Zero regrets are something the owners of ZAGO Manufacturing, a global manufacturer of high-tech, custom sealing solutions and components, can attest to after more than 25 years of business. Husband and wife team, Harvey Rottenstrich and Gail Friedberg began the New Jersey-based company in 1993. “We’ve never once had second thoughts about starting or moving forward…
How women-owned company, Advance Components, has changed the culture of fastener manufacturing
In 2006, Doug Berry sat down with his two daughters, Suzy Cravens and Pam Berry, and shared some unhappy news. His health was failing, and he was ready to turn over control of the company he founded, Advance Components, to his family. Advance has been a top U.S. distributor of specialty fastening products since 1972.…
Meet Infasco: A global, vertically integrated, woman-owned manufacturer
Infasco has been a global provider of one of the largest ranges of fastener products and services for more than 60 years. According to the company, what makes it unique is the high-quality of its components, which are tracked from material selection to the end-user. In fact, one of its common tag lines is: “If…
Designing peace of mind: How a German toolmaker created a global enterprise
Ask 80-year-old Dieter Ramsauer about his childhood and he’s likely to tell you about the bicycle he assembled when he was six years old from scrap parts he found around his neighborhood. In fact, he loved building things out of nothing — and still does. After the second world war, there were many piles of…
Living the American dream: How Hernon Manufacturing became a U.S. success story
Mixing adhesives in his mother’s basement was something Harry Arnon probably never imagined doing growing up. He likely never thought he’d co-own a U.S. company with his brother, Josef, either — and especially a world-renowned one that manufactures high-performance adhesives, sealants, and precision dispensing equipment. However, the two brothers are at the helm of Hernon…
Like father, like sons: How the Slass brothers took Rotor Clip to the next level
Launching a new company is no easy feat, even for the most ambitious of entrepreneurs. For Robert Slass, it took getting fired from one fastener company before he ventured on his own in 1957 and founded Rotor Clip — which has since become a global manufacturer of retaining rings, springs, clamps, and more. “My father…
From home experiments to U.S. manufacturing: How Craftech got successful
It’s, perhaps, of little surprise that Barbara Gerard became CEO of Craftech Industries, Inc., a U.S. high-tech manufacturer of standard and custom parts and fasteners. Her father started the company in 1967, but fasteners were a big part of her childhood. “I remember I was in fourth grade when one of my classmates told me…
Inventions that paid off: The history of SPIROL
For some people, challenges are merely opportunities to solve problems. This was particularly true for Herman Koehl, an engineer who moved to the United States shortly after World War II and worked for the U.S. Air Force. For Koehl, engineering served as an opportunity to solve problems and invent new solutions. And he was good…
The paint doctor: How D.L.P. Coatings got its start
Treat others how you want to be treated. According to Patrick Murphy, VP of D.L.P. Coatings, Inc., a provider of quality painted fasteners, that is one of the key business lessons his dad taught him. His father, Richard “Dick” Murphy, opened D.L.P. in 1985. “My dad was originally a manufacturer’s rep in the fastener industry…
Why “Made in America” matters to S&W Manufacturing
What began nearly 40 years ago as a general job shop company has since developed into a well-known U.S manufacturer of precision machined products. S&W Manufacturing has grown from a single shop that once served the gaming industry of the 80s to a multi-facility company that serves several global industries — including aerospace, automotive, electronics,…