About Us

STANG PRECISION INC.

History

Family Roots. Dedicated People. Generations of Ingenuity.

A Legacy of Innovation

“There’s always
a better way.”
The original Stang Precision shop built in 1979

Founded in 1979 by a 20-year-old farm boy with a natural gift for mechanics, Stang Precision was built on a simple, enduring philosophy: “There’s always a better way.”

What began in a modest 1,200-square-foot shop in Paynesville, Minnesota—constructed by founder Bruce Stang with the help of his father, brothers, and uncle—grew into a manufacturing operation beyond what he could have imagined at the time. In its early days, the company weathered severe economic downturns by adapting to the needs of the local Paynesville community, pivoting from tool and die work to agricultural and commercial repair.

That same resilience and creative problem-solving fueled the company’s early expansion into custom plastics manufacturing. Bruce engineered custom robotics and modified equipment to run around the clock—a feat ahead of its time in the industry. By 2004, the company was producing over 200 distinct plastic products and its own line of electrical staples in a 26,000-square-foot facility. Driven by a commitment to continuous improvement, Stang Precision established a culture of not just manufacturing parts, but partnering with customers to rethink, refine, and perfect their designs.

Fast forward another 20 years, and Stang Precision now occupies more than 120,000 square feet across its facilities, produces around 500 different items, and manufactures over one billion pieces per year—bringing together Custom Injection Molding, Extrusion, Thermoforming, Tool and Die, Contract Packaging, and more.

1978–2025

Our History Timeline

  1. A School Project with a Bigger Purpose

    For his final project at Hutchinson’s vocational school, Bruce Stang is tasked with designing and building a metal project. While classmates created projects for personal interests and enjoyment, Bruce sees a bigger opportunity... With his instructor’s approval, he designs and builds a punch and die set which he sells to a local company. He uses the proceeds to purchase his first pieces of equipment, turning a school assignment into a first step toward starting Stang Precision.

    Bruce Stang’s framed punch and die drawing for his Hutchinson vocational school project
    Bruce’s Vocational School Project Drawing · 1978

  2. The Foundation

    At just 20 years old, fresh out of a tool and die vocational program, Bruce Stang founds Stang Precision. With the help of his family, he builds the original 1,200-square-foot shop in the Paynesville Industrial Park.

    Early Shop Flyer
    Early Shop Flyer
    Early Company Overview
    Early Company Overview
    Production Area 1
    Production Area 1
    Production Area 2
    Production Area 2
    Project Overview
    Project Overview
    Materials Overview
    Materials Overview
  3. Early 1980s

    Pivoting to Survive

    A slowed economy and fuel shortage severely impact the plastics industry. To keep the business alive, Stang pivots from tool and die making to specialized agricultural and commercial repair work for local farmers and businesses.

  4. First Hire. A Foundation of Dedicated People.

    Stang Precision hires its first employee, John Buermann, beginning a tradition of dedicated, hardworking people whose skills and commitment have helped shape the company ever since.

    John Buermann working in the Stang Precision shop
    John Buermann

  5. First Step into Plastics Manufacturing

    Stang Precision enters plastics manufacturing by extruding trim for snowmobile windshields. With space at a premium in the original shop, Bruce finds a creative solution—the extrusion line runs right through the bathroom!

  6. First Injection Molding Machine

    Stang Precision purchases its first injection molding machine, initially producing milk valves for dairy barns. Over the coming years, Bruce expands production with new parts and additional machines. He also engineers custom robotics and adapts an alarm system to monitor production, enabling equipment to run nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

  7. More Room for Growing Storage Needs

    Stang Precision completes construction of a 19,200-square-foot storage building at 604 Minnie Street, directly across from its main facility at 531 Minnie Street, providing additional space for raw materials and finished goods inventory.

  8. Bringing Nail Production In-House

    Stang Precision adds nail-making equipment to produce nails for its electrical staples, gaining greater control over cost, production, and quality.

  9. A Milestone of Growth

    Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Stang Precision expands its footprint to a 26,000-square-foot facility. With 14 molding machines and a dedicated team, the company manufactures over 200 custom plastic products.

    Bruce Stang seated at a table displaying a variety of manufactured products
    Stang Precision · 2004

  10. Expanding into Multi-Shot Molding

    Stang Precision adds multi-shot injection molding capabilities, producing its first two-shot and three-shot parts and expanding the possibilities for customer products.

  11. Adding Liquid Silicone Rubber Molding

    To meet customers’ expanding needs, Stang Precision adds Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) molding to its manufacturing capabilities.

