Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • ITEC
    • International Elastomer Show
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Trinseo taps K.D. Feddersen to supply soft-touch elastomers
      Goodyear promotes Chris Helsel, expanding his global technology, operational role
      Cooper expands recall of Cooper, Mastercraft grand-touring tires
      Conti to market contract custom mixing business
    • Conti recalling 94,000 LT/SUV tires
      Goodyear promotes Chris Helsel, expanding his global technology, operational role
      Cooper expands recall of Cooper, Mastercraft grand-touring tires
      Birla Carbon again recognized for sustainability efforts
    • ASC seeks presenters for fall convention
      Birla Carbon again recognized for sustainability efforts
      Carlisle TyrFil out with new recycling technology
      Cooper Standard ranked among 'World's Most Ethical Companies'
    • Trinseo taps K.D. Feddersen to supply soft-touch elastomers
      New products: MonTech offering customized bale cutters
      Synthomer dismisses takeover reports
      Zochem names Univar Solutions as ‘Distributor of Year'
    • Stockwell Elastomerics' legacy moves on
      Larger mixers tout economies of scale, along with the need for speed
      Hexpol, Bloom deal with COVID, reorganization, fire since start of 2020
      Small, mid-size compounders keep value, agility, service 'in the mix'
    • Ohio firm focuses on making better masks in U.S.
      U.S. to increase NBR, make gloves using Defense Production Act
      Tire Cologne canceled; rescheduled for 2022
      Tire Technology Expo canceled for 2021
    • Goodyear promotes Chris Helsel, expanding his global technology, operational role
      Stockwell Elastomerics' legacy moves on
      Dana Inc. hires Byron Foster in executive role
      Dana hires new senior vice president of global operations
    • Conti recalling 94,000 LT/SUV tires
      Cooper expands recall of Cooper, Mastercraft grand-touring tires
      ASC seeks presenters for fall convention
      VMI, Safe-Run differ over latest ruling in patent case
    • Column: Discussions of race, equality may mean uncomfortable moments
      Column: Business trips possible because of essential workers
      Editorial: Associations see opportunity for progress under new administration
      Editorial: Against a backdrop of turmoil, M&A deals give glimpse of normalcy
    • Studying RPA ASTM methods for detecting compound quality differences
      Damage mechanism in oil and gas formulations during downhole testing
      Advancements in synchronous drive belt design for industrial and consumer markets
      Effects of multiple repurposed materials for reinforcements of standard rubber compounds
    • Rubber Division introduces WORD webinar series
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
    • 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
    • Rubber Division introduces WORD webinar series
      Rubber Division seeks abstracts for 200th Technical Meeting
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
    • 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: Starrett expands field-of-view for multi-sensor vision system
      New Products: Nova thinks outside the box with sealing tech
      New Products: MonTech introduces 1,500 kN lab press
      New products: 3M introduces new durable, pliable medical adhesive
    • 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
    • Trinseo taps K.D. Feddersen to supply soft-touch elastomers
      Goodyear promotes Chris Helsel, expanding his global technology, operational role
      Cooper expands recall of Cooper, Mastercraft grand-touring tires
      Conti to market contract custom mixing business
    • Stockwell Elastomerics' legacy moves on
      Larger mixers tout economies of scale, along with the need for speed
      Hexpol, Bloom deal with COVID, reorganization, fire since start of 2020
      Small, mid-size compounders keep value, agility, service 'in the mix'
    • Sri Trang Gloves starts major capacity expansion
      Synthomer dismisses takeover reports
      Combined Goodyear-Cooper Tire company has tire tech, sustainability edge
      Helixtap launches new digital marketplace for rubber
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Sponsored By HB Chemical
      Above and Beyond with HB Chemical
      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 HB Chemical
      Above and Beyond with HB Chemical
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Labs of the Future: How to Choose a Laboratory Information Management System in 2021
      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
  • 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
      2021 International Latex Conference Virtual Edition
      2022 ITEC
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Coronavirus
May 27, 2020 10:00 AM

Home Rubber stays operational through pandemic

Bruce Meyer
Rubber & Plastics News Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Rich Balka

    TRENTON, N.J.—From a business standpoint, Home Rubber Co. has been fortunate through the coronavirus pandemic thus far.

    None of the employees at the Trenton-based producer of specialty hose products have tested positive for the virus, although about five of the 40-plus staff members have lost family members, according to Rich Balka, president and owner of Home Rubber and sister company custom mixer Ivanhoe Rubber.

    "They were not necessarily living with them, but were elderly or in some diminished medical state," he said.

    The wife of one employee did test positive, and that sent ripples through the factory. The employee, though, tested negative and his wife's condition has improved since, Balka said.

    While New Jersey was one of the early hot spots for COVID-19, most of the cases were north of Trenton, basically in the suburbs of New York, he said, though it has been working its way down the state.

    Home Rubber and Ivanhoe have stayed operational as an essential manufacturer, and spent a good deal of time working down a business backlog as incoming orders started to fall.

    "We were behind before all this started because of a series of unrelated factory personnel issues," he said. "For us, we had the backlog going into this to sustain us for awhile. When we look at our incoming orders, that's where my greatest concern is."

    The company's orders are stronger than Balka thought they might be, "but certainly not commensurate with where they have been in the past year and leading up to COVID. While we have the work right now, the question is how much work will there be six to eight weeks from now."

    Looking at individual markets, he said the steel industry has been slow, but that is tied to the dropping fortunes of the oil and gas industry. There is a segment of OEM business in the converting industry that has remained strong, but Balka said much of that is customers making toilet paper and paper towels.

    "One of our customers in that segment said repairs right now are through the roof," he said. "Our sense is there is going to be a strong repair and replacement market, but the capital projects are probably going to be pushed out 12-18 months, because everybody needs to see how this all sorts out. And when it does sort out, are they going to have the money? Are they going to have the borrowing capacity? And, are they going to have the appetite for borrowing for new projects until the dust settles?"

    Soon after COVID-19 fears began to spread, Home Rubber started taking precautions. It started having daily meetings for executives to work out what was going on and what they needed to do. Early steps included having anyone work from home who could.

    "Factory-wise we started different cleaning regimes," Balka said. "Basically, we were following OSHA and CDC guidelines as well as we could, washing down high-touch areas three times a day. We had regular meetings in the factory to explain safety protocols."

    In addition, masks were required of workers who had to be near another employee in the shop. For the most part, the workers are able to stay away from one another, but one challenge is not knowing who they are in contact with after leaving work.

    When masks were scarce in the area and prices began to soar, Balka reached out to a customer in China, who sent them hospital masks. "My contact went out and bought them and sent them to me on their dime," he said. "I thought that was truly a nice gesture. It's further proof that being in a global economy has its upsides."

    Home Rubber was notified, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, when the spouse of the employee tested positive. The worker was sent home and not allowed to come back until his COVID-19 test came back negative.

    After this, one employee who had lost two relatives in New York to the virus immediately left and said he would come back if the employee tested negative. He also self-quarantined for two weeks. "I think that's just a misunderstanding of how the whole thing should work," Balka said. "At the same time, I understand his fear, having lost an uncle and nephew to this."

    Home Rubber did apply for and receive a Paycheck Protection Program loan that will give it a bit of flexibility going forward. "Right now, we have the work, but I anticipate we won't have that level of work in the upcoming weeks," he said. "So, it's certainly going to keep us from not having to make cuts moving forward.

    "At least we can plan for the next four months because I know what my backlog is now. I know if it plummets I've got two months of payroll following that. That's as far as I can look, quite frankly."

    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
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • ITEC
      • International Elastomer Show
      • 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