Cranston Plastics (Stevensville, MT) has it covered

Dan Cranston, owner of Cranston Plastics in Stevensville, uses a sewing machine to hem the edges of tarps in his south Church Street business. Cranston started the business with his parents 39 years ago and now runs it with his wife, Louise.

Walk into Cranston Plastics at 410 South Church Street in Stevensville and you’ll know what the American dream smells like.

Owner Dan Cranston can’t say himself what the workshop smells like, but from an outsider’s perspective the room might smell a little like latex gloves soaked in rubber cement or it might smell a little like success.

“I can’t describe it because I don’t smell it,” Cranston said, “After 39 years it smells normal.”

Cranston might contend that the business he started with his parents, Ivan and Helen, in 1967 – and now runs with wife Louise – might smell like survival.
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The trio started out manufacturing a survival kit patented by his father, but there wasn’t enough demand for the kit to keep the business afloat, Cranston said.

In order to survive, the Cranstons had to look beyond helping other people survive and decided to develop a product that would literally be tailor made for a rapidly growing industry at the time.

That industry is as noticeable today as the staccato tuba-blast of a semi truck using an engine brake at 3 in the morning. The Cranstons make tarps and covers used by trucking operations across the country.

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Cranston Plastics

410 Church St,

Stevensville, MT

For information contact:
Cranston, Daniel
Owner

P.O. Box 373

Stevensville, MT 59870-0373

Phone: 406-777-5682

or Phone: 800-375-9069

Fax: 406-777-5269

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By JOHN NOWAKOWSKI – Ravalli Republic

Full Story: http://www.ravallirepublic.com/articles/2006/02/22/business/93-business.txt