BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:51 PM
Page 1
August 2010
Broom, Brush & Mop Magazine SERVING THE INDUSTRY SINCE 1912
Fiber/Filaments
Business Escalating For Suppliers PelRay International PMM DuPont Filaments Keystone Plastics Distribuidora Perfect Hahl Inc. Brush Fibers Monahan Filaments R.E. Caddy & Co. MFC, Ltd. Industrial Brushes
Companies Rely On Quality Products, Customer Service Abtex Corp. Felton Brush Precision Brush Liberty Brush
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:51 PM
Page 2
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:51 PM
Page 3
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:51 PM
Page 4
PAGE 4
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
August 2010
Broom, Brush & Mop A RANKIN PUBLISHING PUBLICATION
August 2010
FEATURES Business Escalating For Fiber & Filament Suppliers ___________________6
Volume 100, Number 8
CALENDAR NOVEMBER 9 - 12, 2010
ISSA/INTERCLEAN®, Orlando, FL Information: 800-225-4772
Import/Export Overview________________________18 April Imports & Exports ________________________22
NOVEMBER 18 - 19, 2010
Industrial Brush Companies Rely On Quality Products, Customer Service In Combating Recession Economy___________________________31
MARCH 6 - 8, 2011
Brush Producers, Suppliers Participate In Annual Victor F. Miller Golf Outing _______________37 Broom Corn Dealer Survey _____________________38
STAFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR Rick Mullen
drankin@consolidated.net
rankinmag@consolidated.net
Linda Rankin
GRAPHIC/PRODUCTION Jennie Grace David Opdyke RECEPTION Sandy Pierce
EDITOR Harrell Kerkhoff rankinmag@consolidated.net
International Home & Housewares Show, Chicago, IL Information: 847-292-4200
MARCH 23 - 26, 2011 ABMA Annual Convention, Austin, TX Information: 630-631-5217
MAY 10 - 12, 2011
CO-PUBLISHERS Don Rankin
lrankin@consolidated.net
National Broom & Mop Meeting, St. Louis, MO Information: 800-626-7282 or 800-637-7739
Rankin Publishing, Inc. 204 E. Main St., P.O. Box 130 • Arcola, Illinois 61910-0130, USA Phone: (217) 268-4959 • Fax: (217) 268-4815 • Website: www.rankinpublishing.com BROOM, BRUSH & MOP (ISSN 0890-2933) is published monthly at 204 E. Main St., P.O. Box 130, Arcola, Illinois 61910. Telephone: (217) 268-4959. Subscriptions are $25 in the United States; $35 in Canada and Mexico; all others $110. The $110 foreign subscriptions include first class air mail postage. Arrangements can be made for first class postage for the United States, Canada and Mexico. Single copies of issues are $2 for subscribers; $5 for nonsubscribers, postage extra. The Suppliers Directory issue is $10 per copy. BROOM, BRUSH & MOP is a monthly trade magazine devoted to news of broom, brush and mop manufacturers and allied industries. It was established in 1912 as the Broom & Broom Corn News. It was entered as second class mail matter Feb. 27, 1912, at the U.S. Post Office in Arcola, Illinois, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Periodical postage paid at Arcola, IL, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address changes to P.O. Box 130, Arcola, IL 61910.
ASSOCIATIONS AMERICAN BRUSH MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION 2111 W. Plum St., Aurora, IL 60506 • (630) 631-5217 AMERICAN HARDWARE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION 801 North Plaza Drive, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4977 • (847) 605-1025 FEIBP EUROPEAN BRUSH FEDERATION P.O. Box 90154, 5000 LG Tilburg, The Netherlands • 00 31 13 5944 678 INTERNATIONAL SANITARY SUPPLY ASSOCIATION 7373 N. Lincoln Avenue, Lincolnwood, IL 60646-1799 • (847) 982-0800 INTERNATIONAL HOUSEWARES ASSOCIATION 6400 Shafer Court, Suite 650, Rosemont, IL 60018 • (847) 292-4200
National Hardware Show, Las Vegas, NV Information: 203-840-5622
MAY 9 - 11, 2012 InterBrush, Freiburg, Germany Information: www.inter-brush.com
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS ABMA .....................................................................................39 Amerwood .................................................................................8 Boucherie USA..........................................................................9 Caddy & Co., Inc., R.E. ..........................................................28 Carlson Tool ...........................................................................24 Crystal Lake ............................................................................21 Deco Products Co....................................................................17 Distribuidora Perfect, S.A. ......................................................39 DuPont.......................................................................................7 Gordon Brush Mfg. Co. Inc. ...................................................19 Jewel Wire Co. ..........................................................................8 Jones Companies......................................................Front Cover Keystone Plastics.....................................................................10 Lemieux Spinning Mill Inc. ......................................................2 Line Manufacturing, Inc..........................................................27 Manufacturers Resource ............................................................5 Monahan Co., The Thomas ....................................................23 PelRay International ................................................................11 PMM........................................................................................12 Royal Paint Roller ...................................................................14 Shanghai Aubi Metals Co..........................................................3 St. Nick Brush Co....................................................................24 Stainless Steel Products...........................................................15 Zahoransky ...............................................................Back Cover Zhenjiang Ruifeng Brush Co. .................................................12
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:51 PM
Page 5
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 6
PAGE 6
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
By Harrell Kerkhoff Broom, Brush & Mop Editor
B
usiness has been escalating for several natural and synthetic fiber/filament suppliers interviewed in July by Broom, Brush & Mop Magazine. These suppliers/manufacturers reported seeing an increase in domestic brush and broom production among some companies that are part of their customer base. In response, these suppliers continue to strive for shorter lead times while maintaining a quality level of supply and customer service. This is all done to not only satisfy current North American customers, but to expand business with potential clients as well.
