Author: Chamber Admin

Spotlight on Paragon Tempered Glass Specialists 

Paragon Tempered Glass is a specialty custom glass fabricator. Based in Antwerp, OH the business began in 1977 in Paulding, OH in a horse barn by brothers George and Don Rhonehouse. Their father, George Sr, had worked with the famous Harold McMaster, the inventor of tempered glass. Fortune 500 magazine called Mr. McMaster “The Glass Genius”. Mr. McMaster was from the Henry County area and graduated from Defiance College and The Ohio State University. Tempered glass is widely used around the world and almost everyone has benefitted and observed the world through this amazing invention.  

Within the first year of business, the Rhonehouse brothers were given the opportunity to build a tempering furnace for a customer. In 1978, due to lack of space for this furnace, the site was moved to Antwerp and the original building still exists in the northeast corner of the complex. In 1980, the business was purchased by Glasstech, Inc. out of Perrysburg. During the next decade the company experienced steady growth, turning out quality products and gaining the respect throughout the industry. This growth was spurred by the surging recreational vehicle industry in Elkhart Indiana where 80% of the RV’s in the US are manufactured.  By 1987 the company boasted almost $13 million in sales and employed 200. The plant grew in stages during this time but by the end of the 1980’s the competition for this glass tempering became intense. It was at this time that Glasstech decided to focus on building tempering furnaces. In 1990, the company changed its name to Spec Temp- specializing in fine tempered glass.  Spec Temp focused on cutting edge equipment and became ISO: 9002 certified in 1995. Since then the company has gone through several plant renovations and multiple owners until it merged with Tem-Pace, located in Niles, MI., in 2012 and became known as Paragon Tempered Glass. 

Paragon produces both flat and bent tempered glass as well as insulated glass, to meet the demands for strength, thermal and aesthetic quality glass products. You can find tempered glass in architectural doors and windows, vending machines and laboratory equipment, solar panels, refrigeration, food service equipment, home appliances, shower enclosures and aquariums. You can find it in aircrafts, boats, construction, ATV, military and agricultural equipment as well as cars, truck caps, heavy duty trucks and limousines. All glass is made and sold in the U.S.  

“What separates us from our competition is our customer service and timeliness.” stated Dan Wright, President of Paragon Tempered Glass. Paragon prides themselves in providing quality glass products and on-time performance. They have scored a 98% in customer surveys and boast of nearly 40 years’ experience in glass fabrication and each product is reinforced by their product warranty. Quality is measured on 3 levels including: customer satisfaction, on-time delivery and defect rate which is monitored by the in-house quality lab.  

Paragon has a second plant in Niles, Michigan employing 87. It is smaller than the Antwerp facility which employs 104 people. Paragon runs three shifts and they are always looking for quality, creative and independent thinking workers that desire to work close to home. Paragon offers health insurance, profit sharing and cross training. The administration is committed to investing in this plant ($3 million in capital investments over the last 3 years) and look forward to being part of the community for a long, long time. A commitment to this plant is a commitment to the Antwerp community.  

We, the Antwerp Chamber of Commerce, look forward to working with Paragon Tempered Glass for many years to come.  

Business Spotlight:
Riverside Tire, formerly known as Riverside Hardware, is located north of Antwerp at 14777 SR 49. Owned and operated by Jerry Williams, this multi-purpose business has been serving Antwerp and the surrounding communities since 2006.
For many years, Jerry worked with his father, Keith, who owned the popular Shell gas station in Antwerp, now the location of the Pit Stop. The Shell was part gas station, part small engine repair shop. Jerry’s inspiration was to own and operate a business that allowed him to do small engine repair without the demands of a seven-day-per-week gas station. That is why he opened Riverside Tire, which specializes in small engine repair and car tires.
With spring right around the corner, the time is now to turn your attention lawn care and your personal lawn mower. Many residents make a large investment in keeping their mowers and yards in tip-top shape, and Jerry can assist you by cleaning and sharpening your mower blades, changing your oil, and making sure your lawn mower is operating up to its best potential. For customers who enjoy the recreational and work-horse benefits of an ATV, Jerry can provide many of these same services for your ATV as well.
Does your car seem to pulling one way or another? Are you wondering if you might need new tires? Jerry can answer both of those questions for you. He deals in high-end tires, such as Mastercraft, BF Goodrich, Uniroyal, and Michelin tires, and his connections to get next-day delivery on tires means that you can have your car back humming down the road with little to no inconvenience. If minor tire service is all you may need, Jerry can check your tires’ air pressure, as well as balance and rotate them as needed.
In addition to small engines and tires, Riverside Tire also offers an array of maintenance services, including filling propane tanks, sharpening chain saw blades, and selling bales of straw; and fishing enthusiasts can find live bait all summer long at Riverside Tire.
Jerry believes in treating people right, and he always tries to get the best price on tires, engine parts, and all other supplies that he sells. Riverside Tire is open Monday through Friday 8am-5pm and Saturdays 8am-3pm. If you have a question about what Jerry can do for you, give him a call at 419-258-1917.