Feel free to learn about our history in delivering excellence for over 110 years!
1910
English emigrates, brothers Douglas and William Radford founded the company in downtown Los Angeles, domiciled in a facility adjacent to the Los Angeles City Jailhouse. During its infancy, oil exploration in Southern California was booming and WARCO directed its efforts on the manufacture of molded rubber parts to serve the burgeoning oil industry.
1918
West American hits Hollywood: our original factory is featured in the background of Harold Lloyd’s silent movie classic Take a Chance.
1926
WARCO experienced a setback with a devastating fire, which for many companies would have proved catastrophic; but not for WARCO. Thanks to the help of other rubber manufacturers on the West Coast, WARCO’S orders continued to be filled. Today WARCO gratefully acknowledges and warmly remembers those good companies and people who supported it during such a difficult time.
1940’s
At this point, the company’s ownership consisted of ten shareholders. Over time, however, two of the gentlemen, Mr. Sam Eisenberg and Mr. Paul Sampsell would buy out the interests of the other eight. Messrs. Eisenberg and Sampsell operated WARCO from 1952 to 1977. The industry will remember them as hard-working, honest, and dedicated men who each contributed greatly to the growth of the rubber industry in Southern California
1962
The company outgrew its facilities in downtown Los Angeles; choosing to relocate to its current location on eleven acres on Main Street in Orange, California
1960’s
WARCO acquired several existing rubber companies including, Extruded Rubber Products, Semco Rubber Company, and Stoner Rubber Company. A new chapter unfolded as WARCO began the Extruded Rubber Division. It was during this time that the first Hemstreet came to WARCO: Alda Katherine Hemstreet, mother of Steve and Ken Hemstreet
1971
It was this year that Steve Hemstreet began his career with WARCO. From 1971 to 1977, Steve held eighteen different job functions throughout the factory and the laboratory. As in previous years, the company continued to invest in new equipment; resulting in WARCO becoming a leader in rubber injection molding and pioneering advancements in molding technologies such as rubber-to-metal bonding, a discipline it continues excelling today.
1977
Harrison Industries, a privately held manufacturing conglomerate, led by Benjamin F. Harrison in Birmingham, Alabama acquired WARCO. Steve Hemstreet became an officer of the company, Ken Hemstreet joined the WARCO family, and Conrad Blackerby of Harrison Industries relocated from Alabama to become WARCO’s President. At that time the company continued to grow at a tremendous rate; as a result, a Louisville Distribution & Customer Service Center was established to enhance the growing sheet rubber products business and provide support to its expanding customer base east of the Mississippi River.
1981
Technical Equities Corporation, a diversified publicly traded holding company acquired WARCO from Harrison Industries in an all-cash transaction. WARCO continued its impressive sales growth and capital expansion, including the purchase of state-of-the-art production equipment for continuous vulcanization of extruded rubber products.
1986
Conrad Blackerby and Steve Hemstreet acquired the company. Between the years of 1986 and 1998, WARCO experienced tremendous growth. The company operated dedicated manufacturing divisions which included: Molded, Extruded, Sheet, Performance Processing Company (custom mixed silicones) and WPP, a large volume intermediary of a variety of rubber materials.
1998
Yet another chapter unfolded for WARCO. Industrial Growth Partners (IGP), a San Francisco based private investment firm, partnering with WARCO’s management, acquired the assets of WARCO.
2001
Steve Hemstreet, along with his brother, Ken, re-acquired WARCO from IGP November 9th.
2006
The U.S. House of Representatives honored WARCO with an award for “Outstanding Business of the Year, 2005,” in recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the City of Orange.
Later that same year, WARCO announced its acquisition of Ripley, Mississippi based Biltrite Corporation’s sheet rubber and rubber matting business; a move that positions WARCO BILTRITE as the largest US-based sheet rubber maker in North America, further entrenching its foothold in the oil, military, transportation, construction and food services industries.
The two strategically located manufacturing plants remain integral to facilitating the company’s future growth. Biltrite’s highly trained and dedicated staff coupled with its expansive 400,000 sq ft manufacturing facilities, combined with WARCO BILTRITE’s 150,000 sq ft facilities and devoted personnel create a market presence of unparalleled capability, service and commitment.
2010
WARCO celebrates it’s 100th year anniversary. It pays tribute and homage to all of the courageous and dedicated individuals who have contributed to and participated in the achievement of such a truly extraordinary milestone.
2011
WARCO opens an online store offering an easy way to search, check inventories, and purchase quality rubber products anytime and anywhere.
2013
WARCO expands its corporate headquarters. The corporate office said goodbye to its home of 20+ years and moved into an adjacent 30,000+ sqft building at 1337 Braden Court, Orange, CA 92868.
2015
Fluorozone® Performance FKM is developed and brought to market utilizing domestic made fluoroelastomer polymer.
2016
WARCO renews ISO 9001:2008 certification. View our ISO Certificate
We welcome the addition of two new injection presses to our operation in Ripley, MS. Greatly expanding our molded rubber capabilities while creating new jobs in Tippah County.
2018
WARCO updates the quality management system to the ISO 9001:2015 standard. View our ISO Certificate
Our President & CEO, Jim deLeo, retires after 32 years of dedicated service.
2019
Our Chairman, Steven R. Hemstreet, passes away at age 71. His values, leadership and legacy endures through his brother, Ken Hemstreet, and nephew, Tim Hemstreet.
2020
WARCO celebrates 110 years as America’s Choice for Quality Rubber™.
2022
West American Rubber Company, LLC (WARCO) is pleased to announce the sale of its Ripley, MS based subsidiary, Biltrite Ripley Operations LLC to GRT Rubber Technologies.
The divestiture opens a pathway for WARCO to effectively align its core competencies, heighten its focus and exploit growth opportunities within its customer centric calendered Sheet, Extruded, and Molded rubber businesses – cementing its pledge to being America’s Choice for Quality Rubber.
“Nowhere is the sense of community stronger than in Ripley, MS. The unwavering support of our people and Tippah County will not be forgotten. We are very thankful for the many dedicated individuals that have worked tirelessly to further the legacy of the Biltrite Ripley operation and are very glad for WARCO to have been a part of that legacy.” said Timothy Hemstreet, WARCO’s President and CEO.
WARCO remains steadfast in its 112-year history as being an industry leader and premier manufacturer of Sheet, Extruded and Molded Rubber products.