Bart Pelton of PelRay International
P
elRay International, LLC, continues to fulfill the fiber needs of many North American manufacturers that produce various types of brushes, brooms and mops. The company, with a history that dates over 100 years, has evolved from a broom corn trading business into a fullline natural and synthetic fiber/filament supplier. Natural fibers provided by PelRay International include broom corn and yucca fiber used for corn broom production as well as palmyra and tampico fiber that can be found in various types of brooms and brushes. Palmyra is imported from India, while tampico and most broom corn and yucca fiber are grown in Mexico. The company, which is located in San
Tom Vichich of DuPont Filaments
Chris Monahan of Brush Fibers
August 2010
Michael Naftal of Keystone Plastics
Brian Crawford of Monahan Filaments
Antonio, TX, also imports plastic fiber, such as PVC and polypropylene, used in many types of cleaning-related products. PelRay International CFO Bart Pelton explained that overall, business at his company has been fairly steady in 2010, and much improved over 2009 levels. He noted, however, that the U.S. natural fiber business is still smaller compared to years ago, as a greater percentage of natural fiber brushes and corn brooms are imported into the United States from elsewhere. He said it does appear that domestic brush makers are holding their own these days, while the domestic broom business is still shrinking. Two of the biggest challenges when con-
Rodrigo Ripstein of Distribuidora Perfect
Richard Caddy of R.E. Caddy & Co.
David Kalisz of MFC, Ltd.
Terry Hogan of Hahl Inc.
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 7
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 8
PAGE 8
ducting business as a fiber supplier have to do with ongoing changes in freight and currency exchange rates, according to Pelton. “During the economic meltdown of 2008, trucking and steamship companies were stuck with a lot of extra capacity. Oil prices collapsed and freight costs went way down. The economy is now recovering, but not all the extra capacity has been put on line. This has caused freight issues,” Pelton said “It’s now harder to attain trucks and there is a limited amount of space available on ships when importing. “There is also a fair amount of exchange rate volatility. Trying to insulate customers from this is a challenge.” In the wake of these and other industryrelated issues, it remains imperative that PelRay International officials focus on providing quality customer service. “We know that people can buy everything we sell someplace else. We are not an exclusive supplier. Therefore, to enjoy repeat business we have to provide the right prices, quality and service,” Pelton said. “This includes having our warehouse properly stocked with the right items and
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
August 2010
offering quick delivery. “A lot of what we supply comes from Mexico. This provides a distinct advantage over Asian and European imports. Transit times from Mexico are much shorter and logistics are relatively easy. We can truck an import from a factory in Mexico to a customer anywhere in North America within a week. You can’t do that from any other place in the world with the exception of Canada.” He added that since PelRay International moves a lot of material from Mexico, it can accommodate smaller orders through consolidation of shipments. The company has also developed new sources of tampico fiber, which, he said, will provide for better supply and improved quality. Meeting today’s demands for “greener” products remains another focus at PelRay International. As Pelton states: “Natural fiber is as environmentally friendly as you can get.” “Broom corn is planted every year. With tampico and yucca fiber, these plants grow back after they have been cut. It’s all natural,” he said. “We are also working to increase our supply of FSC (Forest
Stewardship Council) wooden handles.” Contact: PelRay International, LLC, 610 Lanark Drive, No. 202, San Antonio, TX 78218. Phone: 210-757-4640; Fax: 210-650-8103. Web site: www.pelray.com.
The PMM sales team, left to right, includes Dennise Silva, Cynthia Sauza, Veronica Padilla and Icela Muciño.
S
tating that the company’s production capacity has been increased by 20 percent in 2010, officials at Proveedora Mexicana de Monofilamentos (PMM) explained that additional market demands have dictated this action. PMM, which is based in Mexico City, Mexico, specializes in the production of
Brand Handles and Dowels Honduran and Domestic Pine Hardwoods P.O. Box 330065 Fort Worth, Texas 76133 USA
800-442-6353 (800-4-HANDLE) Phone: 817-361-8180 Fax: 817-361-8658 E-mail: amerwood@sbcglobal.net
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 9
AFT-HH
Simply Revolutionary.
ER N N WI BP
OF THE
FnEnoIvati‘o0n8 I
ard Aw
Process Features
Product Features
Fully Integrated Line: one cell concept
Dramatic reduction in costs of materials
Phenomenal output: up to 1,500 picks per minute—zero index time
Innovative designs possible using two component technology
Reduced injection mold cycle times
Ecologically friendly; less plastic, less energy required
Boucherie patented anchorless technology
Product is recyclable, no metal component
204 Fox Road G Knoxville, Tennessee 37922 Telephone 865-247-6091 G Fax 865-247-6117
sales@boucherie.com
Kra. 104 No. 11-25 Apto 102 G Puerta de Hierro Cali, Colombia G Telephone 57-2-333-6873
•
www.boucherie.com
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 10
PAGE 10
synthetic-engineered plastic monofilaments made of nylon (nylon 6.12, nylon 6.6, nylon 6 plus and nylon 6) and polyester PBT. PMM also produces filaments made of polyethylene and polypropylene. “Our materials are mainly used for toothbrushes, cosmetic brushes and industrial brush applications,” PMM General Manager Enrique Mejia explained. He said that the company’s product line has enjoyed equal demand from customers and that, in general, sales have experienced a recovery period over 2009 and 2008 figures. PMM Sales Manager Dennise Silva added that the company continues to benefit from good product consistency and quality. Punctual deliveries and service are also key factors to success. “We provide a 24-hour service guarantee. All customer inquiries will be answered/serviced the same day we receive them,” Silva explained. PMM was founded in 1976 as a privately-owned company. It now has more than 30 years of experience in the production of quality engineered synthetic monofilaments for different applications.
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
The company achieved ISO 9001 certification in 1995 and ISO 14001 certification in 2003. Silva explained that hard work and over 30 years of experience have allowed PMM to become an important supplier to the brush industry. Among the challenges the company is working to overcome, she added, is an instability in the market with the supply of resin. Looking ahead, both Mejia and Silva said they feel confident about their company’s future despite a business climate that continues to experience consolidations — both at supplier and customer levels. Contact: Proveedora Mexicana de Monofilamentos (PMM) at the company’s toll free line for the United States and Canada: 1-877-202-9320. E-mail: pmm@pmm-mex.com. Web site: www.pmmbrightline.com.
