Elasco Urethane

Elasco was incorporated in 1979 by Henry Larrucea and Dan Walters, who had been partners in a company that produced polyurethane skateboard wheels. The partners decided early on that Elasco's fortunes were in the less glamorous yet important industrial sector. The company grew by developing new products to solve customers' problems using polyurethane products such as automobile suspension bushings and water valve seals. Recent growth has resulted from entering the market for forklift tires and pallet jack wheels. "Customers always need industrial products, even in a down economy," says Walters. From its 25,000-square-foot facility, Elasco provides complete design and manufacturing services, including prototype work, mold and tooling design, manufacturing, polymer mixing and custom casting. The company fuels its growth by developing products that can be made lighter and perform better with polyurethane. Because polyurethane is widely variable in hardness and elasticity, it is uniquely suited for many applications in which natural and other synthetic rubbers are inadequate of inappropriate. Elasco produces up to 6,000 pounds of polyurethane a day. Cableguard and other products are made from the company's proprietary polyurethane blends developed by Elasco urethane chemists. Various resins are used to acquire the hardness, elasticity or durability that suits each product. Elasco manufacturers polyurethane products for more than 500 accounts in the United States, Canada and Saudi Arabia. Other products include suspension and bumper replacement parts, cutting bars, bushings, tubing and general applications.