Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • ITEC
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • International Elastomer Show
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Goodyear recognized by Lockheed Martin as 'elite supplier'
      EV tire advancements to help secure future
      Lambillotte: Only question on AVs is timing
      CAR official says EV future brighter than autonomous
    • Goodyear-branded transmission belts set to return
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
    • Greenergy, Haldor Topsoe tech turns tires to fuel
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      GRI expanding ag tire capacity at 3-year-old Sri Lanka plant
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
    • NewAge Industries celebrates 15 years of employee ownership
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      JobsOhio funding gives Sperry & Rice room to grow
    • Safic-Alcan and Arkema working together on distribution deal
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      Biesterfeld to supply Denka acrylate rubbers
      Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
    • Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
      Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
    • WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      ASTM cancels April meetings as COVID-19 continues impact
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Detroit Auto Show canceled; alternative event being planned for September
    • ARP Materials adds technical sales manager
      Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Adriano Alfani named Versalis CEO
      Maroon Group adds to Southeast sales team
    • India decides against extending carbon black duties
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
    • Column: Pandemic looms over everything in life, business in 2020
      Column: Lessons from the 2020 Best Places to Work
      Editorial: Silicone hit hard by pandemic, expected to bounce back
      Column: Still far way from normal
    • Effects of multiple repurposed materials for reinforcements of standard rubber compounds
      Impact of peroxide blends on the cure rate and aged properties in HNBR
      Techniques to detect long chain branching in polymers
      A comparative study looking at effects of curing kinetics and batch variation on SBR injection molding and numerical analytics
    • Rubber Division seeks abstracts for 200th Technical Meeting
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
      IEC speaker: Specialized elastomers may reduce spread of life-threatening pathogens
    • WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
      Rubber Division planning second Women of Rubber event
    • Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Faster Access to Your Polymer Compounding Experts Around the World
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Take a walk thru a HEXPOL Lab
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      HEXPOL offers a unique selection of High Performance Elastomers to match your application requirements
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      It’s what you can’t see that makes the Difference at HEXPOL
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • New Products: MonTech introduces 1,500 kN lab press
      New products: 3M introduces new durable, pliable medical adhesive
      New Products: Lanxess launches energy-efficient PU elastomer
      New Products: MonTech automates bale cutter for safety, productivity
    • Wacky World of Rubber: How Trelleborg, teens sealed a spot in the world record book
      Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet
      Wacky World of Rubber: Time to go mattress shopping
      Wacky World of Rubber: Because nothing says football like 'frunk' shrimp
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Goodyear-branded transmission belts set to return
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
    • Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
      Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
    • Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Synthomer optimistic, raises earnings forecast
      Top Glove reopens COVID-hit factories with enhanced precautions
      Malaysia electronics group to enter rubber gloves sector
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The Company Behind the Inventory
      Sponsored By French Oil Mill Machinery
      Process Improvement, Cost Reduction with Custom Press Systems
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Cooper Standard deploys lab informatics platform to synchronize R&D
      Sponsored By Elkem
      LSR Select™: A solution to improve your financial impact in molding applications
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Peroxide Cureable Silicone Injection Molding
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Understanding and Selecting Performance Additives for Rubber Compounding
  • Data
  • Events
    • RPN Events
    • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • ITEC Library
    • International Silicone Conference Library
    • 2021 Healthcare Elastomers Virtual Edition
      2021 Rubber in Automotive Virtual Edition
      2020 International Silicone Conference Virtual Edition
      2020 ITEC Virtual Edition
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
March 06, 2018 01:00 AM

New company excites former GE manager

Mike Scott
Rubber & Plastics News Correspondent
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Lake Erie Rubber's facility in Erie, Pa.

    ERIE, Pa.—It was two years ago that Jon Meighan, then an executive and plant manager with General Electric, began having serious thoughts about owning and managing his own business.

    Little did he know that by August 2017 he would own one that operates in an industry he had no direct experience with.

    Regardless, Meighan is now the owner and president of Lake Erie Rubber & Manufacturing, an Erie-based custom rubber molding and manufacturing company that is more than 20 years old. It's an aspirational move for the Erie-area resident, who combined two former companies—Skully Enterprises and Lake Erie Rubber Works—into one. His enterprise places an emphasis on using lean principles to drive continued improvement in safety, quality, delivery and cost for its customers.

    That strategic move does make the transition an ideal fit, Meighan says, even though he had no previous experience in the rubber manufacturing industry.

    "At General Electric I had worked in the supply chain area with a focus on welding. To be honest with you, though, the rubber business was a new one for me," Meighan said. "But I was looking for a business to acquire in (the Erie area) because the cost of doing business is low and there is a long (history) of successful manufacturing and (employee) know-how here."

    Jon Meighan

    Meighan, a former GE Transportation plant manager, officially took over the business on Aug. 1, 2017, less than a week after the birth of his second child. The decision came as a surprise to friends and colleagues. After all, Meighan invested his life savings at a time when many manufacturing firms in Pennsylvania have struggled.

    So he researched a number of family-owned businesses in the Erie area that were either for sale or did not have a specific succession plan. A handful were considered as options. The more he looked the more he considered the Skully/Lake Erie Rubber Works combination largely because of the inherent knowledge that the company's 10 employees brought and the strong brand they had built in the industry.

    Lake Erie Rubber Works traditionally had been focused in the rail and mining industries, and already had been selling to GE's Transportation business. The company also currently serves the oil and gas and construction industries. With 24,000 square feet of manufacturing space, Meighan realized that the potential and capabilities for further growth were extensive. His own experience in business development, sourcing, international sales and other disciplines gave him a number of ideas for how that growth could be achieved.

    "I do believe that the marina, agricultural and safety industries look like great opportunities for us," Meighan said. "The business was completely run by professionals who have a level of expertise that I will never have, but combined with my background it was the right fit. I also wanted to own the building myself and the one here is in great condition, so there's no (immediate) investments needed in the facility."

    Acquisition discussions began in February 2017 and the final deal was in place by the late summer. Meighan believes that Lake Erie Rubber & Manufacturing can double both its revenue and employees within the first five years—and again five years later. He is confident of success in part because of the trend of more companies understanding the intrinsic costs of setting up operations overseas, particularly in China where costs have risen in recent years.

    Custom rubber components produced by Lake Erie Rubber.

    In addition to growing the business and increasing profitability, Meighan decided to share the success with his employees. As a result, he's instituted profit-sharing so his manufacturing and back office team members will benefit if Meighan's strategic plan succeeds.

    All employees from the former companies remained with Meighan after the acquisition.

    The ability to meet revenue goals will hinge on Lake Erie Rubber's capability to diversify its offerings for other industries. Meighan has developed a plan to help the company get there, and he will handle the business development efforts to start, with the hope that as the company grows he will hire an executive to run sales.

    "It will be helpful for me to really take on the business development end because it will allow me to do a more effective job at managing the new processes we need to implement," he said. "As we grow, we can hire more experts who can (specialize) in certain skills."

    Meighan believes that with efficient practices, strong customer service and the low overhead in the Erie region, his company can compete with other manufacturers around the globe.

    "Owning a business is something I have always wanted to do since I was younger," said Meighan, who grew up in Texas and Wisconsin and attended college at Clarkson University in upstate New York. "Maybe a few people thought I was crazy. But I have a plan and more control of my own career and my future."

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • ITEC
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • International Elastomer Show
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Data
    • Events
      • RPN Events
      • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • ITEC Library
      • International Silicone Conference Library
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION