About Us
Leader in product innovation. Superior customer service. Certified lean manufacturing.KEP manufactures tubing and dip-molded products to customers’ exacting specifications and delivers a quality product, every time.
Kent Elastomer Products, Inc. (KEP), a subsidiary of Meridian Industries, Inc., was founded in 1960. We are a leading U.S. solutions provider for the global medical market, as well as orthodontic, food and beverage, sports and recreation, laboratory, and industrial markets worldwide.
KEP’s 6-decade success story has expanded from American-made natural rubber latex tubing to high-quality thermoplastic and PVC tubing, dip-molded products, and non-latex Free-Band® tourniquets. We provide prototype expertise and guidance, packaging solutions, and on-time delivery that keep a wide range of industries moving and growing.
KEP emphasizes continuous improvement, lean leadership training and communication. We stand alone as the only manufacturer of natural rubber latex tubing in the United States.
Our headquarters, latex and custom-dip operations are located in Kent, Ohio. Extrusion operations are located in Mogadore, Ohio. Assembly, quality and shipping operations are located in Winesburg, Ohio.
History of KEP
We have a proud of history of mastering the technology of our time while researching and developing the ideas of tomorrow.
1960
Founded as Kent Latex Products, we specialized in dipped natural rubber latex tubing.
1975
Our business grows. We open a new facility in Winesburg, Ohio.
1979
Kent Latex is purchased by Meridian Industries of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1988
We expand into extrusion and the manufacturing of soft, flexible, thermoplastic tubing.
1998
We change our name to Kent Elastomer Products, Inc. (KEP) to reflect the company’s diversity of products and services.
2001
KEP purchases Precision Latex Inc., a company specializing in the manufacturing of dip molded products. Our capabilities expanded to meet the small to medium-run batch application requirements of customers.
2002
KEP continues expanding our capabilities by moving our extrusion operations to a new, lean, efficient state-of-the-art facility in nearby Mogadore, Ohio.
2006
KEP acquires the dip molded product line from Hospira, Inc., adding synthetic polyisoprene to the company’s line of non-latex materials.
2007
Lean manufacturing practices embraced by KEP. All employees in three facilities trained and encouraged to participate in kaizens and other efficiencies – strengthening the level of trust and communication between employees, departments and managers.
2011
Students from the University of Akron’s Bachelor of Organizational Supervision program tour KEP to observe real-life success stories in LEAN manufacturing efficiency. University students continue to frequently tour KEP to support their studies of the Lean Six Sigma Methodology.
2013
KEP creates and launches a new line of crimped tubing for the food and beverage industry. The dispensing end of the tube is completely crimped and protected until the precise moment of use.
2013
KEP’s extrusion facility in Mogadore, Ohio is honored as a Summit of Sustainability award-winner for 2013.
2014
KEP Mogadore receives Safe Quality Food Level 1 certification under the Global Food Safety Edition 7.1 to provide high-quality food safety and quality standards.
2014
Two KEP facilities receive Encouraging Environmental Excellence Silver Awards from the Ohio EPA for reducing refuse pickups by 63 percent in Kent and 90 percent in Winesburg.
2015
KEP’s 10-Year Commitment to Lean Recognized by Smart Business Magazine (SBN) gives KEP their annual Evolution of Manufacturing Award.
2017
EPA Gold Level E3 Award. The Ohio EPA honors KEP’s Winesburg and Kent facilities for remarkable waste reduction and energy savings – efficiencies that also benefit our customers.
2018
KEP expands headquarters to accommodate a growing workforce after experiencing exponential growth serving the medical, orthodontic, food and beverage, sports and recreation, and other industries.
2023
KEP introduces BioVTEX – our own biopharmaceutical TPE tubing suitable for various applications, including sterile fluid transfer, peristaltic pump applications, bioreactor systems, and sampling and analytical processes.
Recent history
KEP strives for optimum efficiency and productivity. We receive Encouraging Environmental Excellence Silver and Gold Awards from the Ohio EPA in 2014 and 2015. Since 2006 Kent Elastomer has held over 834 lean events.
KEP Mission Statement
Our mission is to recognize and exceed the expectations of our customer by providing the highest level of quality and service. We will seek continuous improvement in everything we do. We will provide a safe workplace in an environment of open communication and teamwork. We will comply with requirements and maintain the effectiveness of our Quality Management System. Customers, suppliers, and employees will be treated with honesty and respect.
Our success will be measured by our positive contribution to our customers, employees, shareholders, communities, and by our recognition as a leading supplier of quality elastomer products.
Meridian Industries
Meridian Industries, Inc. is a privately owned diversified company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded in 1943, Meridian is comprised of five wholly owned subsidiaries operating in seven states.
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Our Team
Meet the experts who make KEP industry leaders providing solutions to markets including medical, orthodontic, food and beverage, sports/recreation, laboratory, and industrial markets worldwide.
Why KEP?
Here’s why more industries choose KEP for precision-engineered, natural rubber latex and thermoplastic tubing.
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