Welcome!

Welcome to the GE Plastics Archive, one of the most comprehensive places to learn about GE Plastics on the internet. If you love learning about retro companies, you’ll love this retrospective. GE plastics was one of the leading names in the plastics industry. Throughout its history, the company maintained its stature as a premier producer and innovator of plastics.

The GE Plastics brand dates back to 1892 when George Edmondson founded the Edmondson Plastics Company in Davenport, Iowa. Edmondson was a chemist who had invented the first synthetic plastic, neoprene and set about trying to find a way to market his new product. His company was one of the first to produce plastic products on a large scale, and GE Plastics quickly became one of the world’s leading plastics producers.

GE Plastics made various products, including synthetic rubber, nylon, and polyethene, as well as ABS, SAN, ASA, PPE, PC/ABS, PBT and PEI resins. This retrospective comprises images, videos, and essays; in addition, the retrospective showcases GE plastics’ history, heritage, and excellence in the plastics industry.

From the 1950s through the 1990s, GE Plastics was a leading plastics manufacturer. Their products ranged from simple, everyday items like trash cans and toothpaste tubes to complex products used in products like aeroplanes and cars. GE Plastics ‘officially’ ceased trading in the mid-2000s when it was purchased by the multinational Saudi Arabian oil giant SABIC for $11.6 billion. General Electric (GE) still exists today, manufacturing lightbulbs and various electronics, keeping the spirit of Thomas Edison alive.

This retrospective is full of fascinating stories about GE plastics. You’ll see products like the Apple iBook Clamshell, a portable laptop computer made of polycarbonate that was popular in the 1990s. You’ll also find out what became of the GE Plastics brand and the legacy that still lives on.

If you’re interested in plastics history, you’ll love this retrospective. It’s an informative and entertaining look at one of the most critical industries and brands in the 20th century. If you would like to contribute some information to this archive; please feel free to reach out to the editorial team via email: info@geplastics.com

Citations

1.) GE Plastics Launches Three New High-Performance Materials for Aircraft Interiors Industry. (2007, April 25) In GE.com. https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/ge-plastics-launches-three-new-high-performance-materials-aircraft-interiors