BUSINESS TRADITIONS
Echo Journal | Wednesday, January 27, 2021
pineandlakes.com
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Roll of Honor 2021
BUSINESS TRADITI
A BRAINERD DISPATCH & ECHO JOURNAL PUBLICATION
75 YEARS
OF
|
Submitted Photo
ATEK Access Technologies in northeast Brainerd is a part of ATEK Companies and manufactures a wide variety of products, including wall switches and pressure-sensitive mats to open doors.
TECHNOLOGY
INNOVATION: ATEK Companies continues growth
By Theresa Bourke Brainerd Dispatch Staff Writer From electronic door switches to motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle parts to coolers, ATEK Companies has a hand in technology manufacturing across the world. With three operating companies and five locations throughout Minne-
sota and Iowa — including Brainerd — ATEK is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2021. That’s 75 years of technology innovation, 75 years of high-quality products and 75 years of community involvement. “We’re pretty diversified in terms of technologies that we use and the markets that we serve,”
co-owner and CEO Mark Osmanski said during a Skype interview Tuesday, Jan. 19. “Our products do go around the world, and we manufacture all of them in the upper Midwest.” ATEK Companies includes ATEK Access Technologies, ATEK Metal Technologies and Solar Plastics.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
ATEK Access Technologies employee Steve Scofield (left) and General Manager Mike Berning check out a custom mat made in the Brainerd plant Wednesday, Jan. 20. The mat will be sent to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.
150 Years
149 Years
139 Years
The company grew from Acrometal, a metal stamping company founded in 1946 in Minneapolis. While running that business, Fred Bieber got the opportunity to buy it out. Today, Bieber’s son, Bill Bieber, is one of the three coowners of the company, along with Osmanksi and Kay Phillips. Bill Bieber joined his dad in the metal stamping business in 1965, and the two grew ATEK Companies from there. “Bill was really the entrepreneurial spirit that grew this company,” Osmanski said. In 1977, operations moved to Brainerd, and the plant in northeast Brainerd continues to run as manufacturing headquarters for ATEK Access Technologies. “Inside this business it constitutes all of the proprietary products that we design, manufacture and sell to the end users. And we predominantly are into electronic devices of a variety of sorts,” Osmanski said.
139 Years
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
ATEK Access Technologies General Manager Mike Berning talks about his role at the manufacturing facility in northeast Brainerd Wednesday, Jan. 20. ATEK Companies celebrates is 75th anniversary in 2021.
ATEK Access Technologies
Products made at the Brainerd location include accessible wall switches that open doors, along with floor mats that do the same and regular custom floor mats for a variety of companies. During a tour of the facility Wednesday, Jan. 20, employee Steve Scofield showed off some of his recently completed
137 Years
mats, like one with “Do not enter” signs, set to be shipped to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. The company’s presence in the lakes area dates back to 1969, when it acquired the company Larco. “That brand is pretty well known in the presence-sensing,” Osmanski said. “So these are
ATEK: Page 2
132 Years
Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA St. Francis Catholic Church
409 North 9th Street, Brainerd
506 James Street Brainerd, MN
829-4705
202 8th Ave. N.E. Brainerd
2021 Fair Dates: August 3 - August 7 P.O. Box 169 BRAINERD, MN 56401
218-822-4040
www.isd181.org (218) 454-6900
www.brainerddispatch.com
Continuous Service Since 1882
829-4755
218-829-6680
131 YEARS
128 Years
119 Years
112 Years
112 Years
www.blccnorth.org
1420 South 6th Street Brainerd MN (218) 829-5147 www.trinitybrainerd.org
crowwingcountyfair.com
112 Years
Brainerd
Eagles Aerie #287
Brainerd 829-8781 Baxter 828-5191 Aitkin 927-3794 Member FDIC
104 Years
8027 Highland Scenic Rd Baxter MN 56425 218-829-8726
104 Years
“Community involvement — people helping people”
Phone 829-9674
The Parker Building Downtown Brainerd
www.stfranciscatholicschool.org
86 Years
85 Years
84 Years
218-829-4216
702 Industrial Park Rd, Brainerd
124 Front Street, Brainerd
99 Years
AUTO PARTS 218-829-4779
10424 Squaw Point Road Brainerd
218-829-3918 www.erniesongull.com
www.kampmannmillwork.com
83 Years
83 Years
www.clcmn.edu Brainerd Campus 501 West College Drive, Brainerd (218) 855-8000 or 800-933-0346 Staples Campus 1830 Airport Road, Staples (218) 894-5100 or 800-247-6836
Brainerdsavings.com NMLS#410361
www.shipmanauto.com
81 Years
81 Years
218-829-2344
Lighting the lives of 38,000 members Since 1937
SHIPMAN 1711 Southeast 13th St. Brainerd, MN 56401
817 Juniper Street, Brainerd
www.brainerdjaycees.com
76 Years
75 Years
309 NW 3rd Street
210 10th Avenue NE Brainerd, MN 56401
Purses, Jackets, Sports Equipment “If you can wear it, we repair it!”
509 Washington St. Brainerd
218-829-2496
Brainerd BN Credit Union “Member Friendly - Service Driven”
804 Laurel Street Brainerd, MN 218-829-9065
Sales & Service
Since 1940 830 Brook Street • Brainerd, MN
218-829-4332
www.pikeplumbingandheating.com
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 829-3585
www.atekcompanies.com
www.kummetlarsonbluth.com
218-829-4719