On October 1, 2026, we celebrated 45 years since our founder, Jim Slovonic, purchased the business with his friends and shareholders, Ron Talarico and Dennis Sipe. It is a milestone that gives us a chance to look back at the people, places, and decisions that helped shape the company we are today!
An Idea Becomes BAW Company
On August 14, 1945, Merle Washabaugh and Bart Bartholomae, both industrial gas salesmen for Equitable Gas Company, conceived an idea for a business. They believed they could create a market for products fabricated from acetate. The name B.A.W. came from their last names: Bartholomae And Washabaugh.  That simple combination became the name carried through decades of growth. Production took place in Merle’s basement. Yes, BAW originally started in the basement of man’s home with an idea.
By 1966, plans for a new facility had been approved by the state and Jefferson Borough. Tragically, Merle passed away at age 60 during the same week those approvals came through. Merle’s son, a Pleasant Hills policeman, stepped in to assume the production schedule. Later that year, Bart took over the company and moved it to Penn Hills.
The Years in Verona
During the 1970s, businessman Carl Pflaum purchased BAW Company. Carl also owned AIDEO Inc., a manufacturer of printed electronic circuit boards. He moved BAW to Verona, beneath the COGO/Stop’n’Go store.  Carl’s wife and sons worked at the company, continuing a history of family involvement. Business remained steady, but growth was limited. By the early 1980s, Carl was ready to sell, opening the door to the chapter we celebrate today.
A New Chapter Begins on October 1, 1981
Jim Slovonic began working for BAW Company in 1981. After months of negotiations, he purchased the business on October 1 with Ron & Dennis. Family members were among Jim’s first employees. His sister Barbara, brothers Marty and Patrick, wife Mary, and Mary’s mother all helped during those early years.
Growing Into BAW Plastics Inc.
In 1986, Jim moved the company from Verona to two locations. The office was on Clairton Rd. in Pleasant Hills, while production operated on Delwar Road in West Mifflin. BAW Plastics Inc remained at those two locations for another five years.
Another milestone followed on May 11, 1988, when Jim changed the company’s name and officially incorporated BAW Plastics Inc. in the State of Pennsylvania.
In 1991, BAW moved to its current location at 2148 Century Drive in Jefferson Hills and began building. Two buildings were erected and the site continued to develop in 2008. On June 8, 2008, groundbreaking took place for our third building, which now houses our woodshop and receiving warehouse.
BAW Plastics Today
Today, BAW Plastics manufactures custom retail displays and plastic parts and components for major brands and companies across the entire United States. Our capabilities are continuously expanding as the years and industries change for our customers. In the past two years alone, we’ve upgraded our digital printer and acquired a press brake to continue our capabilities as a custom manufacturer. The equipment and processes have changed since the company’s earliest days, but the people behind the work remain central to BAW’s story.
Our multiple departments work in tandem from sketch to store. Our sales team works with small companies, large brands, and everyone in between to bring ideas to paper. These sketches and information are then sent to our CAD department, who then sends an official drawing of the sample including measurements. The sample is manufactured and/or cut/CNC and then sent to either the Graphics department and/or prototyping to continue the sample process.
Once a sample is approved by the customer after testing in the field, bulk orders can then be submitted, produced, packaged, AND shipped from our own facilities right here in Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania all over the United States. Need to schedule a future order? We’ve got you! Need to adjust a part that was produced last year? We’ve got you! We keep everything we produce on file for reference.
Thank You for Being Part of Our History
This anniversary is an opportunity to recognize everyone who has contributed to BAW, from the founders and family members who helped in its early years to the employees, customers, and business partners who are part of our incredible work today. Thank you for being part of our history!
Contact us today to discuss your next retail display project and bring your ideas to life! Contact Us | BAW Plastics Inc. | Custom Retail Displays
