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<br />AL TRON
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<br />AI Phillips, Altron's founder, started the company
<br />in 1974 with one employee. The company moved
<br />from Plymouth to New Hope in 1977, and they oc-
<br />cupied their new offices and plant in Ramsey in
<br />1982.
<br />From their humble beginnings, Altron today oc-
<br />cupies 40,000 square feet and employs 175 people.
<br />The growth however continues, and AI plans to add
<br />an additional 25,000 square feet to the facility. Ex-
<br />pansion will allow the firm to enlarge it's work force
<br />to 225-250 employees over the next 2-3 years.
<br />Altron, since it's inception, has been solely engag-
<br />ed in custom manufacturing of electronic and
<br />electro-mechanical products. Customers include all
<br />facets of the electronic industry from controls to
<br />medical and data processing system products.
<br />This company's extensive experience in process
<br />development for the surface mounting of com-
<br />ponents has established their facility as one of the
<br />most advanced in this new field.
<br />Continuing activities in conventional printed cir-
<br />cuit assembly with capacity to process boards up to
<br />24 inches wide allows Altron to serve almost anyone
<br />in the industry. Their ability to produce cables and
<br />harnesses and to do light mechanical assembly has
<br />given Altron the opportunity to do complete
<br />assembly for some of their customers.
<br />Altron also offers complete "turn-key" service, in
<br />which they buy all the components, build the pro-
<br />duct, test it and certify the results, giving the
<br />customer a ready to ship product.
<br />AI feels the availability of highly skilled production
<br />and technical personnel in the area gives Altron the
<br />flexibility to provide the services required by his
<br />customers. Their attention to technological changes
<br />allows them to maintain their leadership in this rapid-
<br />ly changing industry.
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<br />ALL-BRITE GRAPHICS, INC.
<br />ECON MARKETING, INC.
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<br />Econ Marketing, Inc./AII-Brite Graphics, Inc.
<br />6320 Hwy. 10 N.W., Ramsey, MN 55303
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<br />All-Brite Graphics Press Room.
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<br />Econ Marketing is a sales and marketing company
<br />that specializes in sales incentives and direct
<br />response marketing. Clients are located from coast
<br />to coast and border to border, however, the largest
<br />concentration stems from the Eastern Region of the
<br />United States. Econ Marketing was incorporated in
<br />1982, and initially leased office and warehouse
<br />space in Brooklyn Park. Econ employs sixteen full-
<br />time people.
<br />All-Brite Graphics is a full-fledged commercial prin-
<br />ting company that offers a vast array of printing ser-
<br />vices; from one color catalogs and price booklets,
<br />to multi-colored brochures. Clients include small and
<br />large companies located chiefly in the Twin Cities
<br />metropolitan area. All-Brite Graphics was incor-
<br />porated in 1984, and employs thirteen full-time
<br />people.
<br />Categorized as sister companies, both are local-
<br />ly owned. As a result of remodeling and expansion
<br />in 1984, Econ Marketing and All-Brite Graphics are
<br />now able to offer their respective services from one
<br />in-house location.
<br />
<br />BOB'S PORTAWELDING TO
<br />LOCATE IN RAMSEY
<br />
<br />Bob Debee purchased 2.5 acres in Gateway in-
<br />dustrial Park to build a shop for his welding and
<br />fabricating business. The company performs repairs
<br />on heavy duty equipment either in-house or on-site.
<br />Bob stated that his primary reason for acquiring pro-
<br />perty in Ramsey for his business is because of the
<br />close proximity to the Gateway North Industrial Air-
<br />port. Bob owns his own aircraft and plans to use the
<br />airport facilities for business and pleasure in the
<br />future.
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<br />PARABODY
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<br />Parabody has come a long way from it's start in
<br />a garage on Montreal Avenue in St. Paul where Jerry
<br />Dettinger and Steve Duncan built their first
<br />weightbench and rack in March of 1981.
<br />Located in the new production plant in Ramsey
<br />at 6043 Hwy. #10 N.W., they are one of the leading
<br />manufacturers of exercise equipment in the coun-
<br />try. Since their move to Ramsey in September of
<br />1986, Parabody has grown from approximately 40
<br />employees to 120 employees and are still hiring. The
<br />Company has plans to expand their product line
<br />above the 30 items presently manufactured.
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<br />WATER
<br />CONTROL/SODERHOLM
<br />ASSOC.
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<br />Water Control/Soderholm Associates at 7150 143rd Avenue
<br />N.W.
