Fast and Cost-Efficient Thermoformed Wheelbarrow Tub Moved Back Onshore
Tariffs on imported materials and finished products introduced since April 2025 have led to cost spikes and overseas manufacturing slowdowns for several industries. Many goods from China, in particular, have received higher tariff rates than other regions.
The rising costs and delivery uncertainty led one manufacturer of professional-grade landscape edging products and hand tools to rethink its relationship with a long-time Chinese distributor. Sure-loc Edging, based in Holland, Michigan, needed a thermoformed wheelbarrow tub, at a reasonable price and delivered on time. Ordering the component from China was no longer reliable.
The Tipping Point
Sure-loc had worked with a Chinese distributor for 25 years but had already begun exploring alternatives even before the tariffs. They weren’t happy with the distributor’s acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) injection-molded plastic. It was too brittle, and the team often felt like they never got the clarification they needed about projects.
“You used to have to work with the Chinese because it was a fraction of the cost compared to in America,” says Ben Ashbaugh, Florida Operations Manager for Sure-loc Edging. “I had even tried calculating some tooling costs for injection molding for us to do it ourselves, but the number was astronomical.”
The tariffs were the tipping point. Ben looked at competitors and discovered that thermoforming had become the new standard for producing component parts like this. He reached out to a local thermoformer but didn’t get the quote he wanted. A simple Google search led Ben to exactly what he needed with a vendor just one state away.
A Night-and-Day Experience
Ben contacted Pro-Form, and Sales Representative Brett DeHart got the process started immediately. Brett provided a quote within a week, and two more options within a month.
“We just had a gut feeling about them,” says Tara Ashbaugh, Advertising Manager for Sure-loc. “They invited us down to Indiana. We brought our existing tub with us and asked if this is something you can even do? And they looked it over and said, absolutely, we'd love a shot at it.”
Impressed by Pro-Form’s swift response and cost-effective pricing, Sure-loc signed a contract to make Pro-Form their new supplier.
Kevin Ackeret, Engineering/New Product Development for Pro-Form, scanned the tub, created a CAD model and sent it to Sure-loc. They worked closely with Kevin to review the design, make changes and even improve on the original component. According to Ben, this experience was night and day compared to their previous distributor.
“We used to get what we get with no answers, but our experience with Kevin has been phenomenal. That guy is brilliant, easy to work with and he’s helped me fix problematic aspects of the old tub. The whole team at Pro-Form is fantastic, and they go out of their way to make you feel comfortable,” says Ben.
A Partnership That’s Paid Off
Pro-Form now manufactures the 6-cubic-foot wheelbarrow tub for Sure-loc using high-density polyethylene (HDPE). This new tub is lighter, but significantly stronger and more durable. They’ve already received their first delivery and showed the tub off at tradeshows, with positive reactions from customers.
Sure-loc has already placed another order and commissioned Pro-Form to create new tooling for 8-cubic-feet and 10-cubic-feet tubs following the same process. They’re also investigating another product with Pro-Form that Sure-loc designed in the past but found to be too expensive to have produced.
“We're reviewing it with Kevin to see if he can make it thinner and cheaper but still structurally sound and hold its integrity,” says Ben. “We’re heading down that road now, and we’ll see where it takes us.”
An Onshore Partner Who Truly Delivers
While competitors struggle with delays and rising costs, Sure-loc is closing 2025 strong with a new product and a dependable U.S.-based supplier. With Pro-Form, Sure-loc has found an onshore partner who truly delivers on their thermoformed component needs.
FREE ONSITE REVIEW OF YOUR PACKAGING
Let us solve your toughest problem. We’ll bring the pizza and the beer.
Call 812.522.4433 or email us at sales@proformcp.com