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Stories In The Twisted Wire Brush Industry.

Production Capacity Increased To Meet Market Demand

PALMER, MA. December, 2015.   Sanderson MacLeod recently confirmed the installation of an additional laser production line in order to significantly increase capacity of the company’s patented Z-Tip product and will be ready for production by December 31st, 2015.

The investment, according to Sanderson MacLeod’s President Mark N. Borsari is needed to keep up with the overwhelming market demand for their proprietary Z-Tip product and ensure duplicity in their manufacturing capabilities. “We are very excited,” said Borsari. “From the very beginning, we knew the need for brushes with a perfectly smooth, consistent and inseparable protective tip was huge. The growing Z-Tip demand, combined with new advancements in technology, made our decision to further invest a very easy one.”

The announcement of additional production capabilities is just the latest development in the meteoric rise of the Z-Tip product line.

“Several years ago, our clients needed a better, safer, and more economically priced protective brush tip,” Sanderson MacLeod’s Director of Operations Ted Snyder recalled. “We developed the Z Tip manufacturing method utilizing material joining engineering. After extensive testing, we engineered a way to melt a pre-constructed core wire section into a consistent, smooth and inseparable protective tip. It’s a patented process, and has exceeded even our own high expectations.”

To date, the Z-Tip has received numerous awards, including the William A. Cordes Innovation Excellence Award from the American Brush Manufacturers Association (ABMA). According to David C. Parr, Executive Director of the ABMA, “We were delighted to present the 2011 ABMA William A. Cordes Innovation Excellence Award to Sanderson MacLeod. The award recognizes outstanding industry innovation and has become quite sought after and prestigious. It serves as a constant reminder that all new and exciting endeavors have beginnings that connect with real people.”

Sanderson MacLeod reports that appointments are already being scheduled for Z-Tip prototype development in their new Brush Innovation Center for clients serving the Medical, Cosmetic, Gun Care, Manufacturing, and General Cleaning markets.

Sanderson MacLeod Hosts Lean Manufacturing 101 Training

PALMER, MA October 2015.

{Updated 2/6/19}

LEAN Manufacturing Continues to be a Major Component of Sanderson MacLeod’s Success

Sanderson MacLeod furthered their LEAN Journey recently by hosting two custom designed “LEAN 101” training sessions.  On October 20th and October 21st,  LEAN 101 classes were held on-site at the Sanderson MacLeod manufacturing facility for a combined total of 26 participants.  In addition to Sanderson MacLeod personnel, employees from 5 other companies were in attendance.  The 4 hour training courses combined theoretical and hands on exercises that clearly demonstrated the value of LEAN manufacturing.

“We began our LEAN Journey back in 2009,” said Sanderson MacLeod’s Continuous Improvement Engineer Brian Chechile. “Mandating that all of our employee’s go through LEAN 101 training prior to working on the production floor not only demonstrates how seriously we take our commitment to LEAN, but greatly enhances their ability to understand our culture and quickly become part of our waste reduction team. No question, this training is a huge commitment…but the results speak for themselves.”

One of Sanderson MacLeod’s greatest strengths is their long term and continuous dedication to LEAN manufacturing. Focused on the systematic identification, prioritization and elimination of wasteful processes and practices, LEAN manufacturing allows Sanderson Macleod to produce twisted wire brushes more efficiently and effectively. Enhanced inventory control systems, optimized product use identification, and production optimization saves their customers money in innovative ways. Sanderson MacLeod has been widely recognized as a LEAN manufacturer, a designation that has contributed to awards like Business of the Year, Employer of Choice, Super 60 for Growth and the coveted Cordes Innovation Excellence Award.

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The Future of LEAN Manufacturing at Sanderson MacLeod
{Update: 2/6/19}

To prepare and educate both new and seasoned employees alike, each year Sanderson holds several LEAN 101 courses, complete with “hands-on” demonstrations designed to clearly teach key ideas such as one-piece flow, the 8 wastes of LEAN, the DMAIC process and the 5S system. The education program also shows in great detail the underlying and often misunderstood costs involved with inventory, overproduction, WIP (work in progress) and DOWNTIME.

For nearly 10 years, Sanderson Macleod’s award-winning LEAN manufacturing facility has also been involved in the education and sharing of proven LEAN concepts with others. Sanderson proudly hosts nearly 30 executive, university and LEAN team tours and meetings per year. Sanderson MacLeod utilizes two LEAN consulting experts closely invested in their success, often meeting with and sharing ideas with the executive team to review key objectives and ensure alignment. To date, Sanderson has accomplished over 100 LEAN Projects and Kaizens. In addition, Sanderson employs multiple certified LEAN Six Sigma Green, Yellow and Black belts.

About Sanderson MacLeod, Inc.

Sanderson MacLeod’s 100+ employees come to work every day committed to being the best twisted wire brush company in the world. That’s why so many major corporations have classified Sanderson MacLeod as “dock to stock” and named the company “supplier of the year.” Sanderson MacLeod works diligently to be become a trusted partner in the development and sale of twisted-wire brush products, saving customers money through customized inventory management programs and manufacturer direct pricing. Sanderson MacLeod continuously seeks to make their customers more competitive with confidential design assistance and innovative new product development.

For more information, explore the LEAN Manufacturing Methodology Page

Brush Innovation Center (BIC) Construction Announced

Sanderson MacLeod’s development center to provide unparalleled concept to production development capabilities.

PALMER, MA July 2015.   Sanderson MacLeod recently announced the construction start of their new Brush Innovation Center (BIC). The facility will be located at the company’s corporate headquarters in Palmer, MA.

Designed to facilitate prototype development and functional testing of twisted wire brush solutions, the Brush Innovation Center was created based upon a need to reduce brush design and development time. Projects that may have traditionally taken weeks using a “multiple sample and test” model can now be done in hours utilizing the latest in brush making technology.  The BIC will include a modern meeting space, an engineering laboratory containing dedicated sampling equipment, internet access, 3D SANMAC Design Software, video conferencing, and 3D Printing. In addition, production line trials and proof of concept testing utilizing proprietary high capacity equipment will be made available.

“Sanderson’s Brush Innovation Center represents the next level of customer collaboration. Our clients have always counted on us to confidentially develop and protect the best twisted wire brush solutions possible. Now, they will find when working with us in the BIC, going from concept to solution is much more streamlined…Without the costly delays historically associated with prototype work,” said Jim DeForest, Sales and Marketing Representative for Sanderson MacLeod.

Further enhancing efficiency, customers can bring along their unique equipment or device and work with Sanderson MacLeod engineers to help design, develop and test the perfect twisted in wire solution.  With extensive video conferencing capabilities for multi-site team projects, visitors to the center are expected to achieve “go to market” confidence faster than ever before.

Appointments are already being scheduled for the Brush Innovation Center for clients serving the Medical, Cosmetic, Gun Care, Manufacturing, and General Cleaning markets.  A formal dedication ceremony and facility opening is planned for mid-September, 2015.

About Sanderson MacLeod, Inc.
Sanderson MacLeod’s 100+ employees come to work every day committed to being the best twisted wire brush company in the world.  That’s why so many major corporations have classified Sanderson MacLeod as “dock to stock” and named the company “supplier of the year.” Sanderson MacLeod works diligently to be become a trusted partner in the development and sale of twisted wire brush products, saving customers money through customized inventory management programs and manufacturer direct pricing. Sanderson MacLeod continuously seeks to make their customers more competitive with confidential design assistance and innovative new product development.

For additional information, contact:
Sanderson MacLeod
Jim DeForest
Sales and Marketing Representative
413-283-3481

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