Rubbermaid

Updated on Sep 22, 2024

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Type Subsidiary Key people James R. Caldwell Parent organization Newell Brands		Industry Manufacturing Website www.rubbermaid.com

Products Consumer Household Goods Headquarters Atlanta, Georgia, United States Founded 1920, Wooster, Ohio, United States Profiles Twitter Google+

Automation system recycle can for rubbermaid

Rubbermaid is an American manufacturer and distributor of many household items. It is a subsidiary of Newell Brands. It is best known for producing food storage containers and trash cans. Additionally, it produces sheds, step stools, closets and shelving, laundry baskets and other household items.

Robotic automation improves efficiency for newell rubbermaid facility

History

Founded in 1920 in Wooster, Ohio as the Wooster Rubber Company by nine businessmen. Originally Wooster Rubber Company manufactured toy balloons.

In 1933, James R. Caldwell and his wife received a patent for their blue rubber dustpan. They called their line of rubber kitchen products Rubbermaid.

In 1934 Ebert saw Rubbermaid products at a New England department store, and believed such products could help his struggling Wooster Rubber. He engineered a merger of the two enterprises in July 1934. Still named the Wooster Company, the new group began to produce rubber household products under the Rubbermaid brand name.

In 1999, Rubbermaid was purchased by Newell for $6 billion. Then Newell changed its name to Newell Rubbermaid Inc.

In 2003, the company announced its move out of Wooster to Atlanta, Georgia; 850 manufacturing and warehouse jobs would be eliminated, and 409 office jobs would move to other locations. A Rubbermaid distribution center remained at the former headquarters for some time, until it was recently purchased by GOJO Industries, Inc.

On Nov. 16th 2004, Rubbermaid was used as a prime example in the PBS Frontline documentary Is Walmart good for America.

Timeline

1920 Wooster Rubber is launched.

1927 Horatio Ebert and Errett Grable took over managing the company from the original 9 founders.

1933 Rubbermaid is launched.

1933 First Rubbermaid dustpan is introduced.

1934 Wooster Rubber and Rubbermaid merge to form Wooster Rubber Company and sell Rubbermaid products.

1942 WW2 eliminated Rubbermaid's housewares business, but the company was able to convert to military manufacturing.

1947 Rubbermaid introduces a line of rubber automotive accessories.

1955 Wooster Rubber Co. offer first public offering.

1956 Rubbermaid ventures into plastic products.

1957 Wooster Rubber Company changes name to Rubbermaid.

1965 Purchases German company Dupol.

1976 1,100 members of the United Rubber Workers union call a strike.

1981 Purchases Con-Tact plastic coverings.

1999 Newell acquires Rubbermaid for $6 billion and changes corporate name to Newell Rubbermaid.

2003 Rubbermaid headquarters move from Wooster, Ohio to Atlanta, GA.

Former Rubbermaid CEOs

1933–1959 James Caldwell

1959–1980 Don Noble

1980–1991 Stanley C. Gault

1991–1992 Walter W. Williams

1993–1999 Wolfgang Schmitt

Companies acquired by Rubbermaid

Prior to Rubbermaid being acquired by Newell Rubbermaid.

1965 Dupol - German

1981 Carlan

1984 Little Tikes - Later Sold in 2006 by Newell Rubbermaid.

1985 Gott Corporation

1986 MicroComputer Accessories

1986 Seco Industries

1987 Viking Brush - Canadian

1990 Eldon Industries

1992 Iron Mountain Forge Corporation

1994 Carex Health Care Products

1995 Injectaplastic S.A - French

1996 Graco (baby products)

1997 Curver - Europe - Later Sold in 2005 by Newell Rubbermaid.

References

Rubbermaid Wikipedia

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