Gov. Bruce Rauner touted his Built in Illinois campaign on a visit to South Elgin Friday.
Rauner toured Hoffer Plastics, a third generation family-owned company started in 1953.
The governor addressed a crowded conference room of employees, by starting with his personal experience as a business investor. “We did really, really well,” he said.
“Three of us started a little company out of college. We made a lot of money. I don’t apologize for it,” he said.
Rauner said his father was an engineer for Motorola and his mother was a nurse at Northwestern and his grandparents were dairy farmers in Wisconsin.
“I didn’t inherit any money,” he said. “I was an investor and helped build companies,” he said.
Rauner said it’s hard for families to start a business and take the risks. “Most of them fail. It’s tough,” he said.
Rauner said the Hoffer family took the risks associated with starting a business and had the success in building and growing the company into a global manufacturing firm.
“You guys are a great team,” he said
Rauner’s visit coincided with a series of tours he’s planned for Illinois Manufacturing Month, intended to recognize the contributions of state-based industries.
Rauner said manufacturing is the “core” of Illinois’ prosperity. He said there are 600,000 jobs in manufacturing in Illinois and that’s important to the state’s prosperity.
“We need to do everything we can to help manufacturing firms like Hoffer Plastics grow,” he said.
“That’s how we get more prosperity — higher-family incomes and better quality of life. I am all in to help get the regulatory burden off of you and bring the tax burden down as best I can,” he said.
The governor criticized Springfield lawmakers and their “fiscal responsibility” or lack of it.
“They spend money like it is somebody else’s money. It’s your money,” he said.
Robert and Helen Hoffer started the company in South Elgin. Their son Bill Hoffer is now the company president. Hoffer said in 1960 his parents purchased the 24-acres located off of Route 31 that is now at the southern edge of an industrial park in South Elgin. The plant is comprised of 365,000-square feet.
Hoffer said his father studied chemistry at Purdue University and then worked at DuPont and General Electric. “He wanted to start his own company,” Hoffer said.
Hoffer Plastics is a custom injection molder that producers a diverse range of products, including the caps on drinkable yogurt pouches sold worldwide. The plant makes an array of products for household machinery, including components that go into a washer and dryer.
It manufactures valves for the Coca Cola that is an internal part in their soda dispensers in fast food chains like McDonald’s.
Hoffer makes the caps for Tropical Silks hydration bottles as well. Some of the products are designed in South Elgin, while all of the products are made in South Elgin. It ships products globally and employs roughly 400 people, company officials said.
Their clients represent different segments of industries, including automotive, soft drinks and medical.
Hoffer accepted the governor’s proclamation.
“I was barely in high school when my father started the business. He brought an expertise and focus here that we all have been able to continue on and we are proud of it. It couldn’t happen without our employees,” Hoffer said.
Hoffer said he was happy that Rauner decided to visit their plant.
“The governor is interested in manufacturing and workforce development,” Hoffer said. “It’s essential there be a focus on developing a skilled workforce,” he said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
