Brainerd, Minnesota-based Stern Assembly Inc. has acquired the assets of a former American Custom Rotomolding facility

        Brainerd, Minnesota-based Stern Assembly Inc. has acquired the assets of a former American Custom Rotomolding facility in Maple Plain, Minnesota, nearly doubling its rotational molding capacity.
       ACR Asset Management Corp. Inc. sold the machines, automation and auxiliary equipment of the business to a wholly owned subsidiary of Stern Cos. Inc., which ceased operations in December 2020.
            Stern Assembly now employs about 100 people, including the Maple Plain plant, which resumed operations on Jan. 18, three days after the acquisition, and became the company’s third production facility, Hunstad said.
       Founded in 2006, Stern Assembly began assembling snowmobile and ATV fuel tanks, adding rotational molding in 2007, Hunstad said.The company now manufactures fuel tanks, seat supports, shock boots, tractor fenders and air ducts for the recreational vehicle, sports equipment, medical and agricultural markets.
        Acrylon acquired American Custom Rotomolding from Rotonics Manufacturing Inc. in 2012.Before that, it was named Barry Plastics, Minnetonka Molding, Pako, Pawnee LP and The Plastics Group.
       In the asset transaction, Stern acquired five machines (Ferry 190, 220, 330, 370 and 430), three five-axis routers and forklifts, pallet racks, tables, office equipment and furniture, Hunstad said.He added that Stern’s production fleet has grown from six machines at two factories to 11 machines at three sites.
       In addition to Stern Assemblies, Stern Industries Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Stern Cos.These businesses manufacture and represent plastic and rubber components for original equipment manufacturers.
       The Stern business provides rotational molding, thermoforming and assembly services and brokerage services for all other rubber and plastic manufacturing, including injection molding, blow molding, die cutting, extrusion, and more.
       According to Plastics News, Stern has an estimated $10 million in rotomolding sales and ranks 48th among North American rotomolding manufacturers.
       On the brokerage side, Stern offers rubber-coated wedges for sealing water in fire hydrants, Hunstad said.
       Stern Cos. was once part of Stern Rubber Co. in Staples, Minnesota.In 2009, Hunstad took over the main plastics business of the business, while a former partner kept the mainly rubber business, which is now owned by a Chinese company.