Business & Industry Continued from Page 20
Several companies that had their birth here in Steele County — Viracon, Jostens, J-C Press, Truth Hardware, Wenger Corporation, Owatonna Tool Company (now SPX), Gopher Sport, Owatonna Canning Company (now a part of Lakeside Foods) and Uber Glove Company among them — have gone on to establish national and international clientele. Other companies that were started elsewhere soon moved to Owatonna and now call Owatonna home. Take, for example, Federated Insurance Companies. Federated, originally named the Minnesota Mutual Fire Insurance Company, started modestly in New Ulm in 1904 and grew stronger after moving to Owatonna in 1910, eventually becoming an industry giant. Today, it is a Fortune 1000 company. Largest of the manufacturing firms in Owatonna is Viracon, which employs about 1,100 people. Among the other large manufacturing firms in Owatonna are Truth Hardware, SPX, Wenger, Owatonna Construction
Company, Cybex, Lakeside Foods, McQuay International, Pearson, Crown Cork and Seal Company, MMP, Al-Corn Clean Fuel, Gandy Company, Caterpillar Forest Products, Chicago Tube and Iron, Uber Glove Company, Metal Services of Owatonna, Brase Metal Worx Inc. Among non-manufacturing firms, the largest is Federated Insurance, which employs more than 1,400 people. Other major non-manufacturing firms in the city include Jostens, Cabela’s, Wal-Mart, Mayo Clinic Health System in Owatonna, Owatonna Hospital, Holiday Inn and Suites, Cash Wise, Hy-Vee Food Store, Target, Mills Fleet Farm, Hursh Motors, NAPA Distribution Center, Gopher Sport, Owatonna Ford Chrysler, Cedar Valley Services, Olympic Fire Protection, Wells Fargo Bank, J-C Press, Kohl’s and Lowe’s Home Improvement. The success of these businesses in the community is due in large part to the conscientiousness of the local work force, which results in the production of quality products.
Continued on Page 22
Federated Insurance Companies
Owatonna Guide
Page 21