Keepsakes/Awards

Advertising Flag
Advertising Flag, 3801 S. Ashland Ave., is a leading flag and banner manufacturer and seller in Chicago. Founded in 1936, the company employs 40 people trained to operate computer-generated manufacturing processes. In addition to stocking a huge line of flags, banners, pennants and related items, Advertising Flag takes pride in its custom, made-to-order products seen at some of Chicago’s most high profile locations, including the Michigan Avenue bridge, Union Station, the Art Institute, and Field Museum.

R.S. Owens
R.S. Owens, 5535 N. Lynch Ave., produces the United States’ most celebrated and coveted awards, including the Oscar, given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It also produces the Emmy, MTV Video Music Award, Clio, National Football League’s Most Valuable Player Award, and Miss America Award. Established in 1938, the company prides itself as being the only manufacturer of trophies and awards that makes all molds and patterns in-house. Hundreds of materials, including zinc, pewter, marble, glass, lucite, brass, wood, crystal, and precious stones are used to fabricate its awards.
 
Vinylweld
Vinylweld, a subsidiary of Pen Tab Industries, is a manufacturer of vinyl albums that hold audio and video tapes, CDs and floppy disks. Vinylweld sells to publishers, audio/video duplicators, multilevel marketing companies, libraries, printers, religious institutions, and professional associations. The 200-person company has been doing business in Chicago for more than 50 years under a variety of corporate names, including Prudential-Feldco, Prudential Paper Products, Feldco Major, and Pen Tab Industries. Vinylweld’s 206,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 2011 W. Hastings St. opened in 1980.

Merchandising Systems/Displays

Chicago Scenic Studios
Chicago Scenic Studios produces stage sets, exhibits and other displays for use by theater groups, museums, corporations and other users. Founded more than 25 years ago, the company originally grew by catering to off-Loop theater companies. Its 14,000-square-foot facility is at 1315 N. North Branch St.

Marco Lighting
Founded in 1979, Marco Lighting is a precision sheet metal fabricator specializing in custom lighting applications and merchandising systems. Located at 457 N. Leavitt St., company products range from custom sheet metal for lighting sconces to electrical housings for the modular furniture industry.

Rapid Displays
For 60 years, Rapid Displays, 4300 W. 47th St., designs, fabricates and distributes merchandising systems that catch the eyes, strengthen brands and induce purchases. Family-owned and operated with more than 400 employees and two production facilities, Rapid Diplays continuously invents new ways to engineer displays, manipulate substrates and leverage technology to customize packaging and distribution.
 

Metals/Plastics

Allied Metal
Founded in 1953, Allied Metal supplies die casting and foundry operations that serve the appliance,automotive, electronics, furniture, hardware, housewares, sporting goods and toy industries. With
plants at 2059 S. Canal St. and 4528 W. Division St., the company specializes in the production of zinc and aluminum ingots.
 
Chicago Metal
Chicago Metal, 3715 S. Rockwell Ave., shapes steel beams weighing up to 17 tons for construction projects across the country. Founded in 1908, the company’s products have been used to build Chicago’s McCormick Place, the international terminal at O’Hare Airport, Aladdin Casino in Las Vegas, and for the new retractable roof on Milwaukee’s Miller Park baseball stadium.

Dudek and Bock
Founded in 1946, Dudek and Bock manufacturers custom springs, wireforms, light metal stampings and assemblies for a variety of industrial companies, including several Fortune 500 firms that require more than 50,000 pieces per day. The 335-person operation, based at 5100 W. Roosevelt Road, is one of the country’s largest spring and wire plants under one roof.

G.F. Structures
G.F. Structures Corp., 4655 W. Arthington St., produces customized fencing, guard rails, security systems, playground equipment and park shelters. The 22-year-old company also manufactures products which help stabilize erosion along creeks, rivers and lakes.

International Steel Group
ISG, 13500 S. Perry Ave., operates a 200-person mini-mill at a former Acme Steel manufacturing facility.

Leavitt Tube
Leavitt Tube, one of the leading mechanical and structural tubing producers in North America, operates 13 mills in two production facilities at 1717 W. 115th St. It maintains an inventory of steel coils and finished tubing in a wide range of types and chemistries to meet the most demanding customer needs quickly and accurately.

Leedal
Established in 1946, Leedal is a manufacturer of stainless steel equipment for the laboratory and photographic processing fields. Stainless steel fabrication is the company’s specialty, including high quality sinks, tanks, countertops, cabinets, shelves, and more, all made in its Chicago factory at 4025 S. Western Ave.

Midwest Screw Products
Midwest Screw Products is a small, Chicago-based manufacturer of screw machined product and turned parts. Capabilities include machining, CNC programming and lathe, and engineering for industries including aerospace, automotive, medical, agriculture, meat packing and computer components.

MRC Polymers
MRC Polymers, 3307 S. Lawndale Ave., is a 20-year-old compounder of plastic materials. It offers the plastics industry an alternative to the large, dominant suppliers of thermoplastic materials with a complete line of resins, compounds, alloys and blends.
 
Poersch Metal
Poersch Metal is a family owned and operated metal fabricating company specializing in x-ray equipment for the radiology industry. Located at 4027 W. Kinzie St., the 65-year-old company utilizes high-tech equipment and a skilled workforce to produce quality products at low prices.

Sipi Metals
Founded in 1905, Sipi specializes in the refining of precious metal scrap generated in the electronics, chemical, photographic, and aerospace industries. The company's 125 employees work three shifts at an eight-acre plant at 1720 N. Elston Ave.
 
Welded Tube
Welded Tube, 1855 E. 122nd St., produces structural and mechanical tubes for use as structural support, safety and ornamentation for a wide variety of structures and equipment. The company is part of the international metals and engineering conglomerate Australian National Industries. Welded Tube’s KleenKote Steel Tubing can be seen on the Olympic Tower in Atlanta and the Golden Gate Bridge in California.
 
Wheatland Tube
The company is the Chicago area’s largest producer of electrical conduit and galvanized mechanical tubing. The 250-person company recently completed a 200,000-square foot expansion project at 45th Street and Western Avenue.