Rubber Development

What Rubber Development does

Rubber Development Inc. (RDI) is a US-headquartered, family-owned custom manufacturer of rubber and urethane products, founded in July 1977 by Vernon and Cyndi Gidley in San Jose, California. The company relocated corporate and manufacturing headquarters to Waverly, Iowa in 1993–1994 and today operates a 30,000-square-foot main facility there, alongside a technical/engineering center in San Jose and a wholly-owned manufacturing subsidiary, RDI (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., in China (established 2010). With 11–50 employees and multi-generational Gidley ownership (Vernon Gidley serves as President/CEO, Cyndi Gidley as HR Director, and Matt Gidley as Manufacturing Manager), RDI runs a vertically integrated custom elastomer business that addresses defense contractors, electronics OEMs, industrial manufacturers, and consumer/construction channels.

The core offering is custom elastomer molding using compression, transfer, injection, and high-speed shuttle injection processes, supported by in-house compounding of over 180 commercial nitrile grades, polymer identification via infrared spectroscopy, material and design engineering services, and full prototyping. RDI operates capital-intensive large-format presses — a 1,000-ton 40"x48' hydraulic/electric press and a 1,300-ton 4'x12' steam/hydraulic press — making it one of the few US rubber molders capable of producing parts up to 6'x12'. The product portfolio also includes the patented Solution Line of recycled-rubber pencils (minimum 50% post-consumer scrap tire content), standard catalog offerings (grommets, bellows, sheet rubber, plastic pallets), and Henrich-branded industrial rubber bands, anchor bands, hinge bumpers, door plugs, and applicator machines acquired through the 2006 Henrich Rubber Company purchase. The technical marketing footprint — Rubber Tech 101, compounding guides, FDA regulation documentation, chemical resistance charts, and virtual plant tours — supports engineer-led conversion.

Revenue is generated through (1) project-based custom molding contracts with enterprise OEMs across defense, electronics, and industrial verticals, priced per quote; (2) catalog sales of Henrich industrial products and discounted sheet rubber inventory priced per square yard; and (3) direct-to-consumer e-commerce for branded consumer goods (recycled pencils, seat cushions, hockey pucks, rubber trays). Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales via multiple dedicated phone lines (corporate, sales, engineering, quality, Henrich), augmented by inbound engineer-driven web traffic and educational content. Customer base spans FMC (Bradley Fighting Vehicle), General Dynamics, IBM, Hewlett Packard, 3M, Milliken, Dyke, Huttig, and Jeld-Wen Millwork.

Name

Rubber Development

Legal name

Rubber Development Inc.

Website

https://rubberdevelopment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Family-owned Rubber Development Inc. (founded 1977) is a custom rubber and urethane molder based in Waverly, Iowa, with operations in San Jose and Suzhou, China. It serves defense, electronics, and industrial OEMs with bespoke elastomer parts, large-format molding, and Henrich-branded industrial rubber products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Rubber and Elastomer Manufacturing

NAICS

Rubber Product Manufacturing (3262), Rubber Product Manufacturing for Mechanical Use (326291), Other Rubber Product Manufacturing (32629)

SIC

Fabricated Rubber Products, Nec (3060)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMANAOAM

Industrial Rubber Products (Hoses, Belts, Seals, Gaskets)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Plastics & Rubber Manufacturing/Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing of Plastics)

SECONDARYIMANAJAB

Specialty Rubber Compounds (FKM, HNBR, NBR, Silicone, CR)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Plastics & Rubber Manufacturing/Rubber Compounding & Mixing

Keywords

• Custom rubber molding
• Elastomer manufacturing
• Urethane molding services
• Rubber compounding
• Industrial rubber products

Headquarters

HQ city

Waverly

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Rubber Molding Services: Project-based custom manufacturing of rubber and elastomer parts including compression, transfer, injection, and large format molding. Revenue generated through tooling, prototyping, and production runs for defense, electronics, industrial, and consumer applications.
2. Consumer Products Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of industrial rubber bands (Henrich), rubber trays, seat cushions, hockey pucks, and recycled rubber pencils through e-commerce storefront.
3. Henrich Industrial Products: Sale of industrial rubber bands for bundling wood mouldings, hinge bumpers for pre-hung doors, applicator machines, and plant anchor bands.
4. Sheet Rubber Products: Off-the-shelf and discounted sheet rubber inventory including nitrile, EPDM, and chloroprene sold per square yard.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Rubber Development Inc. (RDI) is a custom manufacturer of rubber and urethane products, offering compression, transfer, injection, and large-format molding services to defense, electronics, and industrial manufacturers. The company also sells its own branded product lines including Henrich industrial rubber bands, grommets, bellows, sheet rubber, and Solution Line recycled rubber pencils.

