbreaks of illnesses (cold, flu, etc.) within a business are detrimental to the physical and financial health of coworkers, clients, and their families and such outbreaks must be prevented.

Our policy is as follows:

In a work environment such as ours where people are working in close proximity to others, preventing the spread of the common cold and influenza is key to maintaining a healthy - therefore productive - workforce. During the cold/flu season it is best that infected personnel stay at home to rest up and to protect their coworkers from contracting said illnesses. Therefore, please stay home if ill and bring with you a doctor’s note upon your return. Along those lines, if someone is deemed to be ill while on the job he/she will be sent home by their supervisor.


This practice applies to visitors as well. We cannot put our workforce and customers at risk and we ask, if not require, that all ill people stay away.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: REEBOK STEP

Occasionally on this blog we reminisce about days gone by and look back at products we manufactured years ago. One such product is the Reebok Step.

In 1989 personal trainer and entrepreneur Gin Miller "invented" step aerobics and the Reebok Company, the athletics apparel giant, bought into the concept. Reebok worked in conjunction with Miller on the development of the now famous Reebok Step, the ubiquitous exercise device found in fitness centers and homes the world over.

Confer Plastics manufactured for a four-year period in the early-1990's the first generation Reebok Step with its recognizable blue-green matted platform and multi-colored bases. We were fortunate to make these at the peak of the step craze and in those few years we produced tens of thousands of them. We were so busy, as a matter of fact, that the production and assembly of this product took place on Sundays (the only period in our history in which we were open on Sundays).

So, the next time you're in a gym, sweating to step aerobics, think of us....there's a very good chance we manufactured your step.

NEW MACHINE INSTALLATION

As promised, here are some photos showing the progress on our expansion....

This photo shows the area prior to the machine's arrival


This photo shows the machine under construction


The installation continues next week with the delivery of the press. The head will arrive in a couple of weeks.

2009-2010 PRICING

Dealer and distributor pricing for the 2009-2010 pool/spa season is now available. Contact our vice president of sales, Dennis Lederhouse, for complete information. His e-mail address is dlederhouse@conferplastics.com

CPI SUPPORTS LOCAL CAUSES

If your Western New York community organization or cause is looking for a door or raffle prize to give away at a fundraising event, please feel free to contact Confer Plastics. Every year we give away many of our patio sets (table & two stools) to such events.

If you have a need for one of these send an e-mail to Bob Confer at bob@conferplastics.com

EXPANSION UPDATE

At the end of July Confer Plastics purchased a 100-pound blow molding machine, one of the largest machines in North America. The last of the parts for this machine will be delivered the week of October 11th during which the erection of the machine will commence. We'll be sure to post pictures here showing the assembly.

LONG-TIME EMPLOYEE DOUG KITTINGER PASSES AWAY

On Tuesday night the Confer Plastics family lost one of its longest-tenured and unique employees. CPI retiree Douglas Kittinger passed away at the age of 70. Doug died at home while under the care of Hospice.

Doug was diagnosed with lung cancer only a few weeks ago, something he attributed to 57 years of smoking. That's the kind of guy Doug was. He told it like it was. You could always count on him to say something curmudgeonly or hilarious. Despite his tough guy exterior he was really a softie inside.

Doug was a jack of all trades in his 20 years at Confer Plastics (which ended in 2006). He was a machine operator, material handler, quality assurance inspector and shipping & receiving assistant.

Doug was a longtime North Tonawanda resident who was a wonderful cook, specializing in seafood. That was a trick he picked up while living in Bar Harbor, Maine. Speaking of Bar Harbor, one of Doug's favorite stories was the time he was working as a painter in that town. He was painting a house when someone on the second floor invited him in for an afternoon of beer. His newfound drinking buddy was none other than Bob Denver, Gilligan from Gilligan's Island.

Kittinger will be missed. He was one-of-a-kind.

PHONE SERVICE AT LIBERTY DRIVE

If since mid-last week you've found it impossible to phone or e-mail our distribution facility on Liberty Drive in Wheatfield, we are sorry for the inconvenience. Verizon has an issue with the cable that feeds our facility. They will be repairing that underground line over the coming days and we hope to be connected again soon.