Dale Lauren Foland founded Lauren International Inc. in 1965 with an initial investment of $7,000. Today, the company operates two divisions, with the larger-Lauren Manufacturing-employing 350 people and occupying a 160,000-square-foot-facility in New Philadelphia. The other division, Edgetech IG, is headquartered in Cambridge, Ohio, along with a joint-venture facility known as Lauren/Meteor LLC.
Lauren International leads the industry as an extruder of continuous rubber seals and gaskets used in insulated doors and windows, insulated glass and weatherstripping products. Foland considers research and development a key priority and has completed projects for the U.S. and Canadian governments, including energy conservation research.
Foland also emphasizes staff development by offering continuing education assistance to employees. The company will offer an on-site MBA program in conjunction with Ashland University this fall.
“It’s important to attract and keep good people,” Foland says. “We’re sort of out of the way and sometimes our location makes it difficult to recruit. The on-site MBA program is good for the company and our people.
