Stillwater Technologies, Inc., Troy, Ohio is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Stillwater was started in March of 1958 by Charles (Charlie) Lukens in a rented garage above the banks of the Stillwater River in West Milton, Ohio.
Originally named Stillwater Tool & Die, Inc., the company out grew its building and moved to a new 4,000 sq. ft. facility in Troy in 1961.
As its name suggests, Stillwater was a contract tool & die shop serving Dayton and the northern Miami Valley.
"Charlie" was joined in business by his son in 1964 following Bill's graduation from Miami University.
In 1978, after 20 years in business with annual sales of a million dollars, Lukens entered into an agreement to sell the business to son Bill, then, Vice President.
In the early 1980's, Stillwater concentrated its efforts in the aerospace / defense working with companies such as GE Jet Engine, Boeing, MacDonnell, General Dynamics and Northrop.
1986 was a busy year for Stillwater. At the suggestion of a customer, the company name was changed to Stillwater Technologies, Inc. to more closely represent its capabilities.
Due to an office employee's husband's transfer out of state, Wanda Lukens, Bill's wife, volunteered to "help for a while". Twenty-two years later, she is co-owner and Vice President of Administration.
Also in 1986, the company was approached by Honda to see if Stillwater would be interested in building equipment for the Japanese transplant auto manufacturer.
Stillwater accepted the opportunity. With lessons learned at Honda, Stillwater set its sights on Toyota. Stillwater currently works with Honda, Toyota and BMW, earning Supplier of the Year awards from Honda in 2003 and 2005 and a like award from Toyota in 2004 and 2006.
In 1995, Stillwater moved into a new facility with Yaskawa's Motoman, Inc. The high value of the Japanese Yen prompted Motoman to search for a partner to machine parts that they, Motoman, could assemble into an industrial robot. In the fall of 1995, the companies moved into their current facility. In the fall of 1997, the economies around the Pacific rim collapsed, precipitating a drop in the Yen which ultimately saw the robotic manufacturing program return to Japan in the summer of 1998. However, Motoman continues to be a valued customer of Stillwater.
Today, Stillwater Technologies employs 90 people. Its customers include companies in the auto, machine tool, communications, construction and off road equipment among others.
We believe manufacturing in the United States, although different than it was, continues to be a vital sector of the American economy. The Team at Stillwater looks forward to the future and the opportunities it affords.
