july2017

172 173 fication assures that all products meet specific tolerances for project requirements. An extensive product line includes stock extruded rubber seals, custom extruded rub- ber seals, grip seals, trim seals, trim moldings, automotive hose, EPHA hose protection parts, extruded plastics parts, EMI shielding, and cus- tom manufactured metal springs. Along with a variety of secondary operations that make parts application easier. Clean Seal customers appreciate the quality products, huge inventory, and low minimum requirements. And, while the company is large enough to service major recreational vehicle manufacturers, it’s still small enough to offer the personal service people expect and enjoy. Jeremy Klotz, Vice President of Operations/ General Manager for Clean Seal, Inc., shares the innovative history of the company, and what makes it stand out, today, in a very competitive marketplace. He explains, “About 40 years ago, the original owners of Clean Seal were looking at the RV industry and what they were doing to seal windows. They used a sticky butyl ma- CLEAN SEAL, LLC AT A GLANCE CLEAN SEAL, LLC WHAT: Full-service source for standard and custom-de- signed seals and related products for the transporta- tion industry. WHERE: South Bend, Indiana WEBSITE: www.cleanseal. com terial around the window frame, put the window in the side wall of the RV unit, and the stuff would eventually soften up in the heat and come down the side of the vehicle. Our owners thought there had to be a better way.” True entrepreneurs to the core, they saw there was a need and set to work at the kitchen table, applying adhesive to ex- truded rubber. The solution worked well, so they started using the material for windows and doors, and that evolved into many other applications. The name Clean Seal came about because, in the summer, the traditional butyl mixture would ooze out, leaving dirty-looking black streaks. The new rubber seal was clean, no residue. Clean Seal celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2018. Original owner, Juanita Moore, had two partners when the business be- gan; they couldn’t see the vision behind it, but Moore held on and saw the potential. The other partners ended up selling out to her before the company really got moving. Juanita took the reins and hired Bill Dawson the first year. A natural salesman