A company with its eye on fast-growing markets, Viking Plastics of Corry, Pa., formed a joint venture in 2008 with Oregon-based Poly-Cast to be co-owner and operator of a manufacturing facility in the prosperous eastern China city of Suzhou, near Shanghai. The deal highlighted not only Viking's technological processes and customer service, it also underscored Viking's finesse in deployment of capital for the global market following a reorganization of ownership under the newly created VPI Acquisition Corp. two years ago.

As a leading supplier of under-the-hood plastic mechanical and fluid flow systems to world auto makers, Viking is known for the consistency of its product lines as well as its system of just-in-time delivery--attributes that China's fast-growing automobile industry is no doubt anxious to incorporate. In 2007 and 2008, Viking earned the Delphi Corp.'s coveted Pinnacle Above and Beyond Award, which the GM division presents to its highest performing suppliers.

While best known for automotive plastics, Viking's penchant for process innovation has also opened a market for the company in plastics for medical use, high-volume air-conditioning, and electronics.