2017 Marks 90th Anniversary for Star Cutter Company
FARMINGTON HILLS, June 1, 2017 – Star Cutter Company is celebrating its 90th Anniversary throughout 2017 by reflecting on its past and looking towards the future.
Founded in 1927 by Howard B. Lawton and Frank Burgess, Star Cutter Company is a fourth generation family owned business and one of the oldest Michigan based manufacturing companies. Star Cutter started its cutting tool operations in Detroit before moving the main facility to Farmington in 1951. In the late 1960’s, the company made an extreme change to their operation by splitting up its growing manufacturing offerings into several smaller towns throughout Northern Michigan. The Star Cutter Company headquarters remains in Farmington Hills along with its solid carbide tool manufacturing (Northern Tool), with additional manufacturing taking place in East Tawas (Tawas Tool; Gear Cutting Tools), Ossineke (Ossineke Industries; Gundrills), Lewiston (H.B. Carbide Company; Carbide Blanks and Preforms), Elk Rapids (Elk Rapids Engineering; CNC Tool & Cutter Grinding Machines), and Traverse City (Grand Traverse Construction; Commercial Construction).
Bradley Lawton, Chairman of Star Cutter Company, believes a large amount of the company’s success is due to the culture created as the result of directing the business “up north” beginning around 1967. “The family has always had a fond attraction to the northern lower peninsula and wanted to invest in the local communities. We set out to develop a skilled workforce and over time have created viable operations that have supported these communities.”
In addition to having grown to 500 statewide employees, the company has long been committed to the future of manufacturing through education and training.
“We believe in Michigan manufacturing and it’s future and have forged relationships with local colleges including: Alpena Community College, Northwestern Michigan College (Traverse City), Kirtland Community College (Roscommon), MTEC (Gaylord), Delta College (University Center), and Schoolcraft College (Livonia). As a result of these partnerships, we have made access available to hands-on training and apprenticeship programs for students interested in a career in manufacturing.”
About Star Cutter Company
Star Cutter Company was founded in 1927 by Howard B. Lawton and Frank Burgess. The company was started in a leased portion of a building on Epworth Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan. During this first year of operation Star Cutter Company employed ten employees. The main customers in 1927 were Chrysler and Chevrolet Gear and Axle.
Star Cutter Company has developed into a world leader in the cutting tool industry with over 500 employees working in six manufacturing facilities within five manufacturing divisions. Each manufacturing facility specializes in producing a specific type of product or service: solid carbide cutting tools, carbide blanks and preforms, gundrills, gear cutting tools, and 5-axis CNC tool and cutter grinding machines.
Headquartered in Farmington Hills, MI, the Star Cutter Company partners with Star SU LLC for marketing, sales, and service of its products in North America, South America, Europe and the Far East.
Contact:
Mark C. Parillo
Director of Marketing
Star SU, LLC
Phone: 847-649-1450
FAX: 847-649-0112
E-mail: mparillo@star-su.com
