Manifest Destiny
PRO AMERICAN
According to Mel Ellis, president of Milwaukie, Oregon-based HumphreyLine, the company opted not to go overseas, in large part, “because our product categories did not require us to,” he said. HumphreyLine manufactures a full line of plastic items, including flyers, stadium cups, pails, yo-yos and bottles, in addition to a line of personal-care items. Ellis pointed out there is little labor in the molding of plastic items, with the only labor required “in the finishing steps.” Furthermore, HumphreyLine has no interest in acquiring personal-care amenities from anywhere “other than American sources,” Ellis noted, due to the strict standards set forth by the FDA, to which overseas products are not held. He said knowing what comprises each product, which allows manufacturers to comply with regulations—such as Prop 65 (see page 34)—is a primary benefit of domestic manufacturing. And being able to control the production schedule “to accommodate sudden changes in demand” is another nod toward American manufacturing, Ellis added.