R
eporting today’s current economic recovery has helped boost demand for all types of products supplied by DuPont Filaments, is the
August 2010
company’s Marketing & Sales Director Tom Vichich. “Some of our industrial product lines recovered later, and the pace of the recovery has been slow at times, but all segments are improving,” Vichich said. “The first half of 2010 has been good. There is talk among some people about the possibility of a double-dip recession, or at least slowing demand during the second half of 2010. So far we have not experienced this at our company.” Formed over 70 years ago to develop consumer products from the newly invented nylon polymer, today DuPont Filaments offers a wide range of monofilaments for premium quality brushes and industrial applications. As a global company, DuPont Filaments’ main product line includes nylon 6.12 and 6.10, as well as polyester. This includes: nylon 6.12 filaments under the Tynex® brand, polyester filaments under the Orel® brand, mineral grit-filled nylon 6.12 filaments under the Tynex® A brand, TEEE coextruded filaments under the Dymetrol® brand, and nylon 6.10 filaments under the Herox® brand.
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 11
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 12
Tynex® branded filaments are manufactured in level diameters for toothbrush, industrial and cosmetic applications; tapered diameters for paintbrush applications; and mineral grit-filled filaments are used for industrial machining and cleaning applications. Meanwhile, Orel® tapered filaments are used in paintbrush applications, Dymetrol® coextruded filaments are used in seating fabrics, and Herox® filaments can be found in toothbrush applications. “We continue to add variations to our Tynex® and Herox® product lines. This includes Herox® AD that contains diamond grit, and Tynex®A HCP that is a more caustic- and acid-resistant version of our abrasive products,” Vichich said. He added it remains vital that representatives of DuPont Filaments continue to maintain strong relationships and open communication with customers. “We recently launched a new website for DuPont™ Natrafil® filament. This provides potential customers more information about our specially formulated and processed filament that is designed to replace animal bristles used in blush brushes,” Vichich said. “Overall, it’s important that we, as a company, remain flexible and react to the economic environment that is still highly variable.” Contact: DuPont Filaments - Americas, LLC, Washington Works Plant, 8480 DuPont Rd., Building 158, Washington, WV 26161. Phone: 304-863-4908 or 800-635-9695. E-mail: dupont.filaments@usa.dupont.com. Web site: www.filaments.dupont.com.
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
Q
2:52 PM
Page 13
August 2010
uick lead times and an experienced staff continue to help Keystone Plastics meet the various needs of its customer base. The company specializes in the extrusion of polypropylene filament for use in the brush and broom industries. “We are able to produce from .008 to .095 polypropylene fiber,” Keystone Plastics Vice President Michael Naftal said. Keystone produces a full range of polypropylene filaments that come in a variety of diameters, crimps and colors. It manufactures heavy filament for the street sweeping industry, while finer diameter filament is used for industrial and household brush applications. The company’s 66,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility is located in South Plainfield, NJ. Keystone Plastics relies on an experienced staff to provide key knowledge about the company and the various markets it serves. For instance, Keystone Plastics Sales Manager Jack Moran has been with the company for nearly 25 years. “Jack is knowledgeable about our customers’ needs and demands, and has a technical background which he uses to assist the industry in finding the proper products to suit different needs,” Naftal said. “We don’t have a high employee turnover rate by any means. Many of our people have been here 20 or more years. Therefore, our customers are able to speak with the same people and form important relationships. “It’s important for us to limit our lead times to two to three weeks.” According to Naftal, representatives of Keystone Plastics are very willing to work with customers in order to improve efficiency and determine which products work best for each application. “By doing this, we can become a better supplier,” he said. Company officials also reinvest in Keystone Plastics with new equipment and product line updates. When it comes to challenges, Naftal added that purchasing raw materials remains a top concern due to pricing issues. Price increases, however, have subsided somewhat during the past couple of months. Founded in 1945, Keystone Plastics President Marvin Naftal has maintained the company as a family business with his
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
two sons also involved. Michael Naftal serves as vice president and has been with Keystone since 1990. Brian Naftal works in operations as well as sales and has been with the company since 1993. Contact: Keystone Plastics Inc., 3451 South Clinton Ave., South Plainfield, NJ 07080. Phone: 800-635-5238; Fax: 908-561-3404. Web Site: www.keystonesweeperbrushes.com.
A
s demand for “green” products continues to increase, officials at fiber/filament supplier Distribuidora Perfect, S.A. de C.V., of Mexico, have been busy filling natural fiber orders from various brush manufacturers. The company supplies such natural materials as tampico fiber, rice root, palmyra as well as mixtures that include unión fiber (tampico with palmyra), polypropylene, PET, horsehair and hog bristle. Distribuidora Perfect’s Rodrigo Ripstein explained that many of these fibers/filaments are used in brushes that are designed for polishing, washing, waterproofing, painting and other chores. A key characteristic of several types of natural fibers is their resistance to high temperatures. Natural fibers/filaments also continue to meet today’s growing environmental demands. As Ripstein explains: “What is more eco-friendly than a brush containing a wood block and natural filament?” These types of products, he noted, will naturally decompose over a period of time once their productive lives are finished. In other words, they will not take up space in a landfill for an extended period of time. “Products that meet ecological demands continue to grow in popularity and provide a good opportunity for our company,” Ripstein said. One of Distribuidora Perfect’s more popular items continues to be tampico, which the company supplies in natural color or can dye to other colors. Ripstein added that tampico is a natural fiber that comes from Mexico. “Along with dyeing tampico, we can mix it with other materials such as palmyra, bassine, rice root, wire, nylon and polypropylene,” he said. It’s Ripstein’s opinion that there is no
PAGE 13
good substitute for tampico fiber, as it possesses several essential qualities. These qualities include a good memory, meaning the fiber will bounce back to its original shape after being bent. Other benefits include a long life, good absorption and abrasive qualities, and being able to withstand high temperatures. Ripstein added that Distribuidora Perfect has enjoyed a busy year thus far in 2010, and works to deliver shorter lead times along with quality customer service. He remains optimistic about the future. “I think the future is very good for all natural fibers since the world has placed a greater awareness on the environment,” Ripstein said. Distribuidora Perfect was founded in 1946 as a brush maker for the Mexican market. It remains a specialist in producing such products as paintbrushes, paint rollers, power brushes and scrub brushes. It began processing tampico fiber approximately 28 years ago and started selling it to other companies 9 years ago. Contact: Distribuidora Perfect, S.A. de C.V., Calle 4 # 32, Fracc. Ind. Naucalpan, Edo. De Mexico, Mexico, C.P. 53370. Phone: 011 52 55 53 87 04 23 AL 30; Fax: 011 52 55 53 58 89 29. E-Mail: rrk@brochasperfect.com.mx. Website: www.brochasperfect.com.mx.