Product overview

Rubber Development is a custom manufacturer of rubber and urethane products offering a portfolio of consumer products (Solution Line recycled rubber pencils), industrial products (grommets, bellows, sheet rubber, plastic pallets, large-format molded parts), and Henrich-branded industrial rubber bands for bundling and plant training. The company provides complementary services including custom molding (compression, transfer, injection, shuttle injection), material development, design consulting, and prototyping. Henrich products, acquired in 2006, include anchor bands, hinge bumpers, door plugs, hand apply bands, and applicator machines. The portfolio is organized around custom manufacturing capabilities with branded product lines for consumer and industrial markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Henrich Industrial Rubber Bands: Industrial rubber bands for bundling wood moulding, plant training, and door protection applications. Known for non-staining formula developed specifically for the wood industry since 1989.

Products and services

• Custom Rubber and Urethane Molding Custom elastomer manufacturing services spanning design, tooling, prototyping, material development, and production runs for defense, electronics, and industrial customers. Includes in-house CNC tooling, cryogenic deflashing, and rubber-to-metal/plastic/cloth bonding.
• Really BIG Parts (Large Format Molding) Specialty molding service for very large or very long rubber parts, or multi-cavity runs of large parts, leveraging large-format presses not commonly available in the rubber manufacturing industry.
• Solution Line Recycled Rubber Pencils Consumer pencils made via a patented process that incorporates at least 50% post-consumer scrap tire material, addressing environmental stockpiles of used tires while producing functional writing instruments.
• Grommets Off-the-shelf or custom-manufactured rubber grommets produced to customer specifications for industrial applications.
• Bellows Industrial rubber bellows available in off-the-shelf or custom configurations.
• Rubber Sheet Goods Off-the-shelf and discounted sheet rubber inventory including nitrile, EPDM, and chloroprene in varying thickness and hardness grades, sold per square yard.
• Plastic Pallets Industrial plastic pallets for material handling applications (listed as "Coming soon" on the website).
• Henrich Industrial Rubber Bands Industrial rubber bands sold under the Henrich brand for bundling wood mouldings, plant training, and door protection, including the non-staining formula developed specifically for the wood industry.
• Anchor Bands Biodegradable rubber plant training ties for vineyards, nurseries, climbing roses, and vegetables that expand as plants grow and break down after 12-18 months.
• Hinge Bumpers Rubber hinge protection bands for pre-hung wooden doors available in light, medium, and heavy duty grades with multiple color options.
• Plastic Hinge Protectors Heavy-duty plastic hinge protection coverings that cover the complete hinge for pre-hung doors during shipping.
• Push-N-Lok Door Plugs Reusable and recyclable door plugs that secure pre-hung doors to jambs during shipment, eliminating nail damage.
• Hand Apply Bundling Bands Reusable rubber bundling bands for wood, plastic, or metal products that hold for a year without leaving dents, residue, or stains.
• Applicators Machines for partial automatic application of rubber bands to bundles of wood mouldings and other products, including in/out band, double pass through, and triple pass through models.

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MOCAP: Manufacturer of custom molded rubber products, protective caps, plugs, and custom elastomer components — comparable to RDI's custom industrial rubber parts and door-plug product lines.
• Apple Rubber: Custom rubber molding specialist offering sealing, grommet, and elastomer component solutions to industrial customers — directly overlaps with RDI's grommets, seals, and custom parts portfolio.
• Ace Elastomer: Custom molded rubber products manufacturer offering compounding and molding services — directly comparable to RDI's custom elastomer manufacturing capabilities.
• Eldon James: Custom manufacturer of plastic and elastomer tubing, fittings, and molded parts for medical and industrial markets — directly comparable to RDI's custom rubber and urethane molding focus.
• Da/Pro Rubber: Custom molded rubber and elastomer parts manufacturer serving medical, industrial, and electronics OEMs — closely comparable to RDI's FDA-compliant custom molding and electronics customer segment.
• RCO Engineering: Custom molded rubber and plastic parts manufacturer serving industrial and OEM markets — directly comparable small-scale custom rubber molder similar to RDI.
• Lauren Manufacturing: Custom rubber and elastomer extrusions and molded parts supplier with in-house compounding — directly comparable to RDI's vertical integration from compound formulation through finished parts.
• Minor Rubber: Custom-molded rubber and elastomer manufacturer serving industrial, defense, and OEM customers with compounding and molding capabilities — directly comparable to RDI's core custom molding business.

Broad incumbents

• Parker Hannifin (Seal Group): Diversified industrial manufacturer with a leading elastomer sealing and custom molded rubber products division — broad incumbent with significant overlap to RDI's industrial elastomer components.
• Freudenberg Sealing Technologies: Large global manufacturer of seals, gaskets, and elastomer components across many industries — broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities to RDI's industrial rubber components business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rubber-development-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rubber Development