Susan J. Franklin, 4th generation, and the younger daughter of David Franklin joins the business after graduating from The Florida State University. In the late 80’s, Susan began researching the recycling of plastics.  With positive feedback and a couple large automotive injection molders locating to Battle Creek, Franklin found itself in the plastics business. With a matching fund grant from the State of Michigan the first granulator was purchased in 1988. In the early nineties,  Susan would go on to become President of the Company and currently holds that position.

Susan recruits her sister Beth Franklin Devoll to help run the newly formed Plastics division.  They go on to expand their customer base and acquire more equipment. Together, they decided to construct a state-of-the-art plastics processing facility in the Fort Custer Industrial Park. One of the first such processors in the state.  Inside the facility, plastics shredders and grinders are capable of processing over a 100,000 pounds daily.  This material is then sold back to injection molders and compounders to keep millions of pounds of plastics out of the landfill every year.  Franklin Plastics has since expanded and processes tens of millions of pounds a year.  The plastics division is currently run and operated by the Vice President of Plastics Travis Mumy.