Ronald Guntert Sr.

History

      In 1942, Ronald M. Guntert, Sr., the founder of our company, formed a limited partnership with Hickinbotham Bros. and L.R. Zimmerman for the purpose of fulfilling major World War II contracts. This venture was formed while Ronald Guntert was working for Hickinbotham Bros., Ltd., a highly regarded steel company in the San Joaquin Valley. The partnership was known as Hickinbotham Bros. Const. Div. who established their shipyard on the Stockton Channel on Banner Island.

      During the war, Hickinbotham Bros. Const. Div. entered into contracts with the Navy and the Army Transportation Corp. for the construction of floating crane barges, landing crafts, steel tug boats, and 176 ft. Inter-island supply vessels. These contracts were completed so effectively under a management whose main characteristics were integrity and outstanding ingenuity, that on August 27, 1944, the Army-Navy Production Award (E) was presented to: "The men and women of Hickinbotham Bros., Construction Div." At the peak of the war, the partnership employed over 600 people.

     Shortly after the war, Ronald Guntert and L.R. Zimmerman acquired Hickinbotham's interest and incorporated as Guntert & Zimmerman Const. Div., Inc. In 1948, Guntert and Zimmerman formed a supply division to augment their material needs, which was called Guntert & Zimmerman Sales Div., Inc. L.R. Zimmerman left both companies in 1950. Guntert & Zimmerman Const. Div., Inc.'s name remained as it was due to the name's recognition in the industry and its reputation worldwide for innovative work in canal, highway and airport trimming and paving equipment, as well as its work in ship building, dredging and other specialized construction machinery. The supply division, however changed its name to Guntert Sales Div., Inc. in 1961, and it is more commonly known today as Guntert Steel.

     Both corporations shared the 7 acre waterfront facility on Banner Island in Stockton until 1984, when the two corporations relocated 26 miles south to Ripon, California. This new facility is situated along Highway 99 on 22 acres, of which 13 acres are available for future expansion.

    Today, Guntert & Zimmerman continues to engineer and manufacture specialized construction machinery which they market and sell worldwide, while Guntert Sales Div., Inc., dba Guntert Steel, continues to service central California's steel and steel processing needs.

"Guntert Steel, family owned and operated, serving Central California's steel and processing needs for over 50 years"