Minimizer’s move to Owatonna nearly complete

Two employees, two molding machines and one robot.
That’s all that currently remains at Minimizer’s three buildings in Blooming Prairie, home to the company since its inception in 1984.
Eighteen months after breaking ground in Owatonna, the High Bar Brands company is operational and just about fully moved into its new facility. The remaining equipment and employees will be moved to Owatonna the week of May 3.
Minimizer began shipping products from its new facility in early March.
When Minimizer CEO Christopher Thorpe announced plans to move from Blooming Prairie to Owatonna in 2019, he said: “We are simply out of room in Blooming Prairie and need more efficient space.”
Owatonna, Thorpe said, was the best choice for Minimizer as a business-friendly area with room for current requirements and future growth.
Blooming Prairie, which is land-locked in respect to industrial development, could not accommodate the company’s needs.
“The entire team effort involved with making this a success is impressive and could not have happened without the commitment from everyone in all departments,” High Bar Brands Vice President of Operations Jim Richards said.
“I think the most impressive thing about the whole move is that we set sales and shipping records throughout the course of it,” Richards said. “That’s amazing, and it’s a testament to the team we have in place, from sales, to operations, to administration, to customer service.”
The new facility brings Minimizer under one roof. 
“Having everyone in one facility really benefits the efficiency of product flow,” Richards said. “This new set-up drastically reduces the time and space that product travels from raw material to order shipped.”
Richards also believes the move will considerably improve company communication.
“Communication flow in all areas – from daily work distribution to company vision communication – is significantly impacted in a positive way,” Richards said. “Employees now have better access to their supervisor, HR, and other departments.”
Twenty-one, or nearly 30%, of Minimizer’s 74 employees still live in Blooming Prairie.
While located in Blooming Prairie, Minimizer was one of the Blooming Prairie Utilities’ largest customers.
Minimizer is now located on 13-acres in Owatonna’s Industrial Park, just west of the Cybex campus on SW 18th Street, close to the intersection of Interstate 35 and Highway 14.