Saint-Gobain recently celebrated 50 years of being in Stephenville!
The Stephenville Chamber of Commerce congratulates Saint-Gobain for their long-term investment and impact on the Stephenville community.
Please enjoy the remarks below from Antoine Lesur, Plant Manager.
PHOTO: Current and retired Saint-Gobain employees and their families enjoyed a fun day of celebration!
Hello everyone,
Welcome, and thank you for joining us on this beautiful morning as we celebrate an extraordinary milestone—50 years of our Stephenville plant. Today is more than an anniversary. It is a celebration of the people, families, partnerships, and community. It is a chance to honor our past, celebrate our present, and look forward to our future.
I would like to begin by recognizing the special guests with us today. We are honored to have members of the Chamber of Commerce and President July Danley, a number of retirees, and of course the families who have supported this plant throughout its history. Thank you all for being here.
As part of Saint-Gobain, we are guided by a simple but powerful purpose: "Making the World a Better Home." While that purpose is often thought of in terms of the products we make and the customers we serve, it is also about our people. It is about creating opportunity, building strong communities, providing meaningful careers, and ensuring that every employee goes home safely to their family each day.
As we celebrate today, it's worth taking a moment to reflect on how far we've come.
Our Stephenville story began in 1976, when Norton Company acquired this land on a rural highway, and built the original building and production started right here in this community.
In 1985, the plant expanded with the addition of the shapes building, as a distribution Center, increasing our capabilities and supporting future growth.
In 1988, the jumbo warehouse was added, strengthening our operations and helping us better serve our customers.
In 2004, the North American customer service team was consolidated here, bringing us even closer to the customers and markets we support every day.
And more recently, in 2024, we started a new chapter with the addition of the Norax Maker, the only Engineered Abrasives maker in Saint-Gobain Worldwide. One of several restructuring projects in our history that chose Stephenville over other parts of the country.
Over the decades, we've continued to evolve—adding new technologies, expanding our product offerings, developing our people, and adapting to the changing needs of our customers. Through every change, the foundation of our success has remained the same: the commitment, skill, and dedication of the people who work here.
When this facility first opened its doors, no one could have fully imagined the impact it would have on Stephenville and the generations of employees who would work here. Through changing markets, new technologies, economic ups and downs, and countless challenges, one thing has remained constant: the dedication of the people who work here.
The story of this plant is first and foremost a story about people;
It is the story of employees who showed up every day determined to do their best work.
It is the story of leaders who challenged teams to improve and innovate.
It is the story of families who supported loved ones through long shifts, busy production schedules, and the many demands of manufacturing.
And it is the story of a community that has supported this plant and helped it grow for half a century.
Today, I want to celebrate our employees—past and present.
The success we enjoy today is built by your hard work, sacrifice, and commitment.
Long before many of us arrived, our retirees established the standards for quality, safety, teamwork, and customer service that continue to guide this facility.
The foundation you built has allowed future generations to thrive.
Thank you for helping create the culture that makes this plant what it is today. We are honored to celebrate with you and grateful for everything you have contributed over the years.
For 50 years, our employees’ hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence have been the driving force behind this plant's success. Whether you joined recently or spent your entire career here, each of you has helped build the legacy we celebrate today.
I also want to recognize our families.
Manufacturing is a team sport, and the team extends far beyond these walls. Every milestone we achieve is supported by spouses, parents, children, and loved ones who encourage us, support us, and make sacrifices alongside us.
Today's celebration belongs to you as well.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
And to our community partners, thank you for standing with us over the years.
As we reflect on the last 50 years, there is much to be proud of.
We have produced products – billions of belts, rolls, discs and disc rolls - that help our customers succeed.
We have created jobs and careers.
We have invested in people.
We have overcome many challenges.
And most importantly, we have built a culture centered on safety, teamwork, respect, and continuous improvement that make the Stephenville plant a unique place in the Saint-Gobain world.
Anniversaries are not only about looking back.
They are also about looking forward.
The manufacturing world will continue to evolve. New technologies will emerge. Customer expectations will change. New challenges will arise.
Yet I am incredibly optimistic about our future.
Why?
Because the same qualities that built this plant over the last 50 years are alive and well today. Every day I see employees who care deeply about one another, who are committed to excellence, and who embrace change as an opportunity to improve.
That gives me confidence that the next 50 years will be even stronger than the first – Saint-Gobain continues to invest in our plant because of all of you.
As we celebrate today, let's take pride in what we have accomplished together. Let's honor those who came before us. Let's thank the families and community partners who have helped make this journey possible.
And let's recommit ourselves to the purpose that connects us all— Making the World a Better Home for our employees, our families, our customers, and our community.
To everyone who has been part of this plant's story—past and present—thank you.
Congratulations on 50 incredible years of success.
Thank you and enjoy the celebration!