  12. Another Operation

    Bruce’s son, Chad Stang, founds Reflex Molding, LLC and begins production in Roseville, Minnesota. The company provides injection molding, extrusion, and secondary operation machining, and will later become part of Stang Precision.

  13. Expanding Production, Packaging, and Warehousing

    Stang Precision acquires the building and land at 125 Industrial Loop West and begins an expansion that brings the facility to 44,000 square feet. The additional space accommodates growing production, finished goods packaging, and warehousing needs, with special attention to supporting work partnerships with individuals with disabilities and the organizations that serve them.

  14. Featured on Factory Made

    Stang Precision’s production of athletic mouthguards is featured on the Discovery Channel’s show Factory Made, giving viewers a look at how these products are manufactured.

    Factory Made television show title
    Discovery Channel’s Factory Made · 2013

  15. Expanding into Thermoforming

    Stang Precision adds thermoforming capabilities to better serve customers, bringing product molding, blister forming, sealing, and packaging together under one roof.

  16. Construction Begins on a New Facility

    Construction begins on a new 40,000-square-foot building at 121 Industrial Loop W. in Paynesville, setting the stage for Stang Precision’s future headquarters and primary injection molding facility.

    Concept rendering of the front of the new Stang Precision building
    Building Concept · 2017
    Foundation forms and excavation for the new Stang Precision building
    Foundation Construction · 2017
    Framing and roof structure of the new Stang Precision building under construction
    Building Takes Shape · 2017

  17. A New Headquarters and Injection Molding Facility

    Stang Precision moves its headquarters and primary injection molding operations into a newly constructed 40,000-square-foot building at 121 Industrial Loop W. in Paynesville.

    Completed Stang Precision headquarters at 121 Industrial Loop W.
    Completed Building · 2019
    Forklifts positioning an injection molding machine inside the new facility
    Moving In · 2018

  18. The Next Chapter in Family Leadership

    Chad Stang, Bruce’s son, becomes President of Stang Precision, continuing the company’s family legacy.

    Chad Stang
    Chad Stang

  19. Responding to the Pandemic

    As COVID-19 brings shutdowns across the country, Stang Precision pivots quickly to produce PPE face shields—supporting the pandemic response while keeping people employed.

    Paynesville Press front page dated April 15, 2020, featuring Stang Precision’s PPE face shield production
    Paynesville Press · April 15, 2020

  20. A New Generation of Ownership

    Chad assumes full ownership of Stang Precision as Bruce continues his well-deserved path toward retirement.

  21. Coming Together as Stang Precision

    Reflex Molding, LLC moves to Paynesville and merges with Stang Precision. Moving forward, the combined business operates solely under the Stang Precision name.

  22. Putting Our Rooftops to Work

    Solar installation is completed on both the 121 and 125 buildings, with a combined system capacity of 507 kW. The system is projected to generate an average of 600,000 kWh per year over a 25-year period—equivalent to powering 77 homes each year.

    The estimated annual emissions benefit is equivalent to 469,977 pounds of coal not burned, 47,846 gallons of gasoline not burned, or 1,068,636 miles not driven. These are alternative comparisons of the same estimated benefit.

    Explore Our Sustainability Efforts
    Solar panels across the rooftops of Stang Precision’s Paynesville manufacturing facility
    Rooftop Solar Installation · 2021

  23. More Than 200,000 Hours of Service

    Bruce’s first injection molding machine is retired from production after more than 200,000 operating hours—a lasting part of the company’s early beginnings and growth.

  24. Over One Billion Parts. In Just 12 Months.

    Stang Precision produces more than one billion parts in 2023. At one part per second, around the clock, it would take nearly 32 years to produce a billion parts. We did it in 12 months.

  25. Made for Our Community

    Stang Precision builds a mold to produce frisbees and creates a giant American flag from red, white, and blue discs. Carried by forklift along the Paynesville parade route, the flag celebrates the community as the Stang team hands out over 6,000 frisbees and 10,000 toy tops to paradegoers.

    A forklift carries a giant American flag made from red, white, and blue frisbees along the Paynesville parade route
    The frisbee flag on the parade route · 2023
    A group gathered in front of Stang Precision’s frisbee flag with a banner thanking all those who serve
    Celebrating together in Paynesville · 2023

  26. Creating Opportunities for All Abilities

    WACOSA highlights its 14-year partnership with Stang Precision, recognizing a shared commitment to meaningful work opportunities for adults with disabilities. During that time, Stang Precision has provided jobs and job tryouts for 277 individuals, whose contributions total more than 287,000 hours worked and 29 million pieces produced. The partnership reflects our belief that dedicated people of all abilities play an important role in our success.

    Read About Our WACOSA Partnership