Media Kit

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Overview:

Playworld Systems® Inc. is a third-generation family-owned company headquartered in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Playworld Systems has been a leader in imaginatively designed and customized commercial recreation and playground equipment for more than 30 years. With the belief that The World Needs Play, Playworld Systems creates equipment that brings the joy of play to people of every age through such innovative product lines as ENERGI®, Activo®, NEOS®, Climbing Boulders™, LifeTrail® Advanced Wellness System and Playworld®.

History:

The company began in 1952 as QE Manufacturing Company, a family-owned producer of precision machine parts. Seven years later, the company entered the playground industry as a supplier of high-quality products for other companies. As the organization's reputation as a superior supplier grew, so did the demand in both the playground and recreational markets. Seizing the opportunity, the company introduced its own brand of commercial playground products in 1971 under the company name Playworld Systems. In January, 1999, Playworld Systems moved to its current corporate headquarters in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. The company is currently led by third-generation owner and CEO, Matt Miller.

Why Playworld Systems?

• Commitment to the Environment: Playworld Systems has invested significant resources to measurably reduce its carbon footprint, from eliminating PVCs to enhancing its lean manufacturing, waste management and recycling programs. In fact, Playworld Systems is the first major U.S. playground manufacturer to remove 99.999 percent of PVC from its products.

• Sustained Market Leadership: Through the years, the company has experienced phenomenal growth to become an industry leader in playground and recreational equipment. The company launched its first overseas presence in Europe in 1996. Today, Playworld Systems equipment is distributed throughout North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America.

• Customer Service: Playworld Systems' customer service is unmatched in the industry. The company's products are backed by the most comprehensive warranties available, attesting to the high-quality standards of the products, the work force and the management.

• Breadth of Products: Since its founding, the company has been committed to creating recreational opportunities for people of all ages. The company offers multiple product lines that address a variety of needs and age groups. (See Product Fact Sheet for more information).

Industry Affiliations and Awards:

The company has received numerous awards throughout the years, including two International Industrial Design Excellence Awards, a gold medal from International Design magazine, two News Directors' Choice Awards on Early Childhood, and the Pennsylvania Governors' Award for Safety Excellence. Along with these awards, Playworld Systems was a consultant to the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board). Playworld Systems is also a founding member of the International Playground Equipment Manufacturer's Association (IPEMA).

Industry Certifications and Standards:

Playworld Systems is proud to be ISO 14001:2004 certified, which guarantees that the organization meets the highest standards for environmentally-responsible manufacturing. Playworld Systems is also ISO 9001:2000 certified, a comprehensive quality standard that applies to companies that design, manufacture and service products. The ISO standards contain stringent criteria and certification is awarded to those companies that demonstrate commitment to and performance in manufacturing and shipping high quality products. In addition, Playworld Systems is committed to producing products that meet or exceed ADA and CPSC guidelines, and ASTM, EN and CSA standards.

Distributors:

Playworld Systems' products are available through a network of professional distributors, many of whom are also family-owned. These distributors have been selected to provide customers with personalized local service, and are on hand to assist in every phase of the project – from planning to the final installation and beyond. For more information, go to www.playworldsystems.com.

Headquarters, Offices and Employees:

Headquartered in Lewisburg, Pa., the company has more than 200 employees and offices in Herefordshire, England and Paris, France, as well as a network of global representatives throughout the world.

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Matt Miller
Chief Executive Officer
Playworld Systems, Inc.

Matt Miller is CEO of Playworld Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of commercial playground equipment. As CEO, Miller is currently responsible for the strategic management and corporate guidance of this third-generation family business with the goal of promoting the importance of play and community wellness.

During his more than 16 years with Playworld Systems, Miller has worked from the ground up, taking leadership roles in various positions within the company to learn and fully understand the business. Some of these roles include operations management, where he was a champion of the lean enterprise approach to both manufacturing and administrative processes, and sales management where he acted as a public speaker and trainer at several regional and national conferences on topics such as risk management, playground safety, playground design, and value-added selling.

Miller is a graduate of William and Mary and has successfully completed the course of study on playground safety leading to NPSI Certification as a Playground Inspector. Miller resides in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania with his wife and three children who continually remind him of the true meaning behind providing play to the world.

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Ian Proud
Research Manager
Playworld Systems, Inc.

Ian Proud is the research manager of Playworld Systems, Inc. (PSI), a leading manufacturer of imaginative playground equipment. In this role, he is responsible for managing and coordinating customer research projects, social media and public relations. A visionary leader with a passion for products that redefine their markets, Proud has a long history of leading product development teams in a variety of industries.

Proud joined PSI in 1996 as an industrial designer and later worked as a concept navigator focusing on new business opportunities. During his tenure, Proud created the first market research department in the organization's history and developed and operated a project launch analysis program. He designed and championed the nation's first electronic outdoor play product, which was focused on combating childhood obesity. In response to customer requests, Proud established and managed PSI's first accelerated weather testing program. Before joining PSI, Proud worked with Wood-Mode, Inc., in Kreamer, Pa. for six years, most recently as product development manager. At Wood-Mode, he managed a team of engineers and drafters in the development and documentation of new products. Prior to his role in product development, Proud served the company as an industrial designer.

Proud began his career as a craftsman responsible for creating high-profile furniture. He earned a degree in 3D and furniture design from England's Leicester Polytechnic (now known as De Montfort University) and holds a master's degree in business administration from Loyola College.

