Stern Rubber Company was started in 1969 by Donovan and Terrel Stern in Savage, MN. In 1973, Stern Rubber Company moved to Staples, MN when it ran out of expansion room in Savage and built a new 9,600 square foot building on 20 acres of land in the Staples Industrial Park. A second building of 12,000 square feet was added in 1975 that was connected to the original building.
In 1986 the company was purchased by American Rubber Products of LaPorte, IN. Don retired at this time and Terrel stayed with American Rubber as a Vice President and Manager of the Staples Division. In 1992 Terry purchased the company back from American Rubber. Bob Jackson was hired the same year as a chemist and Bonnie Gastecki was hired as a Cost Accountant.
In 1997 Stern Rubber Company leased an incubator building in downtown Aitkin, MN to increase manufacturing capacity and also provided a backup location in the event of a fire or other disaster at the main facility. In 2002 Aitkin County Growth built a 10,000 square foot building in the Aitkin Airport Industrial Park and this was leased by Stern Rubber Company.
In 2006 Stern Rubber Company changed its named to Stern Manufacturing in order to expand its operation and provide fuel tank assemblies. In less than two years Stern Manufacturing returned to its focus of just rubber products and removed the assemblies and rotational molding from under the corporate umbrella.
RECENT HISTORY
2014-2015, Stern Manufacturing changed its name back to Stern Rubber Company and also added 12,000 Square foot addition to our main facility in Staples. This addition includes increased warehouse space, our cryogenic deflashing and trimming department, and new offices.
In October of 2015, Stern Rubber Company was purchased by Zhongli North America, Inc., of Troy, MI, and Terry Stern retired. The dedicated men and women of Stern Rubber continue to produce quality products in Staples and Aiktin.
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