GREAT LAKES RUBBER PAST TO PRESENT AND FUTURE

Great Lakes Rubber & Supply was founded by George H. Baumann in 1954. Initially there were two employees located in a 500 square foot building at 735 N. Jackson St., Milwaukee. At the start, business was confined to distributing hose, belting, gaskets and teflon.

Within two years we outgrew this facility and moved to a 1500 square foot plant at 3118 N. Teutonia. It was during this year, 1956, that we were appointed a Parker Seal distributor. Our responsibilities with Parker included the stocking and selling for their O Ring, Packings and O Seal Divisions. Over the next 28 years, expansion and addition to our Teutonia plant increased its size to 7500 square feet.

With the continuous increasing demands for our products and our strong customer acceptance, we moved to our current facility in August 1984. This modern warehouse and manufacturing plant has 25,000 square feet. This new plant has enabled Great Lakes Rubber to increase our inventory of Parker Seal products along with expanding our capabilities in the hydraulic and gasket departments. We currently employ thirty-two people.

In response to our customers needs and demands we opened a branch operation in Rockford, IL in 1989. Sales have grown rapidly and Great Lakes Rubber is recognized as the "Seal People" of Rockford.

I would like to offer my special thanks to all of our customers who were responsible for making Great Lakes Rubber a prominent force in the industry. Through the years of our growth and expansions, we have never lost sight of the principles and concepts that have made us strong. We will now, as we have in the past, continue to supply our customers with the highest quality product in the manner and methods that you desire.

Now, more than ever we are dedicated to the principles of total quality. Please take advantage of our team's services.

Thomas H. Baumann
President