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<br />Water Control Corporation is a manufacturer of
<br />whirlpool bathtubs (AMERIBATH), water softeners
<br />and filters (Auto-Soft, Futurmatic and Olympia).
<br />Soderholm and Associates, the sister company to
<br />Water Control Corporation, performs the sales func-
<br />tion for Water Control as well as several other com-
<br />panies in the plumbing and heating business.
<br />Water Control leased space and began manufac-
<br />turing water softeners in New Hope about 12 years
<br />ago. 1i11979, the decision was made to relocate and
<br />build an 18,000 square foot facility near the Gateway
<br />North Industrial Airport. Charles Soderholm, Sr., the
<br />founder and president of both Water Control and
<br />Soderholm and Associates, is a pilot and operates
<br />a private aircraft extensively for business travel.
<br />Water Control/Soderholm and Associates is a
<br />family business operated by Chuck Soderholm, his
<br />wife Shirley and their four sons, Chuck Jr., Bob, Mike
<br />and Chris. The company also employs several other
<br />people for a total of fifteen employees.
<br />the products manufactured are sold through the
<br />plumbing and hardware wholesalers and are
<br />available at several outlets such as Budget Power
<br />and through any plumber. The Soderholms atten
<br />several trade shows, including the Minneapolis
<br />Home and Garden Show, to introduce and promote
<br />their products. In 1985 the Soderholm's remodeled
<br />the second floor of their facility into a mez-
<br />, zanins/showroom where products can be seen.
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<br />c51MERIBAm-
<br />WhirlpoollUbsAnd Spas
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<br />One of Water Control's displays in the new showroom
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<br />WALTEK, INC.
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<br />Waltek, Inc., producer of parts for commercial,
<br />aerospace, military, medical and computer in-
<br />dustries, has grown in the past 17 years from a
<br />business operated out of a garage to a thriving in-
<br />vestment casting business currently located at
<br />14310 Sunfish Lake Blvd. The business employs 50
<br />people working on three shifts a day.
<br />Since establishing the business in an 8,960 square
<br />foot building in 1980, Walter Waltek has added a
<br />3,200 square foot storage facility; 4,000 square feet
<br />of production space; and recently completed another
<br />40' x 40' addition. Plans are underway to expand
<br />their office space.
<br />Gene Walters, Jr., states that the company likes
<br />being based in Ramsey because of the available
<br />work force, the suburban atmosphere and the prox-
<br />imity of Gateway North Airport, which has been a
<br />real asset in the company's dealings with suppliers
<br />and clients.
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<br />MATE PUNCH AND DIE
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<br />Since 1971, Mate Punch and Die Company has
<br />operated in the City of Ramsey. What started as a
<br />. tool and die shop in 1962 has grown into a recogniz-
<br />ed leader in tooling for N/C punch machine with over
<br />200 employees servicing more than 4,000 customers
<br />worldwide. Mate's headquarters remain in Ramsey
<br />despite the acquisition of a florida-based company.
<br />Today, Mate occupies 60,000 square feet -- over four
<br />times it's original space. Nils Sundquist, president
<br />and founder of Mate Punch and Die Company at-
<br />tributes his decision to remain in Ramsey to the
<br />dedicated and skilled work force and the abundance
<br />of reliable suppliers in the area.
<br />In August of 1987, Mate Punch and Die hosted an
<br />open house to celebrate 25 years in business. This
<br />Ramsey company was also the 1987 winner of the
<br />chamber of commerce's "Put Your Best Face For-
<br />ward" contest.
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<br />NORTHERN OXYGEN
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<br />Northern Oxygen recently received site plan ap-
<br />proval to construct a 16' x 32' tank filling building.
<br />The company relocated to Ramsey in 1976 in a
<br />5,000 square foot structure and in 1986 doubled it's
<br />size. Employment has also doubled in the same time
<br />period.
<br />Northern Oxygen services the industrial and
<br />medical markets in a 120 mile radius of Ramsey. In
<br />addition to a complete line of gases, Northern Ox-
<br />ygen markets industrial welding and cutting equip-
<br />ment plus filler medals and primary and secondary
<br />dispensing equipment such as pipelines and
<br />regulators used in hospitals.
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<br />YOUR
<br />BUSINESS
<br />HERE
<br />
<br />Interested in becoming a Ramsey
<br />success story. Contact Ramsey Com-
<br />munity Development Director Anne
<br />Norris at 427-1410 or Economic
<br />Development Company President
<br />Jack Ippel at 753-4165.
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