Iowa-based Plas-Tech has been named one of five national finalists out of 1,182 applicants) to pitch in the SBA Freedom 250 Patriot Pitch competition and CEO Dean Sonquist joins us in studio to discuss. $1 Million in total prizes is available to finalists Sonquist heads to Washington DC September 18th!
Sonquist explains the increase they’ve been seeing as companies bring manufacturing back home to the USA from countries like China. He also notes how new companies and smaller startups are beginning to build new products at smaller volume, and how Plas-Tech is meeting those growing midwest needs.
Sonquist is taking Midwest manufacturing to the national spotlight as a top-five finalist in Washington, D.C., competing in the Freedom 250 Patriot Pitch Competition for a share of a $1 million prize pool. Supported by local Small Business Administration advisers at North Iowa Area Community College, Sonquist’s company has evolved over 33 years from a garage startup into a 50-employee precision machining operation. Plastek serves heavy equipment, high-tech agriculture, and food processing industries, with Minnesota accounting for over 50% of its customer base.
Reshoring Demand and Rapid Speed
Sonquist emphasized that supply chain disruptions since 2020 have dramatically accelerated the reshoring of American manufacturing. While overseas orders from China or India often require six-to-nine-month lead times and massive inventory commitments, regional clients increasingly demand quick turnarounds. Plastek frequently reverse-engineers replacement parts for foreign-made equipment in local processing plants, sometimes fulfilling emergency requests within hours. Highlighting Plastek’s operational focus, Sonquist noted, “Being responsive is the biggest thing that’s helped us grow.” When advising entrepreneurs on prototyping and domestic production, Sonquist stresses capital efficiency. “I wanna be a good steward of someone else’s capital,” Sonquist said, pointing to Plastek’s hands-on approach to machining prototypes before client tooling begins.
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In-House Training and Retention
To address regional trade skill shortages and declining community college tool-and-die enrollments, Plastek developed its own internal training curriculum utilizing state 260E grants. About a third of Plastek’s workforce holds formal trade degrees, while in-house programs train remaining staff on blueprints, applied math, and workplace communication. With his sons Andrew and Ryan joining the leadership team to ensure succession, Sonquist prioritizes employee retention. “We work with the employees to make sure we’re giving every opportunity to keep them if they wanna be there,” Sonquist said, attributing low turnover to competitive wages, a 6% 401(k) match, and flexible management.