The company traces its roots to the 1950s when the elder Lacks worked as a sales representative for REM Die Casting in Holland. His son joined the business in 1959 and the pair formed Metalac Corp. — the forerunner to present-day Lacks Enterprises — in 1961 to do basic machining of REM products.
From the beginning, the father and son developed a reputation for accepting challenges where other companies fell short. Their business quickly grew and by 1966 had purchased Ace Plating in Grand Rapids.
Over the years, they recognized the potential for plastics and moved their operations away from the die cast work that had been the company’s core business for so long. That decision — no safe bet at the time — was typical of their foresight.
Lacks became a major supplier of plastic parts and assemblies for a variety of industries, from automotive to computer to appliances, thanks in part to new product developments such as the patented HIPP-140™ High Impact Plated Plastic process and Chromtec® wheels. Talented, exceptional employees — empowered by charismatic management — have ensured the success and growth of the company’s endeavors.
John P. Lacks and Richard Lacks Sr. always put a premium on hard work, dedication and loyalty. It’s no coincidence that the next generation of Lacks leadership — Richard Lacks Jr. and Kurt Lacks — continue to embrace the same qualities, thereby providing the foundation for success into the 21st century.