Area business in running for top award

A Blooming Prairie manufacturing company is gaining statewide recognition.
For the second straight year, Minnesota Business magazine has named Minimizer a finalist for its Manufacturing Awards.
Minimizer is one of three companies up for the title of Best in Class – Mid-size.
“It’s a huge honor for Minimizer to be mentioned in the same breath as so many other great companies,” Minimizer CEO and Chief Visionary Craig Kruckeberg said.
Added vice president of operations Jim Richards, “It’s a testament to the people we have in place. Everyone works hard and contributes to the team.  It really is like a family around here.”
Minimizer debuted the poly fender more than 30 years ago, when founder Dick Kruckeberg sold his invention out of the back of his truck.  His son Craig bought the company in 2007, and Minimizer has since expanded to nearly 100 employees.
“Innovation is the name of our game,” Craig Kruckeberg said.  “We’re constantly looking at new products that are tested and tortured to save the consumer time and money.”
Each year, Minnesota Business recognizes the manufacturing sector for outstanding achievements. The panel of judges chose the finalists from a pool of manufacturing companies and executives.
“We really appreciate Minnesota Business going to bat for the manufacturing sector,” Kruckeberg said.  “We always hear about ‘Made in the USA,’ and these awards do their part to help celebrate that.”
Winners in each category will be announced at an awards event Sept. 28.  Both winners and finalists will be honored in the feature story of the all-manufacturing October 2017 issue of Minnesota Business magazine.
Minimizer has been family owned and operated for three generations. The company manufactures its products in the U.S. and makes “everything tough enough to please tough people in a tough industry.”