About Us

Since its establishment in 1924, the John R. Wald Company, Inc. has been a leader in engineered manufacturing solutions and automated production systems for correctional industries. Our founder, Mr. John R. Wald, served as the superintendent of the then Prison Labor Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare from 1919 to 1924, where he designed, patented and introduced the first systems for the automated stamping of license plates. These systems allowed Pennsylvania to dramatically increase its production of license plates to 800,000 units per year, a milestone at the time. Later, Mr. Wald struck out on his own and started the John R Wald Company, assisting the various US states to establish their formal correctional industries programs and supplying the production systems that states needed to make license plates.

 

Wald’s early production systems quickly expanded beyond license plate lines as industrial solutions evolved to include janitorial supplies mixing and filling lines, soap production lines, wood and metal finishing lines, furniture production lines, and many others as correctional industries sought out Wald to furnish the production equipment required for their various applications. We are proud of our long history of service to government and correctional industries customers in planning, engineering, and installing a wide variety of industrial facilities and related equipment.

 

The focus of our business today is license plate solutions. We have supplied and served every license plate manufacturing facility in the United States, as well as customers in other countries such as Canada, Mexico, Denmark, Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti, Bahamas and Nigeria.

 

Throughout the years, Wald’s license plate product line has grown to include new and innovative production equipment, software and services:

• digital color UV inkjet printing systems;

• automated blanking lines with single and dual-head applicators;

• high speed embossing systems with safety feeders and compatible hinge dies;

• on-demand embossing workstations with tooling for quick changes between automobile and motorcycle plates;

• environmentally friendly and energy-efficient UV ink numeral coating machines;

• durable, high quality color inks, reflective sheeting and overlaminates tested and proven to satisfy license plate standards and the rigors of outdoor weathering;

• advanced software, graphic design services and remote support services to ensure customer productivity.

 

To this day, Wald continues to be an ardent and faithful supporter of correctional industries in its license plate manufacturing operations as well as motor vehicle administrators in ensuring that the highest quality license plates are delivered for issuance to motor vehicle owners. Wald’s approach is to unite, where possible, correctional industries and motor vehicle professionals in the successful production, procurement, delivery and issuance of license plates.

 

In addition to providing equipment and industry solutions, Wald is a manufacturer of finished license plates and license plate blanks for countries and jurisdictions that do not have the manufacturing capabilities.  Wald has produced millions of license plates at our own facility in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania using the very same equipment that we have provided for production systems the world over.  Our finished plates and blanks conform to the most rigorous industry specifications.

 

Wald is a founding member of the National Correctional Industries Association (NCIA) and longtime member and supporter of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).  As an industry member of the America Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) and its License Plates Standards working group, Wald has an intimate understanding of the rigorous requirements for license plates, which we produce to these high standards.

 

Our project teams draw on professional expertise in supply chain, procurement, information technology, manufacturing, engineering and field service to meet customer’s project and fulfillment objectives.  Through our in-depth knowledge of operations, processes and production requirements, Wald is recognized as the “Industry Expert” for the production of license plates and other solutions within the correctional industries and motor vehicle administration segments. Wald…Making It Work Since 1924.