About Us
Amdek, Inc. originated in 1991 by Robert Tetzlaff, the son of a naturalized citizen Roger W. Tetzlaff, who immigrated to the United States in 1949 as an indentured servant. Robert was trained “old world school,” meaning if you ran or sold a machine, you learned how to build one. He went to Germany for 10 months as an apprentice at Battenfeld GMBH to learn all aspects of building a molding machine.
Robert started on the ground floor of pad printing as an independent sales representative in the early 1980s when ITW Trans Tech came to the United States. This position allowed him the privilege of working with and learning from hundreds of companies and a vast array of manufacturing, quality and large-scale production processes. The 30+ years experience, knowledge and practice has enabled Amdek to offer unique solutions for the most difficult of projects.
More recently, Amdek Inc. purchased Dave Shepard Enterprises in Hillsboro, OR. We are headquartered in Somerville, AL, with additional decorating facilities in Baileyton, AL and Newberg, Oregon.
The Amdek team takes pride in almost 30 years of hands-on-service, old-world values, superior products, start-up assistance, and pure loyalty and dedication to all their customers.
Amdek, Inc. Timeline
1982
Robert Tetzlaff joined his father selling injection molding machines for Battenfeld and pad printing machines for the brand-new American company, Trans Tech America.
1986
Robert is top salesperson for Trans Tech of America
1991
Robert Tetzlaff buys RWT Plastics Systems from his retired father and changes the name to Alabama Molding and Decorating or Amdek, Inc. Starts up with 3 Battenfeld molding machines and 5 customers
1994
Robert is top salesperson for Trans Tech of America
1997
Devastating fire guts Amdek’s molding facility. Within months, Amdek is back up and running with 3 new Cincinnati Milacron molding machines.
1998
Amdek purchases a new 165-ton Cincinnati Milacron molding machine
1999
Amdek purchases a new 33-ton Cincinnati Milacron molding machine
2004
Amdek’s customer base grows to over 40
2009
Amdek begins working with Wilson Sporting Goods to print all their custom logo orders
2012
Wolf Tetzlaff joins Amdek to become the third generation to work in the injection molding and custom plastics decorating industry
2014
Amdek acquires Custom Impressions, an Alabama pad print company.
Robert Tetzlaff develops a compostable plastic material
2016
Amdek acquires Shepherd Enterprises in Oregon and establishes a presence on the West Coast
2018
Purchases a 165 ton Roboshot from Cincinnati Milacron
2019
Wolf Tetzlaff becomes President and CEO of Amdek. Robert becomes CTO to focus on improving the company’s technology.
Since its inception, Amdek has steadily grown and provided employment for its little corner of North Alabama and now Oregon.