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Kernersville, N.C.
October marked 40 years that Grass America Inc., a manufacturer of high end functional hardware, has been in Kernersville, North Carolina. The celebration for its four-decade milestone was held on Friday, October 6th, on the company grounds. The event started with plant tours for guest and family members. Afterwards President Tom Kipp welcomed all attending with a few words about the company today and Executive Vice President Matthias Bulla gave a brief presentation on the company’s history. This was followed by entertainment and dinner. The celebration was attended by employees and their families. Special guests included Chris Comer, President of the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce and Mike Findley of Senator Richard Burr’s office.
“I would like to thank everyone for joining us tonight,” Kipp said. “It’s wonderful to see so many family and friends of our employees. It’s always interesting to see where mom or dad, your spouse or your children work and what they do. We are here today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Grass America and the 70th anniversary of Grass Europe.”
Grass America is the United States subsidiary of Grass GmbH (Austria), which was founded after the close of World War II in 1947. Peter Meier, an entrepreneur at heart, convinced owner Alfred Grass, Sr. to give him a chance to explore the American market. Peter Meier, together with Didi Waldner, came to Kernersville in 1977. “Mr. Grass was an excellent engineer and full of ideas for innovative products used for kitchen and bath cabinets,” said Bulla. “With his leadership, Grass GmbH developed and introduced a concealed hinge for the American style face framed cabinetry within twelve months of establishing Grass America.” By the end of the ‘70s, Grass hardware was sold and distributed across the country. The first hires of 1979 and 1980 are still Grass America employees today.
The company distinguished itself by its excellence in customer-focused service, to match the quality of the hardware that was being manufactured in Europe. Research and development continued for the American market and by 1983, ground had been broken for a US manufacturing facility in Kernersville, NC.
That same facility is now 150,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and 70,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space. Grass America employs over 200 people and produces a large portion of the hardware sold and distributed from Grass America. Grass distribution centers and Grass sales representatives are positioned throughout the United States.
