Erie Molded Packaging (EMP), headquartered in Fairview, Pennsylvania, represents what it means to be a proud Pennsylvania manufacturer. For more than four decades, the family owned business has made a name for itself in the plastics and packaging industries, earning the trust of some of the nation’s most prominent brands.
EMP’s roots trace back to CEO Phil Tredway, who founded Erie Molded Packaging (then Erie Molded Plastics) in 1982, getting his start in a rented warehouse on West 12th Street and Filmore Avenue. The early days saw EMP taking on overflow work from friends Omni Plastics and other area plastics firms, before outgrowing that original space and moving operations in 1987 to its custom-built, temperature-controlled facility on West Ridge Road. Today, EMP is recognized as a successful injection molder of stock and custom packaging components known far beyond Fairview — shaped by the people, the commitment to the region and the determination to do things the right way, every time.
“Erie’s always been known nationally as a center for injection molding, and it was true 45 years ago, and it’s still true today,” says Phil, “and it’s just great to be a part of that.”
PUTTING PEOPLE AND CUSTOMERS FIRST
Currently, Erie Molded Packaging is led by Phil’s son, Tom Tredway, whose hands-on approach and clear vision are steering EMP into a new era.
“I always wanted to work for myself, and part of that was I hoped that I’d have a family and be able to keep a family business going through multiple generations, and we’ve been able to do that,” states Phil. “Tom’s been the driving force behind a lot of the growth we’ve had over the last 10 to 15 years, and it’s been wonderful to watch and be a part of.”
Since stepping fully into the president’s role in 2020, Tom has leaned on the company’s core value — “take care of the customer” — and built on it, bringing fresh energy and focus to both service and smart improvements. He’s made it a priority to keep investing in people, technology and making sure to position the company for long-term success. Under his leadership, the business philosophy is forward-looking: honor tradition, but don’t be afraid of change. It’s an approach that resonates throughout the company and sets the foundation for where EMP is heading next.
On top of that, Tom’s approachable and proactive — someone who sees every challenge as a chance to improve. The culture of hard work and integrity that shaped EMP’s early days has been amplified for today’s workforce.
Reinvesting every dollar back into the company is also second nature. Tom has prioritized upgrading equipment, reimagining floor space, and, above all, investing in the people who keep EMP running.
“Hire and invest for where you want to go, and you’ll eventually get there,” explains Tom.
THE NEXT GENERATION
In many ways, Tom Tredway’s journey is representative of the new generation of business leaders shaping manufacturing in northwestern Pennsylvania. A Fairview High School and Lehigh University grad, he set out to make his own mark, building a career in financial planning in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area, before even considering the family business. His decision to return to EMP was his own — a conscious choice six months in the making, rooted in both opportunity and a growing sense of responsibility to the team and the company’s future.
When Tom joined EMP, he started from the ground up, immersing himself first in sales before gradually taking on roles across operations, purchasing and management. This hands-on experience gave him a better view of the business, preparing him to the transition of president and then buying out the business from Phil on January 1, 2026. His vision has guided EMP into its next era: investing not just in machines and facilities, but in people, continuous learning and strategic partnerships.
As he leads EMP, Tom blends tradition with forward-thinking, fostering a culture of improvement that’s as much about taking care of customers as it is about creating new opportunities. “I’m always looking for ways to make us better, not just bigger,” Tom says.
When Tom first returned to Erie, he leaned into local business networks and dialogue with other manufacturing leaders across Erie — sharing ideas with peers from Finish Thompson, Smith Provision, Deist Industries and the Forquer Group.
“That’s the whole part about being comfortable with not being the smartest person in the room, because if you’re willing to listen and learn, you’re going to grow that much faster,” he says.
Equally important has been EMP’s ongoing championing of manufacturing in northwest PA.
As a past chairman of the Manufacturer & Business Association, Phil Tredway helped to shape the area’s pro-business climate for years. That commitment continues through Tom, who currently serves on The MBA’s Executive Committee as vice chairman, keeping EMP directly engaged with the broader manufacturing and business community in Pennsylvania.
“I have a lot of pride in being a Pennsyl-vanian,” says Tom. “It’s where I grew up, it’s where we’ve chosen to raise our families and to contribute to Pennsylvania and to be an employer that can reinvest in our people and in our community. We take a lot of pride in being part of that and being manufacturers here in Pennsylvania.”
MOLDED IN PENNSYLVANIA, MADE FOR THE WORLD
Since Tom Tredway took the reins, the company has continued to streamline, specializing in custom caps and closures used everywhere from food and beverage, personal care, health and beauty, chemical, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and custom markets.
Growth has also meant new challenges: managing bigger molds, shuffling equipment and finding creative ways to keep up as orders increased. EMP responded by investing heavily in the latest molding machines and taking every opportunity to improve.