A
s the world economy shows signs of improvement in 2010, demand for all types of synthetic filaments produced by Hahl Inc., of Lexington, SC, has increased, according to Terry Hogan, Hahl’s sales manager for North America. Hahl manufactures synthetic bristle, nylon (6, 66, 612, 610), polyester, polypropylene, abrasive fiber Abrafil 612 and Hahlbrasif 6 for the brush industry. “Our products are used in the brush market for many applications. These brushes are predominantly found within the technical brush market as well as the professional cleaning market,” Hogan said. Hahl Inc. sells many products from a generic list of stock that meet the needs of most customers. For individual orders, the company sells as little as one box to several thousand pounds. “In addition to our generic stock items, Hahl Inc. manages many custom stock programs for individual customers. This
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 14
PAGE 14
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
enables the company to offer short lead times and take advantage of manufacturing efficiencies,” Hogan said. “Our customers are then able to meet the delivery requirements for their own customers without increasing the value of raw materials.” When asked what specific challenges Hahl Inc. officials are keeping their eyes on most, Hogan added that within all industries, the economy receives the most attention. “If economic improvement continues, 2010 will be a good year,” Hogan said. “It has been a year, thus far, with serious supply issues related to raw material resin availability. Upward price pressure has been a result of these resin shortages. “Our target markets are strong and in a good worldwide position. The majority of our customers are problem solvers for their own customers. Typically, brushes are process enhancers in industrial applications, and these brushes are the key element.” Hogan added that Hahl Inc. is growing. “Our business is diversified, and for the most part, we have survived the impact
from China,” he said. Hahl Inc. is presently owned by Lenzing AG, a publicly-owned Austrian company. In 2007, Glassmaster Inc. (Columbia, SC) was purchased out of bankruptcy and the name was changed to Hahl Inc. For the past 2 1/2 years, Hahl Inc. has been rebuilt with equipment supplied by sister companies Hahl GmbH and Pedex GmbH. “This equipment has helped us improve and modernize our extrusion process to better supply North American markets,” Hogan said. Contact: Hahl Inc., 126 Glassmaster Rd., Columbia, SC 29072. Phone: 803-359-0706; Fax: 803-359-0074. E-mail: t.hogan@lenzing.com. Website: www.lenzing.com.
Q
uality customer service and quick lead times remain vital when supplying a wide variety of natural and synthetic fiber/filament materials at Brush Fibers, Inc., located in Arcola, IL. The company supplies such natural fibers as tampico, palmyra, sherbro, coco,
August 2010
arenga, bassine, rice root and horsehair. Synthetic filaments include polypropylene, polystyrene, PVC, PET and wire. The company also supplies foam and solid plastic brush blocks. Brush Fibers President Chris Monahan stated in early July that business could best be described as “solid” for the first part of 2010, and an improvement over 2009 sales. “Business has been a little more consistent, which is good. There is pressure, however, throughout the entire supply chain for just-in-time inventory,” Monahan said. “Our customers’ customers are also keeping low inventory levels. This can sometimes exacerbate the whole supply chain. “There was a period during the spring (of 2010) when a large rush (on orders) put pressure throughout the supply chain, but lead times seem to be back to more normal levels.” Brush Fibers has multiple warehousing facilities in North America and a centralized headquarters in Arcola, which is located in Central Illinois. In addition, Brush Fibers has its own fleet of trucks and can
Royal Paint Roller Royal Paint Roller — a name known in the industry for over 35 years for top quality products, fine service and competitive prices. Manufacturer of paint rollers in ALL SIZES—from Slim Jim to Jumbo 21⁄4” I.D. in VARIETY OF FABRICS—including lambskin, kodel, lambswool, synthetic blends & “Lint Free” woven line. Also a complete line of frames, trays, paint brushes & painting accessories for the professional and Do-It-Yourself markets. Specializing in private labeling at competitive prices.
ROYAL PAINT ROLLER 248 Wyandanch Avenue West Babylon, N.Y. 11704 Tel: (631) 643-8012 • Fax: (631) 253-9428
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 15
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
PAGE 16
2:52 PM
Page 16
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
combine orders with The Thomas Monahan Company and Monahan Filaments to reduce shipping costs for customers. Monahan said his business remains committed to customer service. “A consistent policy of efficiently shipping products within 24 hours and keeping a large stock of inventory, at competitive prices, provides many opportunities at our company,” he explained. “Customers appreciate this effort, which includes our ability at Brush Fibers to place quite a few different orders in one shipment to save on freight costs. “Brush Fibers will continue to concentrate on providing natural fibers, polypropylene and polystyrene, which will allow Monahan Filaments to invest more heavily in highly engineered resins.” The various fiber/filament items provided by Brush Fibers are used to make brush and broom products found in different markets, such as retail, household, janitorial/sanitary and industrial segments. These products include angle and push brooms as well as car wash and industrial brushes. Monahan said “recycling” and “green” continue to be important buzz words among customers, although price can sometimes slow down this demand. Brush Fibers helps satisfy those seeking environmentally friendly products through the supply of various types of natural fiber and recycled material. Natural fibers are considered a renewable resource, while PET is made from recycled plastic soda and water bottles. “I think the demand for recycled materials will continue to grow as long as the United States can increase its recycling efforts. We, as a country, have historically been lacking behind other places in the world when it comes to recycling plastics,” he said. As a domestic fiber/filament supplier, Monahan said there are encouraging signs taking place showing certain U.S. manufacturers focusing more on purchasing raw materials “at home.” “It’s very difficult right now for these companies to forecast sales and manage their inventories given such long lead times from overseas. This has helped us as we can ship much quicker and help alleviate some inventory and financial burdens,” he explained. Challenges within a global economy, however, continue. For example, commodity pricing with such items as resins remains a concern. Despite this, Monahan is optimistic about the future. “I feel the business climate is getting better compared to last year. We all have challenges, but hopefully there are brighter days ahead for everybody,” he added. Contact: Brush Fibers, Inc., 202 N. Oak St., Arcola, IL 61910. Phone: 217-268-3012; Fax: 217-268-3245. E-mail: chris@brushfibers.com.