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Kevin Cook
Director of Sales
Playworld Systems, Inc.

Kevin Cook is the director of sales for Playworld Systems, Inc. (PSI), a leading manufacturer of imaginative playground equipment. He is responsible for relationship management, sales strategy development, distribution communications, revenue development and tracking, special promotions, and product pricing. In this role, Cook also oversees the sales department and global sales initiatives. Cook also manages a network of 53 independent distributors worldwide who take Playworld Systems products to market. He is responsible for partnership and alliance management and development with accounts such as the National Head Start Association and KaBoom!. Additional responsibilities include managing the playground design department, technical sales, and product orders.

Cook joined PSI in 2000 as national sales manager, Western Region. Today he contributes to nearly all of the company's efforts, from product development to human resources initiatives. Cook has presented at a number of industry events, including the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Annual Meeting and the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) Legislative Forum.

Prior to PSI, Cook worked for Innovative Technology, in Brooksville, Florida, most recently as national sales manager. Kevin's territory consisted of all states west of the Mississippi River as well as western Canada. He was responsible for 15 sales agencies comprising approximately 150 sales people. In his role as sales manager, Kevin also attended and presented at industry-related trade shows, and provided training to clients including Playworld Systems.

Cook started his career as a full-time clergyman serving congregations in Arlington, Virginia and Brooksville, Florida. He earned his bachelor's degree in religion and philosophy from Olivet-Nazarene University. In his free time, Cook enjoys sailing.

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Playworld Systems is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and protecting the planet for generations of happy, playful kids. The company started its Green Action movement more than 10 years ago, before "carbon footprint" and "sustainability" became the popular terms they are today.

Green Action is a fundamental element of the organization's culture. Playworld Systems has pledged to extend its sustainability mindset to every corner of the company. To follow are just a few examples of the company's commitment to sustainable business practices.

• Commitment to Greener Materials – Playworld Systems eliminated 99.999 percent of PVCs from its products primarily through the use of Eco-Armor®, the company's durable, thermoplastic polyethylene (PE) coating. PE coatings like Eco-Armor average a 38 percent lower carbon footprint than PVC coatings, and unlike PVC, are not associated with the creation of dioxins during their production or if burned. Playworld System's Eco-Armor isn't just better than PVC for the environment, it's a smarter investment for play space. Eco-Armor:
  • Is free from potentially harmful PVC components such as phthalates, lead and cadmium
  • Meets state and federal requirements for phthalates and heavy metal content
  • Can be safely recycled
  • Is more wear-resistant and weather-resistant than PVC, so it lasts longer
  • Is less porous than PVC, so it is not as susceptible to mold growth and dirt build-up
  • Is slip-resistant due to its textured finish
  • Is safely and easily disposable

• Lean Manufacturing – In 2004, Playworld Systems transformed its entire operation into a lean manufacturing enterprise to lessen energy consumption and eliminate material waste. Since the company became a lean manufacturing facility, it has:
  • Reduced manufacturing time from 45 days to as little as nine days. Shorter manufacturing times mean less energy is expended to run production equipment, light, heat and cool the factory, etc.
  • Reduced inventory by 45 percent by producing on demand. Rather than expending energy to produce and store equipment parts in anticipation of an order, Playworld Systems connects each product made directly to a customer's need. Eliminating excess inventory reduces unnecessary factory heating, cooling and lighting demands, and also reduces energy expenditures required to maintain storage space
  • Improved its on-time delivery promise from 8 percent to 97 percent
  • Attained a 95 percent recycle rate (as of August 2010)
  • Created an environmentally responsible supply chain

• Conservation Initiatives – Playworld Systems is working toward becoming a zero-landfill company by taking the following steps:
  • Eliminating all vending machine water bottles and installing water coolers in its manufacturing plant and offices, preventing approximately 6,744 plastic water bottles from ending up in the landfill each year
  • Installing programmable thermostats that automatically turn down the temperature during nights and weekends, saving an estimated 15,029 lbs. of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) each year
  • Reducing the hot water temperature in office restrooms by 10 degrees, saving approximately 1,100 lbs. of CO2e per year

• LEED™ Certification – Playworld Systems is committed to efforts toward energy savings, water efficiency and CO2 emissions reduction. The company is also committed to helping its customers secure LEED points for their projects. Playworld Systems' PVC-free pledge can help customers earn one LEED innovation point.

• Employee Sustainable Initiatives – Playworld employees are consistently encouraged to modify processes in an effort to eliminate waste and satisfy the needs of customers. In the cafeteria and throughout the facility, team members collect paper, bottles, cans, batteries and more for recycling. All employees turn off their computers at night – nearly 200 computers in total – reducing the company's carbon footprint by an estimated 97,000 lbs. each year. Employees participate in company car pools and some even bike to work. And twice a year, employees gather for Free Market, where all are encouraged to bring in unwanted clothes, toys and other household items to exchange with each other or donate to charity.

While the company has accomplished quite a bit thus far, its work is not complete. Playworld Systems will continue to work to find new ways to reduce its carbon footprint and eliminate, reduce, reuse and recycle waste.

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PlaySimple™

ENERGI™

NEOS®

Activo®

Adventure Series

LifeTrail™ Advanced Wellness System

Themed Play

Origins™ Nature

Logos

Hi-Resolution gallery of Playworld Systems®' logos

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