PPB April 2017

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By the late 19th century, Ohio
had become a bedrock of
rubber production in the U.S.,
with Akron aptly nicknamed the
“Rubber Capital of the World.”
B.F. Goodrich Company, the
Goodyear Tire and Rubber
Company and Firestone Tire
and Rubber company were just
some of many large-scale rubber
producers with area factories.
In 1917, Pioneer Rubber
Company opened its doors in
Willard, Ohio, about 70 miles
west of Akron, and began
manufacturing various rubber
products including latex gloves
and balloons. The company grew
by investing in engineering teams
to advance its technologies and
procedures to maximize quality
and production efficiency.
In 1970, Sherwood Medical
Products, interested in Pioneer’s
production of surgical and
medical exam gloves, purchased
Pioneer Rubber. But the balloon
portion of the business was not in
the new company’s wheelhouse
and in 1979, Betty and Ted
Vlamis acquired that part of the
company and its 85 employees.
The couple still owns Pioneer
Balloon Company (PPAI 113823)
and this year they are celebrating
its centennial anniversary.
Today the company
has over 1,000 associates
worldwide. Headquartered in
Wichita, Kansas, Pioneer Balloon
produces and markets balloons
in many configurations for both
domestic and international
Pioneer Balloon
Company
celebrates a
cool century
in business.
by Julie Richie
The company’s original factory in Willard, Ohio.
64 | APRIL 2017 |
THINK
P i onee r Ba l l oon
Flying High