At the February Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce meeting, Steve Unterbrink, Executive Vice President of Operations at SumiRiko of Ohio (SRK-Ohio) provided the program, recounting his 33 years with the company and reviewing the changes he's seen during that time.

Unterbrink noted that he was a carpenter out of high school but was planning to get married. Benefits and a better income lured him to try a job that he confesses he didn't like immediately. He went on to work in every part of the plant, which makes anti-vibration rubber parts for the automotive industry. Later he was encouraged to go to college while working and graduated from Bluffton University. He is also a part owner of the Red Pig Inn in Ottawa.

During his career at SRK-Ohio, Unterbrink has seen several changes. One is the company name change from DTR (Duramax Takia Rubber), which reflects an ownership change and alignment with parent company Sumitomo Electric.

He also discussed how the company has grown. In 1988 the company opened a storefront operation on Bluffton's Main Street while building the factory. Currently the Bluffton facility employs 530 and could use another 70. Internationally, the company has grown to include 25 sites.

SRK-Ohio has been impacted by economic trends, car design changes, and the 2011 tsunami. Most recently manufacturing was slowed by protests temporarily closing the U.S.-Canada Ambassador Bridge crossing in Detroit.

The chamber meeting's emcee, Tony Pinks, is the safety coordinator for SRK-Ohio. For more information about the company, visit http://www.us.sumiriko.com.