Buying a plastics or chemical manufacturer in Space Coast and Volusia

• Supply agreements with repeat customers across several industries, so a slump in boatbuilding or construction doesn't idle the plant.
• Pricing that passes raw material changes through to customers, ideally written into the agreements.
• Well-maintained presses and equipment with spare capacity, and spare parts on hand for the machines that matter most.
• Clear, signed records of which molds and formulas belong to whom.
• A quality system and the certifications customers require, such as ISO 9001, or medical device standards for medical work.
• Process technicians and a maintenance lead with years at the company.
• A clean environmental and safety record, with permits and reports kept current.
• Products or formulas of its own, which earn more than contract work.

• An environmental site assessment of the property, especially where chemicals are stored or spills could have happened. Lenders often require one for manufacturing sites.
• Permits, inspection reports and any violation notices.
• How much of sales goes to the largest customers, and the terms of supply agreements, including how much notice a customer must give before moving work.
• A mold list, signed off by customers, showing who owns each mold and what condition it's in. Worn molds may need costly repair soon.
• Raw material suppliers, and how price changes are passed on.
• Machine age, maintenance logs and energy costs. Molding and extrusion use a lot of electricity.
• Safety records, including injury logs and any serious incidents.
• Product liability insurance, and any claims involving parts that failed in customers' products.

• Who are your largest customers, and do you have written supply agreements with them?
• Which molds and formulas belong to the company, and which belong to customers?
• What do you do when resin or other raw material prices go up?
• What permits does the plant hold, and have there been any inspections or violations?
• What chemicals are stored on site, and how much of each?
• Who runs production and maintenance day to day?
• How close is the plant to full capacity?
• Which products carry EPA, FDACS or DBPR registrations or permits, and whose name are they in?

This region covers Brevard, Volusia and Flagler counties: Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island, Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, DeLand, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach and Palm Coast. Brevard's economy is built around space. Rockets launch often from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and aerospace and defense manufacturers and their suppliers employ engineers, technicians and machinists across the county. Port Canaveral is a major cruise port.

Volusia depends more on tourism, beaches and big events, with Daytona's motorsports and motorcycle rallies drawing crowds. Health care and a large retired population matter too. Flagler County, around Palm Coast, is mostly residential. Machine shops, electrical and engineering firms, home service companies, marine businesses and restaurants all have a place here.

Brevard's fortunes follow the space and defense programs. A company that sells to aerospace firms should be able to show you how many customers it depends on and how secure their work is. Business in Volusia spikes around big events and the winter season, so look at revenue by month.

The whole coast faces storm risk. In 2022, Hurricane Ian brought flooding to much of Volusia, and Hurricane Nicole, which came ashore near Vero Beach six weeks later, washed away beaches and seawalls along the Volusia coast. Beachfront property needs careful insurance and structural checks. The Indian River Lagoon and the St. Johns River make boating and fishing part of daily life, which keeps the marine trades busy. Palm Coast and the Palm Bay area have added many new homes, and companies serving those areas have grown with them.