TMF Corporation is an American manufacturer specializing in high-quality plastic containers and pallets based in Havertown, Pennsylvania. The company has established itself as a trusted provider of durable plastic products primarily serving the commercial food, pharmaceutical, and solid waste industries, with a commitment to American manufacturing and customization capabilities.
Company Background and History
Founded in 1988 by Tom Fitzgerald, TMF Corporation began with a modest vision: “to build a company with just one product to sell and one customer to sell it to”. From these humble beginnings, the organization has grown significantly, expanding its product offerings and customer base across multiple industries.
The company operates under two closely related business names: T.M. Fitzgerald & Associates for its plastic container business, and TMF Corporation specifically for its plastic pallet division. This dual-identity approach allows them to specialize in different product categories while maintaining their core expertise in plastic manufacturing.
TMF Corporation’s headquarters is located at 850 West Chester Pike, Suite 200 in Havertown, Pennsylvania. The company operates with a workforce of approximately 11-50 employees and generates annual revenue estimated between $1 million and $5 million. Tom Fitzgerald serves as the company’s President/CEO, maintaining the founder-led culture that has defined the business for over three decades.
The company’s business philosophy centers on reliability and quality: “We do what we say we are going to do, when we say we are going to do it”. This commitment to service and dependability has earned them a loyal customer base throughout their years of operation.
Products and Services
TMF Corporation manufactures an extensive range of plastic products designed for durability and practical application across various industries.
Plastic Containers
The company’s container offerings include their signature TripleRCan® recycling and waste containers available in multiple sizes:
- 20 Gallon TripleRCan®: Their most popular size, designed for commingled recycling collection. Features include easy lifting, carrying, and double drag rails for curbside movement. Bright colors and ample logo space help maintain high participation rates in recycling programs.
- 25 Gallon TripleRCan®: Offers 20% more capacity than the 20-gallon model while maintaining the same floor space footprint. Available with specialized lid options including a hole for beverage containers or slotted lid for paper collection.
- 32 Gallon TripleRCan®: A versatile container that has gained popularity with expanded recycling and yard waste collection programs. Found in various settings from school cafeterias to office buildings and beaches nationwide.
- 35 Quart TripleRCan® with Flip Top Lid: A high-impact polypropylene container designed for indoor use in homes, apartments, or businesses without consuming valuable floor space.
Beyond the TripleRCan® line, TMF provides various other container products including carts, bins, baskets, mushroom lugs (specialized containers for mushroom cultivation), kitchen composters, sorters, dome top push lids, and waste receptacles.
A key distinguishing feature of T.M. Fitzgerald & Associates’ container business is their commitment to customization. Unlike competitors who have moved away from customized options, the company continues to provide make-to-order services, allowing clients to select specific colors and add logos to their containers. This customization capability is particularly valuable to municipal programs, mushroom growers, and bakeries who use distinct colors and branding to facilitate container identification and retrieval.
Plastic Pallets
Under the TMF Corporation name, the company produces the PROTECH® line of pallets made from high-density polyethylene structural foam. These pallets are designed for various industrial applications and offer significant advantages over traditional wood or metal alternatives:
- Outstanding impact absorption at a superior strength-to-weight ratio
- Resistance to splintering, rotting, rusting, and creasing
- True four-way forklift and pallet jack entry
- Precise tolerances compatible with automated packaging systems
- One-piece molded design for easy cleaning and sanitization between uses
- Resistance to mold, bacteria, and insect infestation
The PROTECH® pallets are specifically engineered to minimize contamination risks, making them ideal for industries with strict sanitation requirements such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and medical applications. Many of their pallets are FDA approved, further enhancing their suitability for food-related operations.
Understanding that pallet availability can impact manufacturing and shipping operations, TMF Corporation maintains inventory of both standard and fire-retardant pallets for immediate shipping, often available within 24 hours. This commitment to quick availability allows customers to avoid production and shipping disruptions.
The company also offers customization options for their pallets, including features like intermittent perimeter lips, hot-stamping, and color choices to meet specific customer requirements.
Market Position and Industry Focus
TMF Corporation has strategically positioned itself to serve several key industries with their specialized plastic products:
Commercial Food Industry
The company provides food-safe containers and pallets, particularly for bakeries and mushroom growers who require specialized transport and storage solutions. Their FDA-approved pallets are particularly valuable in this sector where sanitation is critical.
Solid Waste and Recycling Industry
TMF produces containers specifically designed for waste management and recycling programs, offering customized solutions for municipal waste programs and public works departments. Their TripleRCan® line is particularly popular in this sector.
Pharmaceutical Industry
The company’s PROTECH® pallets are engineered for the stringent requirements of pharmaceutical transportation and storage, with features that minimize contamination risks and support clean operations.
Materials Handling
Their pallets serve various industries requiring durable material handling solutions, including warehouse operations and beverage distribution.
Business Approach and Philosophy
TMF Corporation differentiates itself through several key business principles:
- Industry-specific expertise: “We thoroughly understand each industry we work with so we can meet their specific needs”
- Commitment to reliability: Maintaining their reputation through consistent delivery on promises
- Customization capabilities: Offering options that larger competitors have eliminated, particularly in color and branding customization
- Quick availability: Maintaining stock of standard products to reduce client wait times while still offering make-to-order options
- American manufacturing: Emphasis on quality American-made plastic products
This approach has earned TMF Corporation “a loyal and satisfied customer base” across the industries they serve.
Recent Developments
In August 2023, Tom Fitzgerald Jr., who served as Executive Vice President of TMF Corporation, joined Xeriant, Inc. as Vice President of Composites Manufacturing. In this role, Fitzgerald will lead BlueGreen Composites, a newly formed Xeriant subsidiary focused on green building materials.
This appointment followed months of collaboration between TMF Corporation and Xeriant on developing high-volume, automated production methods for NEXBOARD™, a sustainable building material made from recycled plastic and cardboard. NEXBOARD is an eco-friendly composite construction panel designed to be resistant to fire, water, insects, and mold.
According to a press release from Xeriant, “Fitzgerald’s expertise in advanced composites manufacturing technologies, industry contacts for sourcing equipment and materials, and hands-on experience were pivotal in the determination of NEXBOARD’s proprietary manufacturing methodology”. This collaboration highlights TMF Corporation’s technical expertise beyond their core product lines and demonstrates their involvement in innovative sustainability initiatives within the plastics industry.
The project aims to generate significant operating revenue while creating carbon credits through the transition to sustainable building materials. By the end of 2023, the companies planned to have commercial production ready for delivery, representing an innovative new direction in recycled plastic applications.
Leave a Reply