F
ocusing on new products, strong partners and solid customer service is allowing representatives of Monahan Filaments to look toward the future with optimism.
“We are very optimistic about those markets that we serve,” Monahan Filaments Director of Sales & Marketing Brian Crawford said. “With a narrower manufacturing focus and competent partners, the future of Monahan Filaments is extremely good. The manufacturing team in Arcola, IL, that has been assembled and trained does an outstanding job and is only getting better with experience. “We will soon be launching a new family of flame retardant products, as well as filaments that will be extremely temperature and chemically resistant for the most demanding applications.” Monahan Filaments began operations in 2007 with the acquisition of the assets of Specialty Filaments, of Middlebury, VT. Several years earlier, The Thomas Monahan Company acquired disposed assets from SFI, which began the production of synthetic filaments in Arcola. The Middlebury plant was closed in November 2009, and now the complete focus is on operations in Arcola with cooperation from partners in Canada and Asia, Continued On Page 35
August 2010
Addendum To Broom, Brush & Mop 2010 Buyers Guide Worldwide Integrated Resources 7171 Telegraph Rd. Montebello, CA 90640 USA Toll Free: 800-441-6448 FAX: 323-838-8939 E-Mail: info@wwir.com Web Site: www.wwir.com Company Officers: Fred Morad, President/CEO; Todd Carlson, VP Sales/Marketing; Lucy You, COO Products: Metal and plastic hardware, dustpans, self-wringing mops, wet mops, sponge mops, dust mops and frames, buckets, brooms, miscellaneous and specialty items. 10 Monterey Mills P.O. Box 271 Janesville, WI 53547 USA Phone: 608-754-2866 FAX: 608-754-3750 E-Mail: sinykind@montereymills.com Web Site: www.montereymills.com Company Officers: Daniel Sinykin, President Products: Premier supplier of knitted pile fabric to the paint roller industry. Apparel, over-the-counter, toy, saddlepad, casket / boot / slipper / music case liners, wash mitts, pet beds, wool and wool blended buffing pads, premium hospital pads, and pet bed fabrics. Brief History: Monterey Mills is today a combination of multiple companies. Joseph Rosenberg founded Roller Fabrics in 1946 and expanded the use of pile fabric when paint rollers started being used during the 1950s. The company’s emphasis on industrial and applicator fabrics remains strong today. In 1995, Daniel Sinykin and his wife, Jodi Habush, purchased the company from the Rosenberg family. Monterey Mills, founded by Carl Jensen and later run by his son, Jay Jensen, began in Janesville, WI, in 1965 manufacturing faux fur for the women’s apparel and toy industries, as well as home furnishings such as bedspreads, throws and bath rugs. Monterey Mills expanded and improved its products and its physical size. In August 2005, Dan and Jodi purchased the company from Jay Jensen and consolidated operations. His goal was, and is, to continue expanding the business by offering the highest quality knitted pile fabric to industrial and retail markets. Special Features: Monterey Mills strives to be the premium supplier of knitted pile fabric and to be recognized as a leader in the industry. The company’s goal is to provide customers with a product they can be proud of, and to assist them in the growth of their business. In addition, Monterey Mills strives to provide its valued employees with an environment in which they can learn, grow, achieve success, and participate in the success of the company's common vision. Newsworthy Happenings: Monterey Mills marks its 64th anniversary in 2010. 10
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 17
Get The Right Connection
MOP & BROOM TIPS, EXTENSIONS AND ADAPTORS BY... DECO Deco Standard Tips 5252
8024
Juno Tips 5399 (Patented) With Modified 3/4 - 5 Standard ACME Thread OD .937 - ID .812 Length 2.562
Available With Your Company Logo
Customized
WHEN YOUR BROOMS & MOPS NEED TO BE STREET TOUGH As they say "The Market Is Tough" and so are Deco's Mop & Broom Tips, Extensions & Adaptors. With Deco you have the right connection on the street with which to attach your handles. Deco's quality tips, extensions and adaptors are die cast from certified zinc alloy, one of nature's most impact resistant metals. You can order standard ACME or your own custom threading in a wide range of tapers, shapes and styles.
For: Wood, Fiberglass& Metal Handles We Offer: • Die Casting • Powder Coating • Plating • Engineering Services
So when you need a tough connection on the end of your handle get in the ring with Deco. Custom or standard tips for brooms and mops. Deco gives you clout.
Call Us Today: Deco Products Company 506 Sanford Street Decorah, Iowa 52101
1-800-327-9751 1-563-382-4264 Fax: 1-563-382-9845
Visit Our Web Site At: www.decoprod.com email / jraptes@decoprod.com
Our Facility is 9001 : 2000 Registered Keeping Deco A Leader In The Field
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 18
PAGE 18
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
August 2010
Imports, Exports Both Show Increases After Four Months By Rick Mullen Broom, Brush & Mop Associate Editor U.S. government trade figures for the first four months of 2010 indicate raw material imports were up in two of the four categories outlined in this issue. For April 2010, raw material imports were up in three of the four categories outlined, compared to April 2009. Import totals for the first four months of 2010 were up in six of the seven finished goods categories outlined from the same time period in 2009. In April 2010, five of the seven categories outlined also recorded increases, compared to April 2009. RAW MATERIAL IMPORTS Hog Bristle The United States imported 22,500 kilograms of hog bristle in April 2010, up significantly from 2,250 kilograms imported in April 2009. During the first four months of 2010, 48,174 kilograms of hog bristle were imported, about a 47 percent decrease from 90,084 kilograms imported during the first four months of 2009. China sent all of hog bristle to the United States during the first four months of 2010. The average price per kilogram for April 2010 was $3.17, down about 91 percent from the average price per kilogram for April 2009 of $35.97. The average price per kilogram for the first four months of 2010 was $11.43, down about 9 percent from the average price per kilogram of $12.58 for the first four months of 2009. Broom And Mop Handles The import total of broom and mop handles during April 2010 was 1.4 million, down about 13 percent from 1.6 million in April 2009. During the first four months of 2010, 5.7 million broom and mop handles were imported, compared to 6.9 million for the first four months of 2009, a decrease of about 17 percent. During the first four months of 2010, the United States received 2.2 million broom and mop handles from Brazil, 1.6 million from Honduras, 877,205 from Indonesia and 828,475 from China. The average price per handle for April 2010 was 74 cents, up about 6 percent from 70 cents for April 2009. The average price for the first four months of 2010 was 70 cents, a decrease of about 4 percent over the average price recorded for the first four months of 2009 of 73 cents. Brush Backs April 2010 imports of brush backs totaled 577,092, up about 139 percent from the April 2009 total of 241,331 brush backs. During the first four months of 2010, 2.4 million brush backs were imported, up about 184 percent from 845,559 for the first four months of 2009. Canada shipped 1.2 million brush backs to the United States during the first four months of 2010, while China shipped 647,538. The average price per brush back was 50 cents during April 2010, up 2 cents from the average price for April 2009. For the first four months of 2010, the average price per brush back was 49 cents, up about 14 percent from the average price of 43 cents for the first four months of 2009.
