History

Over a half-century of pioneering and improvements in the plastic injection molding industry

For more than a half-century

Steinwall has been improving and pioneering ways to reach manufacturing perfection in the plastic injection molding industry. This timeline shows highlights of our history from our founding in 1965 to the state of the company today.

    2019

    • Steinwall purchased a new 145,500 square foot building, bringing the total facility capacity to 246,100 square feet.
    • Tom Smolenski named as company president.

    2015
    • Celebrated 50 years in business!
    • In March 2015, Maureen Steinwall was inducted into the Plastics Industry Hall of Fame, and in April 2015, she was inducted into Minnesota Women-Business Owner’s Hall of Fame.

    2014
    • Started using vision systems to help with quality assurance on the production floor.
    2012
    • Won Processor of the Year in 2012 – an international excellence award for plastic processors.
    • Started automated two-shot molding.
    • Purchased the Brooklyn Park facility in December 2012 bringing total square feet available in both locations to 177,000.

    2011
    • Acquired assets from Bosch Security Systems in Glencoe, MN, bringing the total number of presses to 50. Steinwall also entered the vertical molding marketplace with this acquisition.
    • Won the Leadership Mastery Award from the Manufacturing Leadership Summit. This was an international honor.

    2010
    • Added 14,000 square feet of high ceiling warehouse space to the main building.

    2009
    • Entered large tonnage molding by adding 950, 1100, and 1750 ton presses.
    • Won the International Product Design Competition in 2009 for the John Deere Seed Tube, which is still produced today.
    • Recognized as John Deere Supplier of the Year.
    • Implemented the IQMS ERP software, changing the way Steinwall operated companywide.
    2004
    • Opened a new 18,000 square foot warehouse attached to the Jay Street portion of the Coon Rapids facility.
    2001
    • Won a national training award for multimedia training.
    2000

    Purchased the Jay Street building, which was connected to the original Coon Rapids building, adding 16,000 square feet to the facility.

    1997
    • Won the SPI Technology Award for the design and assembly of a paintball gun.
    1996
    • Won the Employee Empowerment Award from the Society of the Plastics Industry for its orientation program.
    1994
    • Moved to a 52,000 square foot building in Coon Rapids, MN.
    1985

    Maureen was named President in 1985 and purchased 100% of the stock by November 1987.

    1983
    • In October 1983, Carl decided it was time to retire so he called his tax accountant daughter, Maureen, to ask how to best go about the selling process. Quickly Maureen answered, “You sell it to your daughter!” Carl hired Maureen to work on a new computer system and new quality programs.
    1977

    During a summer rainstorm in 1977, the roof collapsed at the St. Paul building that housed the mold making equipment. A new building was quickly found in Fridley, Minnesota. The building was large enough to bring the mold making and molding operations under one roof.

    1972
    • In 1972, Carl was asked to sample and perfect the molds he was making before shipping them to the customer. In order to provide this service, he needed to purchase injection molding machines. Steinwall leased space in Eden Prairie, Minnesota for the molding operations. Steinwall started with three 150-ton injection molding presses.
    1965
    • Steinwall, Inc. was founded on January 27, 1965 by Carl Steinwall as a small mold making shop at its original location in St. Paul, MN.