From Our Family to Yours

Happy Holidays from Stern Rubber Company
As December slowly comes to an end, family and friends begin to gather at one another’s homes to celebrate the holidays. Kids return from college for a long break, parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, all join together to share gifts, old stories and a good meal. Yet most of all, they just enjoy one another’s company. The family aspect of the holiday season is second to none, and our family of employees here at Stern is no different. From molders to management, Stern’s team is always there for one another.
In 1969, in the small town of Savage, Minnesota, two men, Donovan and Terrel Stern opened the custom rubber molding company known as Stern Rubber. By 1973, the pioneers of this company realized it was time for a change and they moved their operation from the Savage location, to a brand new 9,600 square foot building in the Staples Industrial Park.
Within the next two years, the need for expansion was clearly seen, and a 12,000 square foot addition was connected to the existing facility in 1975. For the next eleven years, the Stern Rubber Company family continued to grow, and hone in on their ability to master the process of custom rubber production. Yet in 1986, Donovan Stern decided to retire, and the company was purchased by American Rubber Products, and would operate under this name until 1992, when Terrel Stern purchased the company back. That year, two new Stern Rubber team members were also added, Bonnie Gastecki and Bob Jackson, who are still part of the Stern Rubber family today.
As Stern Rubber continued to grow, in 1997 the Company added its Aitkin division, when they began leasing an incubator building in downtown Aitkin, Minnesota. As the century turned, Stern continued to hold strong and in 2002, the operations in Aitkin were moved to a new 10,000 square foot building in the Aitkin Industrial Park. Over the next ten years, Stern continued to grow and change, and in 2011, the company added two rubber extrusion lines and a third facility, adjacent to the existing main Staples location.
In recent times Stern has added a 12,000 square foot addition to the main facility that was built to increase warehouse space, house the trimming and deflashing departments, as well as new offices. Yet the most recent change coming to Stern Rubber, was the purchase of the company by Zhongli Corporation. This big change, adds a lot of potential to Sterns already established capabilities.
Over the years Stern Rubber has encountered many changes, yet one thing that hasn’t changed is the family like atmosphere within the company. Since 1969 Stern has valued quality production, on time delivery, and most of all our customers and team members.
From all of us here at Stern, we would like to wish you a Happy Holiday from our Family to yours!