MINNESOTA RUBBER
Bob Reiss, from the Re-Echo, Summer 2004

Minnesota Rubber began in 1941 as the Wilson Rubber Company and moved into the Hamilton Building on Walker Street in 1942.

George Carlson and  Paul Dennison purchased the company in 1945 and changed the name to Minnesota Rubber and Gasket Company.

Starting with nine employees, the firm grew rapidly under new ownership.  Reaching beyond the military, the company began providing parts for original equipment manufacturers.

To meet increased production demands, a new 10,000 square foot factory was built at a location between Wooddale and Alabama Avenues.  This plant has been expanded many times.  George Carlson has been an innovator in making changes to rubber products and to the way they were manufactured which would eventually lead to the establishment of the company's own Machine Design Center.

Paul Dennison died in 1944, and George's son Robert Carlson, Sr. became President.  A tragic plane crash killed Robert Carlson, Sr. in 1971.  George Carlson died in 1972.  Luke Sewall and the remaining members of the Carlson family continued management of the company.

It was thought at the time that Robert Carlson, Jr. did not have enough experience to be president of Minnesota Rubber.  In 1975, Tool Products became a wholly owned subsidiary and Robert Carlson, Jr. was made President.  He quickly returned Tool Products to profitability.  He became Chief Operating Officer of Minnesota Rubber in 1977.  Today he is chairman of the Quadian Corporation.  Quadian is the corporate identity for all of the Minnesota Rubber facilities.

Minnesota Rubber acquired the adjacent old Lincoln School site in 1979.  The site had been used as City Hall, fire and police stations.  These were removed to make room for a new three story office building.

Today as the Quadian Corporation, Minnesota Rubber has plants throughout Minnesota, Iowa and the world, including Singapore and France.  The new corporate headquarters building is located in Plymouth.

Also see the SLPHS website article and Something in the Water.


 

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.