Metal Handles The import total of metal handles during April 2010 was 2.7 million, up about 29 percent from 2.1 million for April 2009. During the first four months of 2010, 11.5 million metal handles were imported, up about 34 percent from 8.6 million for the first four months of 2009. During the first four months of 2010, Italy shipped 5.6 million metal handles to the United States, while China sent 4.2 million and Spain exported 1.5 million. The average price per handle for April 2010 was 53 cents, down about 15 percent from 62 cents for April 2009. The average price for the first four months of 2010 was 50 cents, down about 19 percent from 62 cents for the first four months of 2009. FINISHED GOODS IMPORTS Brooms Of Broom Corn Valued At Less Than 96 Cents Imports of brooms of broom corn valued at less than 96 cents per broom during April 2010 totaled 9,560. No brooms were reported imported during April 2009. During the first four months of 2010, 28,740 brooms of broom corn were imported, about a 72 percent increase from 16,668 imported during the first four months of 2009. All the brooms were imported from Mexico. The average price per broom in April 2010 was 81 cents. The average price for the first four months of 2010 was 89 cents, up about 16 percent from 77 cents for the first four months of 2009. Brooms Of Broom Corn Valued At More Than 96 Cents The United States imported 738,709 brooms of broom corn valued at more than 96 cents per broom during April 2010, compared to 687,664 in April 2009, an increase of about 7 percent. During the first four months of 2010, 3 million brooms of broom corn were imported, up about 11 percent from 2.7 million imported during the first four months of 2009. Mexico shipped 2.9 million brooms to the United States during the first four months of 2010. The average price per broom for April 2010 was $2.43, down about 2 percent from $2.47 for April 2009. The average price per broom for the first four months of 2010 was $2.45, down 1 cent from the first four months of 2009. Brooms & Brushes Of Vegetable Material The import total of brooms and brushes of vegetable material during April 2010 was 250,833, up about 17 percent from 214,644 brooms and brushes imported during April 2009. During the first four months of 2010, 969,000 brooms and brushes were imported, up about 89 percent from 512,204 imported during the first four months of 2009. Sri Lanka exported 613,532 brooms and brushes to the United States during the first four months of 2010, while Vietnam sent 138,740. The average price per unit for April 2010 was $1.78, down about 15 percent from $2.10 for April 2009. The average price for the first four months of 2010 was $1.54, a decrease of about 20 percent from the average price recorded for the first four months of 2009 of $1.93.
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 19
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
PAGE 20
2:52 PM
Page 20
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
Toothbrushes The United States imported 74.5 million toothbrushes in April 2010, up about 6 percent from 70.3 million imported in April 2009. During the first four months of 2010, 276.9 million toothbrushes were imported, an increase of about 6 percent from 261.9 million imported during the first four months of 2009. China sent 182 million toothbrushes to the United States during the first four months of 2010, while Switzerland sent 39.2 million. The average price per toothbrush for April 2010 was 23 cents, up about 21 percent from 19 cents for April 2009. The average price for the first four months of 2010 was 21 cents, the same as for the first four months of 2009. Shaving Brushes The United States imported 10.5 million shaving brushes in April 2010, down about 14 percent from 12.2 million imported in April 2009. During the first four months of 2010, 34.3 million shaving brushes were imported, a decrease of about 26 percent from 46.5 million imported during the first four months of 2009. China sent 15.5 million shaving brushes to the United States during the first four months of 2010, while Mexico sent 11.1 million and Germany shipped 6.5 million. The average price per shaving brush for April 2010 was 13 cents, down about 13 percent from 15 cents for April 2009. The average price for the first four months of 2010 was 12 cents, down about 14 percent from 14 cents for the first four months of 2009. Paint Rollers The United States imported 4.4 million paint rollers in April 2010, down about 21 percent from 5.6 million imported in April 2009. During the first four months of 2010, 19 million paint rollers were imported, an increase of about 19 percent from 15.9 million imported during the first four months of 2009. China sent 13.4 million paint rollers to the United States during the first four months of 2010, while Mexico sent 4.5 million. The average price per paint roller for April 2010 was 45 cents, down about 12 percent from 51 cents for April 2009. The average price for the first four months of 2010 was 41 cents, down about 24 percent from 54 cents for the first four months of 2009. Paintbrushes U.S. companies imported 26.4 million paintbrushes during April 2010, up about 53 percent from 17.3 million paintbrushes imported during April 2009. Paintbrush imports for the first four months of 2010 were 81.6 million, up about 26 percent from 65 million recorded for the first four months of 2009. China shipped 71.3 million paintbrushes and Indonesia shipped 9.3 million to the United States during the first four months of 2010. The average price per paintbrush for April 2010 was 21 cents, down about 28 percent from the April 2009 average price of 29 cents. The average price for the first four months of 2010 was 25 cents, down about 29 percent from the average price of 35 cents for the first four months of 2009. EXPORTS Export totals for the first four months of 2010 were up in all four categories outlined, compared to the first four months of 2009. In April 2010, three of the four categories also reported increases in exports, compared to April 2009.
