To be the recognized leader in serving our global customers with protective enclosure solutions.
Zero is committed to providing innovative protective solutions, exceptional customer service, employee pride, and economic progress.
Manufacture Products that ALWAYS Meet Customer Quality & Delivery Expectations. -Partner with Customers -Cultivate Economic Strength -Ensure a Safe Work Environment.
Herman Zierold, while working for Halliburton in Southern California oil fields, struggled with documents damaged by oil and debris during site visits. This led him to design and develop his first aluminum clamshell attache to protect them in the field.
Herman Zierold sells his Los Angeles sheet-metal business to Jack Gilbert, who focuses it on precision sheet-metal products for the emerging electronics industry and renames it Zierold Manufacturing Co.
Demand for deep-drawn boxes and the capital cost of new dies straing the business: Zierold Manufacturing secures a Small Business Administration Loan to stay afloat.
Venture Capitalist Alfred Reddock investes $250,000 dollars, joins the board, and fives the company the credibility needed to pursue a public offering.
The company goes public and, in response to customers repeatedly confusing “Zierold” with “Zero,” the company officially changes its name to Zero Manufacturing Co., marking the formal start of the “Zero” brand that Zero Cases later trades on.
Zero continues adding dies/toolings (eventually exceeding 1,500), expands beyond California after interest from Bendix, and opens additional manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts and Florida to serve aerospace and electronics customers nationwide.
Late 60’s became 16 companies and multiple divisions, mulitiple offerings and product lines
Early 1969, Zero purchased Halliburton’s luggage-making operations, creating the Zero Halliburton aluminum luggage line that rapidly became internationally known; this consumer brand sits alongside the industrial case business that evolves into Zero Cases / Zero Manufacturing. July 11-24, 1969 the Apollo 11 Mission utilized Zero’s cases bringing back moon rock samples collected by Neil Armstrong Buzz Aldrin. Zero Cases/Boxes will subsequently be used in follow-on Apollo Missions and the greater NASA Organization.
Zero Diversifies into heating and cooling equipment
Zero returns profitability, earning roughly $600k on $22 million in sales, and changes its corporate name again, from Zero Manufacturing Co. to Zero Corporation. Obtained TA Instrument Cases which manufacture fabricated case assemblies
Zero purchased Moorlee, a competitor in the deep drawn cases
Late 1970’s – Zero’s die/tooling library well exceeds 1,500 and supports approximately 40,000 box sizes; sales reach approximately $66 million dollars by 1979 with net earnings of $4.7 million, and the “Zero Box” becomes a generic term in aerospace and electronics.
CEO Jack Gilbert retires from day-to-day operations and is succeeded by Howard W. Hill as CEO
Attorney and former corporate counsel Wilford “Woody” Godbold joins as executive vice president.
Howard W. Hill retirees and Godbold becomes CEO; Zero’s sales reach approximately $117 million dollars with approximately $11.5 million dollars in net earnings, including gains from divestitures
Mid- 1980’s – Under Godbold, Zero acquires multiple electonics-oriented companies (e.g., Contempo Engineering) and expands its presence in electonic thermal management and system packaging; its customer base grows to 187 of the 200 largest electronics manufacturers and around an 85 percent share of the enclosure market.
Zero purchased Micrite, a company who produced miniture drawn housings
Late 1980’s – Revenues rise from approximately $139 million dollars to $171 million dollars between 1987 and 1988.
Zero relocates its main Los Angeles manufacturing to the Salt Lake City/North Salt Lake City, Utah area and consolidates reamining California plants; the Utah move becomes the manufacturing base that later supports Zero Manufacturing/Zero Cases operations.
Achieved ISO 9001 Certification and various military-related quality cerificatiions (including MIL-STD-based sampling, SPC-certified supplier status to key customers, and multiple other Mil-Spec approvals); Certifications are still active today.
Betwen 1993 and 1995 – Zero acquires J.H. Sessions & Sons (case hardware), Precision Fabrication Technologies (modular enclosures and data-communications products), Electro-Mechanical Imagineering (CCTV enclosure and mounting devices), and G.W. Pearce & Sons (UK deep-drawn aluminum products) adding roughly $16 million dollars in revenue and broadening the enclosure and hardware portfolio.
Zero continues to expand its Zero Halliburton line (including laptop and wheeled cases) and launches Zero Integrated Systems to provide fully integrated electronic systems and related services.
Purchased IE Instrument Enclosures – fabricated enclosures similar to TA
Zero Coroporation is acquired by Applied Power Inc. (APW) in an all-stock transaction valued around $386 million dollars, making Zero a subsidiary within a larger global electrical and electronic enclosure group.
Secured a notable airline contract to supply baggage/cargo systems to 50 United Airlines’ Airbus Aircraft, illustrating long-standing transport and baggage expertise.
APW sells the Utah Industrial operations (Zero Manufacturing) to Blue Point Capital and the principals of Cascade Consolidated Industries. Purchased Hydro Deep Draw – located in California and consolidated their operations to SLC.
Sold Zero Haliburton and it was purchased by ACE out of Japan – purchase was for the brand & double bead trademark
Approximately mid 2000’s-2020, Zero positions itself as the only supplier offering both metal (deep-drawn/fabricated aluminum) and plastic cases and enclosures under one roof, highlighting this dual-material capability as a competitive differentiator in military/industrial markets. Application focus includes military defense, energy, aerospace, EMI/RFI-shielded enclosures, transit/storage cases, 19-inch rackmount cases, modular reusable containers, and instrument cases, covering much of the rugged-case and mission-critical enclosure space.
Zero emphasizes ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 Rev D/AS9100D certifications, alignment with ATA-300, and Mil-Spec requirements, underscoring a strategic focus on aerospace and defense programs.
Partners with Guardian Injection Molding from Italy
CE Star Holdings acquires Zero Cases/Zero Manufacturing
Evan Nazal appointed as CEO
Rockwood Equity Partners Acquires Zero Cases/Zero Manufacturing
At Zero, our people are the foundation of everything we build. From engineers and machinists to welders, assemblers, and quality specialists, every team member plays a critical role in delivering mission-critical protection. Their precision, discipline, and pride in craftsmanship ensure that each case meets the highest standards for performance, durability, and reliability.
We foster a culture built on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Our team works together with purpose, knowing that the products we manufacture protect equipment, operations, and in many cases, human lives. It is this shared commitment to excellence that defines Zero and drives us forward every day.
Evan Nazal
CEO
Kevin Wilson
CFO
Chris Read
Director of Engineering
Gregg Benoit
Director of Sales
Rebecca Rue
Human Resource Manager
Nadine Soweidan
Quality Manager
Dawn Austin
Supply Chain Manager
Ross Ferrin
Engineering Manager
Scott Sparrow
Facilities Manager
Felipe Alatorre
Production Manager
Scott Colagrossi
Business Development & Marketing Manager
Join our team and build what cannot fail while enjoying competitive benefits, every other Friday off, and a full week off between Christmas and New Year’s to recharge with the people who matter most.