May 1, 2009

Landmark Plastic Corp. Co-Founder DiesSource: Landmark Plastic Corp.

Leo Merzweiler, a plastic and horticulture pioneer, died March 14 in Naples, Fla. He was born in 1923 in Akron, Ohio. Following service in WWII, he attended Miami University of Ohio and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity; for many years, he remained active in alumni activities for both organizations. Upon retirement he volunteered his services to Religious Community Services and the Morton Plant Hospital Foundation where he also served as board chair.

Merzweiler’s entire career was devoted to the plastic and horticulture industry. In 1954, he founded Summit Plastic Company, and in 1984, he co-founded Landmark Plastic Corporation with his son, Bob. Through these endeavors, he began his career by developing vinyl film applications for greenhouses including sterilization covers, shade cloth, mulch and structural covers.

Leo often dealt and experimented with plastic equipment that was under development or in its infancy. Among his many significant industry contributions in plant packaging while at Summit:

• In the late 1950s, he developed plastic vacuum-formed open packs to be used in wood flats.
• In the early 1960s, Merzweiler introduced the cell-pack.
• In the early 1970s, he helped develop commercially viable plug trays.

In the early 1970s, his company merged with the Vaughan-Jacklin Corporation, initiating an IPO with this long-established horticulture company, where he served as an active member of its board of directors. The thermoformed product innovations continued with his son Bob and the 1984 establishment of Landmark Plastic Corporation including:

• Water conservation products, such as water collectors and watering trays
• Refinement of plug trays to include innovative features such as new cell shapes and air flow
• Numerous creative designs and sizes of plant packaging

Leo had been retired from daily activities in the business for nearly 20 years, but he never lost his passion for the industry. With his forward-thinking leadership and product development, he made a positive impact on the horticulture and plastics industries during his years of service and these industries will continue to benefit from his efforts well into the future.