Rotational Mold Repair Restores Production Quality for SG Burial Platform
How Granger Plastics restored damaged tooling, improved product consistency and became the manufacturer of SG’s burial platform and urn pedestal.
By RotationalMolding.com Editorial Team
Published October 22, 2026
When SG Burial Platform’s production molds were recommended for replacement, founder Stephen J. Sabo Jr. sought another evaluation. His finished products had declined in quality, and the tooling needed extensive attention. The Granger Plastics Company examined the molds and identified a path to restoring them.
The project required months of repairs. Today, Granger manufactures both the SG Burial Platform and SG Urn Pedestal using the restored tooling, with substantially improved product quality and consistency.
Equipment Developed From Funeral Service Experience
Sabo established SG Burial Platform LLC in 2014 after decades working as a funeral director. His experience gave him a firsthand understanding of the preparation that takes place before a graveside service—and an idea for improving the equipment used.
The SG Burial Platform provides an alternative to traditional arrangements of wooden planks and graveside greens. The polyethylene platform incorporates tapered edges, a non-skid surface and a custom lid designed to help keep water and debris from entering the vault at a pre-dug grave.
The SG Urn Pedestal extends that approach to urn services, providing a dedicated presentation surface for use at cemeteries, funeral homes and churches.
Both products grew from Sabo’s understanding of the practical needs of funeral and cemetery professionals. Producing them consistently became a critical challenge.
When Manufacturing Problems Threatened Progress
At an important point in the company’s growth, Sabo faced declining product quality and production molds in poor condition. According to Sabo, he was advised that the existing tooling could no longer produce acceptable products and needed to be replaced.
He contacted Granger Plastics in Middletown, Ohio, to discuss the products, the molds and the manufacturing difficulties.
After several conversations, Sabo decided to transfer his molds to Granger for production. That move began an extensive restoration project focused on returning the existing tooling to service.
Months of Rotational Mold Repairs
Granger’s evaluation identified several areas requiring repair. The work extended across the molds and their supporting structures, including:
- Parting lines: Repairing damaged areas where mold sections meet.
- Kiss-off features: Addressing damage involving these molded connection features.
- Mold surface finish: Restoring affected mold surfaces.
- Supporting framework: Repairing broken framework associated with the tooling.
The scope of the damage required months of work. Through its mold shop and metal fabrication capabilities, Granger addressed the tooling’s condition and restored it for use in ongoing production.
For SG, this established a way forward with molds that had previously been recommended for replacement.
Better Finished Products and Greater Consistency
Following the repairs and transfer of manufacturing, the quality and consistency of SG’s finished products substantially improved.
Sabo described the difference:
“The difference now in our finished product compared to our old manufacturer is outstanding. Granger Plastics is as good as it gets. I wish I had found them first.”
— Stephen J. Sabo Jr., founder of SG Burial Platform LLC
Granger now provides custom rotational molding for both the burial platform and urn pedestal. The relationship brings mold repair and ongoing manufacturing together, supporting the products Sabo developed for funeral and cemetery professionals.
Evaluating Existing Tooling Before Replacement
SG’s experience illustrates the value of examining damaged tooling before deciding its future. In this project, a detailed evaluation and extensive repairs made it possible to resume production with the existing molds.
For product owners facing inconsistent results, a useful starting point is to document the problems: photographs of unacceptable parts, examples of recurring defects, the condition of the molds and the production requirements the finished product needs to meet.
That information gives a prospective manufacturing partner a clearer picture of the project and the questions that need to be resolved. Whether repair or replacement makes sense depends on the condition of the individual tool and the requirements of the product.
Discuss Your Molds and Manufacturing Needs
Are damaged molds or inconsistent finished products creating problems for your business?
The Granger Plastics Company works with product owners to discuss existing tooling, mold repair needs and custom rotational molding production. Share your product drawings, mold photographs, examples of quality concerns and anticipated production quantities to begin the conversation.
Request a rotational molding quote or call (513) 424-1955 to discuss your project.
For burial platform and urn pedestal product information, visit SG Burial Platform LLC.