Company History

Master Packing & Rubber Company was started in 1982 by Robb Ridgway and has been in the fluid, air and powder sealing business since its inception. It was started as a rep business with no manufacturing capability. In the first year, customers were asking for faster shipping times. Robb started producing parts at a friends business on the south side of Chicago and then in Portage, Indiana. Finally, in October, 1988, Robb moved the business to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

In January, 1989 Rick Ridgway joined the company. Rick came in to run the day-to-day operations and manage the company from the inside allowing Robb to work on product development, outside activities, meeting with customers, and sales. In 1990 we started work on a gasket for a new customer that changed our business dramatically. Ultimately acquiring a patent for our work, we entered the rail and marine engine seal business. For most of the 90's we spent endless hours and a large investment of funds in developing our parts. Our goal has been to develop new products that will run from overhaul to overhaul and to bring at least one new part per quarter. We are ahead of schedule.

In May of 2004 we acquired land in Southwest Cedar Rapids and designed and built a new production facility. This space has allowed us to increase inventories and add new production machinery. In 2007 we acquired state-of-the-art equipment that has allowed us to cut gaskets without steel-rule dies.

Today, we can produce almost any kind of gasket for our immediate market and have built a reputation for quality of product, speed of service and competitive pricing. Master Packing & Rubber Company fabricates all of its soft gaskets and some metal. We can make any gasket out of any material, configuration, and thickness and deliver within 24 hours. We also stock most of the material required to supply any standard ASA flange gasket (industry specification) on quick notice. We usually tell customers that if they order by noon, central standard time, we will ship that day.

We also stock mechanical pump and valve packing and can supply it in bulk, or we can fabricate die-formed rings for easy installation by the customer. In addition to these items, we stock standard and non-standard sheet packing materials, mechanical seals, hydraulic packings and seals, and o-rings.