Rubbermaid
Encyclopedia
Rubbermaid is an American
manufacturer and distributor of many household items. It is a subsidiary of Newell Rubbermaid
. It is most well known for producing food storage container
s and trash cans. Additionally, it produces sheds, pictures, step stools, closet and shelving, laundry baskets, and other household items.
as the Wooster Rubber by 9 business men. Originally the Wooster Rubber manufactured toy balloons, sold under the Sunshine brand name.
In 1933, James R. Caldwell and his wife received a patent for their red 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 Rubber 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. 850 manufacturing and warehouse jobs would be eliminated, and 400 office jobs would move to other locations. Today, a distribution center remains at the former headquarters.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
manufacturer and distributor of many household items. It is a subsidiary of Newell Rubbermaid
Newell Rubbermaid
Newell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products including such well-known brands as Rubbermaid food storage, home organization, and refuse container products; Sharpie, PaperMate, Parker and Waterman writing instruments; Calphalon gourmet cookware; Goody beauty and...
. It is most well known for producing food storage container
Food storage container
Food storage containers are widespread in use throughout the world and have probably been in use since the first human civilisations.-Early civilizations:...
s and trash cans. Additionally, it produces sheds, pictures, step stools, closet and shelving, laundry baskets, and other household items.
History
It all started in 1920 in Wooster, OhioWooster, Ohio
Wooster is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Wayne County. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio approximately SSW of Cleveland and SW of Akron. Wooster is noted as the location of The College of Wooster...
as the Wooster Rubber by 9 business men. Originally the Wooster Rubber manufactured toy balloons, sold under the Sunshine brand name.
In 1933, James R. Caldwell and his wife received a patent for their red rubber dustpan
Dustpan
A dustpan is a cleaning utensil , commonly used in combination with a broom. The dustpan may appear to be a type of flat scoop...
. 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 Rubber 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
Newell Rubbermaid
Newell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products including such well-known brands as Rubbermaid food storage, home organization, and refuse container products; Sharpie, PaperMate, Parker and Waterman writing instruments; Calphalon gourmet cookware; Goody beauty and...
Inc.
In 2003, the company announced its move out of Wooster. 850 manufacturing and warehouse jobs would be eliminated, and 400 office jobs would move to other locations. Today, a distribution center remains at the former headquarters.
Timeline
- 1920 Wooster Rubber is launched.
- 1933 Rubbermaid is launched.
- 1933 First Rubbermaid dustpan is introduced.
- 1934 Wooster Rubber and Rubbermaid merge to for 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 Huntersville, NC.
Former Rubbermaid CEOs
- 1933-1959 James Caldwell
- 1959-1980 Don Noble
- 1980-1993 Stanley C. Gault
- 1993-1999 Wolfgang Schmitt
Companies Acquired by Rubbermaid
Prior to Rubbermaid being acquired by Newell RubbermaidNewell Rubbermaid
Newell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products including such well-known brands as Rubbermaid food storage, home organization, and refuse container products; Sharpie, PaperMate, Parker and Waterman writing instruments; Calphalon gourmet cookware; Goody beauty and...
- 1965 Dupol - GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- 1981 Carlan
- 1984 Little TikesLittle TikesLittle Tikes is an American-based manufacturer of children's toys, with headquarters and manufacturing located in Hudson, Ohio. The company also has other manufacturing and distribution facilities in Asia and Europe...
- Later Sold in 2006 by Newell RubbermaidNewell RubbermaidNewell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products including such well-known brands as Rubbermaid food storage, home organization, and refuse container products; Sharpie, PaperMate, Parker and Waterman writing instruments; Calphalon gourmet cookware; Goody beauty and...
. - 1986 MicroComputer Accessories
- 1986 Seco Industries
- 1987 Viking Brush - Canadian
- 1987 Anchor HockingAnchor HockingAnchor Hocking Glass Corporation is a manufacturer of glassware. The Hocking Glass Company was founded in 1905 by Isaac Jacob Collins. That company merged with the AnchorCap and Closure Corporations in 1937. Anchor Hocking is primarily located in Lancaster, Ohio...
- Later Sold in 2001 by Newell RubbermaidNewell RubbermaidNewell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products including such well-known brands as Rubbermaid food storage, home organization, and refuse container products; Sharpie, PaperMate, Parker and Waterman writing instruments; Calphalon gourmet cookware; Goody beauty and...
. - 1990 Eldon Industries
- 1992 Iron Mountain Forge Corporation
- 1994 Carex Health Care Products
- 1995 Injectaplastic S.A - FrenchFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- 1996 Graco (baby products)Graco (baby products)Graco is a brand of baby products company owned by Newell Rubbermaid. It was founded in 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Russell Gray and Robert Cone as Graco Metal Products, a company that fabricated machine and car parts...
- 1997 Curver - EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
- Later Sold in 2005 by Newell RubbermaidNewell RubbermaidNewell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products including such well-known brands as Rubbermaid food storage, home organization, and refuse container products; Sharpie, PaperMate, Parker and Waterman writing instruments; Calphalon gourmet cookware; Goody beauty and...
.