In the quiet outskirts of the Orthopedic Capital of the World, a powerhouse was stirring. Red Star Contract Mfg., a name now synonymous with pioneering medical device manufacturing, was all but a whisper in the vast industrial landscape for nearly two decades. How did such a titan manage to fly so stealthily under the radar?
The tale begins with Paul Hendrickson and Scott Werstler, the visionary duo behind Red Star. In the wake of 2008's economic tremors, which threatened their primary venture in machine building, they pivoted with remarkable agility. Instead of liquidating their assets, they leveraged them, venturing into the realm of injection molded and over-molded medical devices. Their first partners in innovation were none other than Promex and Biomet, setting the stage for a saga of growth and expansion.
Red Star's journey from a fledgling operation in Laotto, Indiana, to its current stronghold in Larwill is a testament to resilience and foresight. By 2013, Red Star was not only enhancing its machinery but also expanding its horizons with a dedicated Tool Room, a skilled Tool Maker, and a state-of-the-art Class 7 Cleanroom. The addition of over-molding capabilities marked ye...