August 2010
Brooms & Brushes Of Vegetable Materials The United States exported 9,708 dozen brooms and brushes of vegetable materials during April 2010, up about 42 percent from the April 2009 total of 6,821 dozen. Exports of brooms and brushes of vegetable materials during the first four months of 2010 were 38,416 dozen, up about 73 percent from 22,268 dozen for the first four months of 2009. The United States shipped 11,223 dozen brooms and brushes to Canada during the first four months of 2010. Meanwhile, France imported 8,853 dozen and Mexico received 7,836 dozen. The average price per dozen brooms and brushes was $24.18 in April 2010, compared to $33.98 for April 2009, a decrease of about 29 percent. The average price per dozen brooms and brushes for the first four months of 2010 was $29.95, a decrease of about 31 percent from the average price per dozen for the first four months of 2009 of $43.48. Shaving Brushes The export total of shaving brushes during April 2010 was 1.2 million, up about 35 percent from 886,336 recorded for April 2009. During the first four months of 2010, 4.4 million shaving brushes were exported, compared to 2.8 million during the first four months of 2009, an increase of about 57 percent. During the first four months of 2010, Canada and Brazil each imported 1.2 million brushes from the United States, while Mexico imported 919,609. The average price per shaving brush for April 2010 was $1.03, down about 22 percent from $1.32 for April 2009. The average price for the first four months of 2010 was $1.13, down about 37 percent from the average price recorded for the first four months of 2009 of $1.79. Artist Brushes The export total of artist brushes during April 2010 was 614,085, down about 12 percent from 700,808 recorded for April 2009. During the first four months of 2010, 2.4 million artist brushes were exported, up slightly from 2.3 million recorded during the first four months of 2009. During the first four months of 2010, Canada imported 1.5 million brushes from the United States, while Mexico imported 155,318, the United Kingdom 153,226 and Hong Kong 151,423. The average price per artist brush for April 2010 was $3.81, up about 21 percent from $3.15 for April 2009. The average price for the first four months of 2010 was $3.26, up 2 cents from the average price recorded for the first four months of 2009. Paintbrushes The export total of paintbrushes during April 2010 was 161,952, up about 60 percent from 100,997 paintbrush exports recorded for April 2009. During the first four months of 2010, 632,593 paintbrushes were exported, up about 101 percent from 314,697 during the first four months of 2009. Canada imported 375,536 paintbrushes from the United States during the first four months of 2010, while The Netherlands received 84,853 and The United Kingdom imported 44,818. The average price per paintbrush for April 2010 was $11.60, down about 27 percent from $15.83 for April 2009. The average price for the first four months of 2010 was $12.54, down about 24 percent from $16.57 recorded for the first four months of 2009.
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 21
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 22
PAGE 22
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
EXPORTS April Exports By Country
Foreign Merchandise
1404902000 Broomcorn (Sorghum Vulgare Var. Technicum) Used Primarily In Brooms Or In Brushes, Whether or Not In Hanks or Bundles April Year To Date Country Net Q/Ton Value Net Q/Ton Value Canada 8 19,245 Hondura 3 12,435 7 27,527 Austral 4 19,167 TOTAL 3 12,435 19 65,939 9603100000 Brooms & Brushes, Consisting of Twigs or Other Vegetable Materials Bound Together, With or Without Handles April Year To Date Country Net Q/Dozen Value Net Q/No. Value Canada 4 6,947 1,080 56,911 Mexico 325 10,714 587 19,363 Austral 91 19,600 91 19,600 TOTAL 420 37,261 1,758 95,874 9603210000 Toothbrushes, Incl. Dental-Plate Brushes April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value Canada 1,037,475 957,564 4,837,934 3,932,544 Mexico 26,037 60,482 68,798 198,401 C Rica 5,184 4,267 Brazil 25,920 15,552 U King 78,689 37,467 France 415 4,248 696 7,128 Fr Germ 2,732 8,859 Turkey 211 5,016 211 5,016 Singapr 150,997 72,377 Kor Rep 18,144 9,166 31,248 15,716 Hg Kong 6,336 3,546 Taiwan 34,704 18,167 Austral 38,472 41,491 115,368 78,680 1,120,754 1,077,967 5,358,817 4,397,720 TOTAL 9603290000 Shaving Brushes, Hairbrushes, Nail Brushes, Eyelash Brushes & Other Toilet Brushes For Use On The Person April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value 175,334 418,967 583,490 167,951 Canada Mexico 27,821 77,995 386,284 334,479 9,541 6,480 Ecuador U King 5,330 48,749 10,766 101,460 Nethlds 547 5,000 3,430 18 Belgium France 563 30,392 3,539 191,040 Fr Germ 12,499 82,022 Switzld 46 8,740 Russia 112,797 51,473 Ukraine 20,736 7,788 Kazakhs 15,360 6,850 Spain 15,360 5,465 22,473 2,458 Italy 4,030 20,000 Thailnd Phil R 17,520 26,789 Japan 186,974 46,518 421,493 110,666 10,752 3,339 11,129 6,783 Austral Senegal 9,216 5,733 1,485,215 1,567,252 382,327 399,391 TOTAL 9603300000 Artists Brushes, Writing Brushes and Similar Brushes for the Application of Cosmetics April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value
August 2010 1,290,740 146,655 396 3,185 7,766 1,456 75,261 11,179 100 1,012 620 114,449 2,009 80,080 29,619 25,043 4,786 24,260 138 1,872 244,291 33,315 20,784 15,400 49,548 3,321 2,028 2,635 6,353 1,524 1,671 8,063 30,316 27,924 73,716 1,844 59,216 35,223 4,057 2,441,855
