Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON - More than 350 guests visited and toured the Paragon campus Friday, including community leaders, customers, suppliers and employee's families. Facilities in Smithfield, Utah, Fairfield, N.J., Pompano Beach, Fla., and Lausanne Switzerland also celebrated in honor of Symmetry's 15th anniversary.
Toby Buck welcomed employees gathered for a cookout and the ground-breaking by introducing his "second father," Ron Vanderpool, one of the other original co-founders of Paragon Medical. Buck said, "How do you summarize 15 years? When we first started, I thought if the company got to $50 million, it would be a big thing. Now, $250 million is right around the corner. The St. Jude medical contract was a big turning point.
"I can never describe the emotional effort it takes to build a company, but it's a collective effort. We just recently started a global design center. It will probably be the third building on this 27-acre campus. They will design and develop instruments and components."
Buck always recognizes all of the employees and Friday was no exception. Employee activities include cookouts for all shifts, family tours and all employees received commemorative jackets and key chains. Paragon also kicked off its Corporate Wellness Program with registration for a six-week walk program. Employees who signed up received a free pedometer.
Paragon Medical was incorporated in 1991 and began developing a business concept designed to integrate the manufacturing, storing, sterilizing and presenting of surgical instruments and related medical devices. This concept specifically provides systematic solutions to both medical device manufacturers who sell the instruments and the end user, the health-care facility.
Paragon began designing and manufacturing customized polymer surgical instrument sterilization cases and trays for the original equipment manufacturing market and has continually improved and expanded this product line. Paragon now extrude their own high temperature polymer sheet stock used in the thermoforming process.
In 1996, Paragon acquired the manufacturing equipment to fabricate metal cases and trays. These include custom and standard products in polymer, metal and hybrid applications.
In 1999, Paragon acquired the surgical instrumentation business of Rotobur Doell Mfg. Inc., and began manufacturing custom surgical instrumentation for orthopedic device manufacturers. This capability is a natural complement to the existing customer base and allows provision of precision-ground cutting instruments to the medical industry.
In 2001, Paragon began implant processing for OEM customers. Today, Paragon produces a number of precision manufactured implants to meet the needs of customers.
In 2004, Paragon expanded into Europe. With the growing need to be an international supplier, Paragon displays its ability to respond to the requirements of the client community.
In late-2005 and early-2006, Paragon acquired five companies:Mark Machine, Ortho-Craft, Osteomac, Ortho-Precision and the Smithfield facility.
Ground was broken for the newest facility in Pierceton April 12, 2005.
