Stellar Industries celebrating 3 decades of industry innovation

Stellar Industries in Garner, IA recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

While the world continues to change daily, the small-town company took a moment May 9 to recognize the momentous achievement.

Stellar was founded by Francis Zrostlik, Jim Vlaanderen and Gary Bomstad in 1990. It began as the first US corporation to design and manufacture a domestic hydraulic hooklift hoist. Since its inception, Stellar has added the design and manufactured of numerous products for the work truck industry, including mechanic service cranes, mobile drawer systems and commercial tire service trucks.

Stellar now is in its second generation of leadership and boasts more than 500 employees. While it no longer is a small company, it’s proud to hold the same small-town values with which it began. As an employee-owned company, Stellar is dedicated to the communities in which its operates, just as those communities have supported Stellar.

“Stellar Industries is proud to have been founded as an entrepreneurial start-up using the know-how of dedicated North Iowans to build the strong company that exists today,” said Dave Zrostlik, president of Stellar Industries. “Our transition to a majority ESOP company over these 30 years is further proof of the commitment we have to remain an independent company that quickly responds to the needs of our customers, our employees, and our communities.

“I have great confidence and pride in the team members that have grown with us to create the successful company that Stellar Industries has become. Thanks go out to all those past and present Stellar employees and the communities that have supported us over the past 30 years. I am looking forward to successful growth and prosperity for the employee-owners of Stellar Industries for the next 30 years.”

Due to “shelter-in-place” guidelines established to slow the spread of COVID-19, Stellar employees couldn’t gather in celebration. Instead, they spent the week spreading joy through videos, photos and trivia on their social media channels.

Visit stellarindustries.com for more information.