Tajchman retires from Certainteed after 44 years years ago
Marcel Tajchman of McPherson knows everything there is to know about PVC pipe, vinyl siding, and vinyl fencing.
He retired from Certainteed Corporation Aug. 31 after being a manager in the manufacture and installation of plastic pipe and other industrial products for 44 years.
Tajchman was the third in a family of 13 children born to Angela Tajchman of St. Luke Living Center and the late Frank Tajchman. He graduated from Marion High School in 1956.
While working for Sunflower Drilling in the oil fields around Marion and Antelope, he met Kermit Jansen, owner of Dole Irrigation of McPherson.
He went to work for Jansen and operated a pipe-laying business out of a warehouse east of Antelope. He sold and installed salt-water pipe and lead lines for oil wells, laying at least 180 miles of it.
In 1960, he installed probably the first rural water system in Kansas at Netawaka, north of Topeka. He contacted homeowners, negotiated for rights-of-way, and laid pipe.
In September 1961, he married Barbara Holub of Lincolnville, and the couple moved to McPherson. Tajchman built a new house with all-plastic water and waste-water systems, an innovation in those days.
Dole Irrigation got its pipe from a Texas company called Southwestern Plastics. In 1963, Dole Irrigation bought out Southwestern Plastics and formed Consolidated Plastics, with five employees. They built a new plant and began making their own pipe.
In just two years, the large, successful plant was bought by Certainteed Corporation. Tajchman was named plant manager and maintained an office at the company's headquarters at Valley Forge, Pa., as well as in McPherson.
In 1966, the company began to manufacture vinyl siding and grew to become the largest producer of it.
In 1970, Tajchman became the director of manufacturing and was responsible for locating and building new plants in other parts of the country. He traveled a lot.
In 1975, he became plant manager of all of Certainteed's operations in McPherson. When he retired, at least 475 people were working under his supervision.
Always looking for new and innovative products, Tajchman, in 1990, helped develop the Form-a-drain product, which is installed around foundations of new homes.
In 1998, the company discontinued the PVC business and began manufacturing vinyl fencing in addition to siding.
Tajchman said his philosophy was to have a culture of safety, quality, service, team-building, and cost. He said his plant had the best safety record within the corporation.
The 65-year-old man is sold on plastic. He said the manufacturing process uses little energy and the product carries a lifetime guarantee.
He should know.
