Walter F. Grote, Sr. was a pioneer and innovator in injection molding.

Grote graduated from Fordham University in 1923 and then worked at an oxygen production facility in Portsmouth, Ohio before joining his father's manufacturing company, National Colortype Co. Beginning with the first Buckholz injection molding presses (imported from Germany in 1922 by his father William), Grote began to develop and manufacture plastics products. Under his management, Grote Manufacturing Co. was credited with major developments in early automatic and hydraulic molding machines and his initiatives in product development and marketing were significant factors in the growth of the industry during the 1930s when he was one of the first to perceive the important of larger plastics reflectors for automotive applications.

Until World War II, Grote remained the nation's pioneer and most fully integrated producer of plastic lenses and reflectors, with capabilities for optical engineering and testing, as well as injection molding. During World War II, his company quickly converted to the production of shell and bomb casings and paravanes for mine-sweepers, winning the coveted "E" Award for Excellence.

In 1950, Grote pioneered flexible extruded reflective sheeting. In 1964, he introduced the first non-metallic lamp housings, following with other innovations including "turtle-back" clearance lamps and no-splice wiring systems.

Walter F. Grote was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame 1988.

See: Grote website, About Us