In the last five years alone, EMP has nearly doubled in sales while investing over $4 million in machines and automation in a bid to boost capacity and quality. The journey hasn’t been without its ups and downs — there were times when space was tight, equipment was stretched to the limit, and market pressures forced quick pivots. However, it’s that perseverance and steady commitment to excellence that led to earn top industry recognition.
In 2022, EMP earned the National Association of Container Distributors (NACD) Supplier of The Year Award in Laguna Beach, California, signifying that EMP has been recognized as the top supplier within the rigid packaging distribution industry. NACD also considers a company’s outstanding contributions, positive impact on the industry, and ability to consistently meet or exceed the expectations of its distributor partners.
Most recently, in 2026, Berlin Packaging, a $3 billion packaging distributor, named Erie Molded Packaging its “Overall Supplier of the Year” — a recognition that reflects EMP’s performance across quality, service, commercial value and innovation that has carried the company to this day. “It was almost a decade of hard work to get that recognition,” says Tom. “To bring that back to the team just meant a ton because they all were such a big part of it. It is a direct result of the commitment and teamwork of the people at EMP, attention to detail and a mindset of getting a little better every day.”
INVESTING IN LOCAL TALENT
EMP knows its greatest asset is the dedicated employees on three shifts who are proud of where they work and what they make. That’s why the company partners closely with Penn State Behrend’s renowned plastics program and maintains ties to the American Injection Molding (AIM) Institute located right next door. Young professionals cut their teeth on EMP projects, and employees take regular courses, including those at The MBA, to stay ahead of industry demands.
“We hire based on core values, because they have to be a good fit for the team for them to succeed here,” Tom explains. “But we love to send people for training because we know that means we have someone we can grow with.”
Talk with Chris Yochim, EMP’s longtime vice president of Manufacturing, and you’ll hear a familiar story: small-town roots, education at Penn State Behrend, a season working far from home, and then a return to Erie to grow alongside the company. Yochim oversees a core team of 30 to 40 staff — many who have seen the company evolve up close, with molding presses ranging from 85 to 550 tons and an automated material delivery system that ensures efficient raw material supply to the presses.
Ask Yochim or his team, and you’ll find a recurring theme about EMP: respect, communication and a focus on what people need to get the job done right. “Our capabilities are engineering forward, but we also don’t overdo it. We try to make it simple,” he says.
Yochim, who also has worked for other bigger players in the plastics industry, says he’s proud to work for a small PA-based manufacturer. “I think it’s a much better place to be where you have a little bit of control of what your day looks like, the projects you propose or you take on,” he says. “And, of course, there is pride in Erie for sure. We want to keep these companies in Erie, which is a great place for families.”
Alicia Wiggers, now the third shift supervisor, started as a temp operator in 2020 and was hired full-time in 2021. She remembers the first time Phil Tredway introduced himself — and even more, later when he still remembered her name. That kind of personal touch, according to Wiggers, is one of the reasons that makes EMP stand out. A little over a year later, she’d risen to a leadership position, overseeing her own crew and taking advantage of ongoing supervisor and technical training paid for by EMP.
“They always want their people to gain more knowledge,” says Wiggers. “It’s a company that cares about its people.”
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE: MAJOR EXPANSION BY 2027
With momentum building and producing approximately 1 million caps and closures per day, EMP is ready to grow again. The company is gearing up for a 15,000 to 20,000-square-foot expansion that is expected to take place in 2027 — a $5-million project to create more room for equipment and add new levels of automation. The expansion is about supporting growth and delivering for EMP’s customers and employees alike.
“We make investments in a strategic way, knowing that more are coming down the road,” Yochim explains. “The next step is we’re going to buy equipment; we’re going to get a little more space, and we’re talking about adding more vision inspection to the manufacturing floor, but that’s going to require more space. So, there are plans, not only expansion, but it’s also to improve our work cells.”
As EMP grows, so does its commitment to sustainability as well. The company has invested in more energy efficient machines and achieved Bronze Medallion status by EcoVadis for its sustainability practices. EcoVadis is used by global companies such as Nestlé, L’Oréal, BMW, BASF, Johnson & Johnson, Schneider Electric, Michelin, Coca-Cola, and Unilever for evaluating suppliers and partners.
EMP’s Engineering team also is exploring post-consumer cycle resins (PCRs) and different types of biodegradable resins for future lines — a move that could have a lasting impact. “We’ve been looking at those, sampling and trying to just stay ahead of the curve because there’s going to be a growing demand for those sorts of sustainable products,” says Tom.
MARKING THE MILESTONE: 45 YEARS AND COUNTING
As 2027 approaches, Erie Molded Packaging isn’t just celebrating an anniversary — it’s honoring a legacy built on loyalty, reinvestment and the kind of handshake mentality that still matters. From Phil Tredway’s dream to start his own manufacturing company to today’s plans for growing the business led by his son Tom, EMP remains anchored in Fairview and proud to be part of Pennsylvania’s manufacturing future.
For more information, visit empclosures.com.
