Press release submitted on behalf of LS Mtron.
He steps down as president of LS Mtron Injection Molding USA after key role in expanding company’s North American market share
Peter Gardner, president of LS Mtron Injection Molding Machine USA, is retiring from the plastics industry after a 37-year career in which he held leadership roles for a half-dozen companies and greatly expanded LS Mtron’s footprint in North America over the past four years.
Gardner joined LS Mtron in 2021 as business director. During his tenure, LS Mtron doubled sales in the U.S., achieving 101% year-over-year growth in August and reaching 10% market share for injection molding machines.
“This milestone reflects not only our growing market presence in North America, but also our continued commitment to delivering world-class technology, exceptional service and true long-term value for our customers,” Gardner explained.
For next six months, Gardner will continue to work with LS Mtron to facilitate the transition.
Prior to joining LS Mtron, Gardner as vice president and general manager of the plastic machinery division for Daiichi Jitsugyo America (DJA). In 2017, he identified LS Mtron to replace the Niigata line of equipment for DJA and later led LS Mtron’s buyout of the DJA machinery division to LS could grow faster in the U.S. Gardner built the sales and marketing teams for DJA and LS Mtron USA.
Gardner began his career as a sales engineer with Machinery Systems Inc. in Chicago in 1988. He earned his bachelor’s in business from DePaul University and his bachelor’s in plastics engineering from Illinois State University.
“I kind of accidentally fell into the plastics industry after completing my first two years in college with no declared major,” Gardner recalled. “Some of my friends were in the plastics program at Illinois State and suggested I take an introductory course. One thing led to another, and pretty soon I had too many credits in the plastics program to turn back. Later, I went back to school to get my business degree at Depaul University in Chicago, as I was more interested in the business management end of the plastics industry than the technical side.”
Assuming some of Gardner’s duties is Paul Caprio, president of sales for LS Mtron Injection Molding Machine USA.
“I personally want to thank Peter for everything he has done for this company,” Caprio said. “I learned about LS from Peter and was so excited to work with him again that I came out of retirement to help establish LS Mtron as a serious player in the North American market. He did an outstanding job in finding this company and then making it a truly American company.”
In reflecting on his nearly four decades in the plastics industry, Gardner summed up his proudest achievements.
“In the late ‘90s I left the plastics industry completely to cofound an internet data center company in California (COLO.com), and I really enjoyed the thrill of building up a company as we grew from an initial seven employees to over 400, while also raising over $500 million in venture capital. In 2003, as Niigata was emerging from bankruptcy, I was recruited to come back and help rebuild the brand for the U.S. distributor, DJA. Using the same startup mentality from my dot-com days, we were able to grow Niigata sales from almost zero during the time of their bankruptcy to about 100 units per year on a consistent basis.
“As Niigata underwent an ownership change (now part of Haitian), I sought a new IMM supplier for DJA and brought in LS Mtron. I found myself in a very familiar place: almost no sales to American customers but lots of potential – basically another startup. By now I knew the startup formula: assemble the right team, build a marketing story and brand image and take care of the customers. It worked again, as is evident in LS Mtron’s quick growth to become a major player in the market.”
Gardner plans to spend more time with his wife and two college-age children.
About LS Mtron Injection Molding Machines
LS Mtron is part of the LS Group, a South Korean-based conglomerate with over 25,000 employees, annual revenues of over $30 billion and profit of approximately $1 billion. LS Mtron Injection Molding Machines (LS IMM), a division of LS Mtron, was started in 1969 by South Korean tech giant LG Corporation, one of the world’s largest plastic molders. Founded initially to satisfy their own production needs for injection molded components used in their world-famous TVs, appliances, electronics, and other products, today LS IMM produces around 3,000 machines per year, not only for use by our network of LS-related and LG-founded companies but also for thousands of molders around the world.
Since 2021, the LS Group has invested $722 million in a number of its businesses in the U.S., demonstrating unwavering commitment to long-term growth and innovation.
Beginning with the development of Korea’s first injection molding machines, LS IMM prides itself on quality, service and fast deliveries. The combined strength of the LS family of companies allows us to solve many of the world’s supply-chain challenges.
Because of this, LS IMM can provide new custom molding machines to our customers in North America in just 100 days from casting to cargo, or even faster from our stocked inventory.
More information: www.lsinjection.com/us