4,230,306 319,370 5,655 11,751 57,212 5,372 152,301 37,601 4,828 3,734 3,412 401,586 11,789 300,227 91,439 53,139 9,253 89,509 3,107 11,189 495,742 82,681 46,908 31,605 241,633 10,115 7,486 10,106 19,191 5,624 6,167 29,749 83,549 91,020 271,987 9,329 344,704 135,937 14,970 7,741,283
Country Canada Mexico Hg Kong Mayotte TOTAL
9603402000 Paint Rollers April Year To Date Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 51,977 130,860 683,321 16,311 44,233 120,012 157 375 6,577 375 68,663 181,670 803,865
Value 823,403 186,741 2,764 6,577 1,019,485
Country Mexico Switzld TOTAL
9603404020 Paint Pads April Year To Date Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 98,335 53,013 59,344 1,125 99,460 53,013 59,344
Value 195,777 7,987 203,764
Canada Mexico Dom Rep Trinid Colomb Ecuador Brazil Sweden Norway Finland Denmark U King Nethlds Belgium France Fr Germ Czech Switzld Estonia Poland Russia Ukraine Kazakhs Spain Italy Greece Israel Arab Em Thailnd Malaysa Singapr Phil R China Kor Rep Hg Kong Taiwan Japan Austral Rep Saf TOTAL
211,070 35,853
623,925 74,279
5,768 1,456
21,283 5,372
7,975 100
17,515 4,828
620 41,566 1,496 30,881 2,684 2,400
3,412 149,395 8,685 116,148 9,903 5,655
715
2,637
55,762 1,426 6,071
136,494 7,358 15,824
6,353
19,191
8,063 2,212 6,248 67,499 408 36,146 9,997 2,059 544,828
29,749 8,163 24,774 249,048 2,594 240,279 38,090 7,597 1,822,198
9603404050 Paint, Distemper, Varnish or Similar Brushes (Except Brushes of 9603.30) April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value 91,077 20,698 272,856 6,410 Canada Mexico 566 11,735 1,524 34,585 Chile 874 10,101 874 10,101 Sweden 133 2,751 1,042 21,616 Norway 9,775 472 U King Israel 178 3,695 Vietnam 770 15,960 Hg Kong 700 4,589 700 4,589 8,550 117,502 26,391 375,928 TOTAL 9603900000 Hand-Operated Mechanical Floor Sweepers, Not Motorized, Mops & Feather Dusters; Prepared Knots & Tufts
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 23
Arcola Broom Corn Festival Race 2009
JIM
PAT
TIM
We Go The EXTRA MILE! 202 N. Oak • Box 250 Arcola, IL 61910 217-268-4955 • Fax 268-3113 www.thomasmonahan.com
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 24
PAGE 24
Country Canada Mexico C Rica Panama Bermuda Trinid Chile Brazil Iceland Sweden Finland Denmark U King Ireland Nethlds France Fr Germ Czech Russia Spain Italy Kuwait S Arab Afghan Thailnd Phil R China Kor Rep Hg Kong Japan Austral N Zeal Rep Saf TOTAL
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP For Broom or Brush Making, NESOI April Year To Date Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 78,357 1,071,167 279,969 9,786 146,515 31,261 1,505 24,397 6,139 916 14,851 5,557 994 469 578 9,385 1,954 740 55 178 2,886 178 699 543 144 8,534 766 914 1,000 2,087 33,849 3,619 2,088 33,864 5,754 385 82 482 181 700 12,447 700 166 550 296 235 616 296 432 7,013 512 900 12,224 2,367 1,120 18,166 3,065 725 107 98,791 1,395,298 351,376
Value 2,938,679 460,386 99,562 61,903 3,426 7,611 22,784 12,000 2,774 2,886 11,336 8,812 21,292 31,117 13,322 58,705 89,950 6,250 8,844 7,815 2,941 12,447 2,693 5,351 4,801 5,438 9,999 4,800 11,969 29,090 48,102 11,760 6,047 4,024,892
Domestic Merchandise 1404902000 Broomcorn (Sorghum Vulgare Var. Technicum) Used Primarily In Brooms Or In Brushes, Whether or Not In Hanks or Bundles Year To Date April Country Net Q/Ton Value Net Q/Ton Value Mexico 2 8,130 51,840 15 France Portugl 1 2,756 TOTAL 18 62,726 9603100000 Brooms & Brushes, Consisting of Twigs or Other Vegetable Materials Bound Together, With or Without Handles April Year To Date Country Net Q/Dozen Value Net Q/Dozen Value
Canada Mexico Belize C Rica Bahamas Jamaica B Virgn S Lucia Trinid N Antil Aruba Brazil U King Belgium France Fr Germ Czech Poland Portugl Israel S Arab Singapr Phil R Kor Rep Japan TOTAL
Country Canada Mexico Guatmal Belize Salvadr
August 2010 4,019 552
136,443 17,672
11,223 7,836 66 179 1,011 293 12 99 701 146 147 749 2,607 196 8,853 25 6 84 14 75 2,235 731 401 83 644 38,416
417,743 155,247 5,056 3,275 44,072 8,098 3,121 2,877 23,115 4,800 4,850 26,413 150,570 6,463 206,870 3,840 2,502 3,460 7,108 6,732 81,386 24,106 4,761 4,770 26,016 1,227,251
12
3,121
701
23,115
147
4,850
1,491
89,510
2,047
67,500
49 583
2,688 19,217
107 9,708
3,378 367,494
9603210000 Toothbrushes April Year To Date Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 3,276,886 2,064,692 12,145,720 1,575,252 502,097 9,839,013 3,456 64,800 19,706 77,472 22,242
Value 7,612,417 3,658,594 2,845 24,731 58,997
Carlson
Drills
Double Lip Spur Drills Drills For Plastics Special Half-Round and Spoon Drills
Often Copied But NEVER Equalled Standard Sizes Normally In Stock For Rapid Delivery For Availability And Pricing Contact Our Parts Dept.
TEL: 630.232.2460 • FAX: 630.232.2016 EMAIL: parts@carlson-tool.com
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 25
August 2010 Hondura C Rica Panama Bermuda Jamaica Haiti Dom Rep Antigua Barbado Trinid N Antil Colomb Venez Guyana Ecuador Peru Chile Brazil Paragua Argent Finland Denmark U King Nethlds France Fr Germ Austria Switzld Russia Italy Lebanon S Arab Arab Em India Thailnd Vietnam Malaysa Singapr Phil R China Kor Rep Hg Kong Taiwan Japan Austral N Zeal Rep Saf TOTAL
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
6,944
4,052
617
6,041
18,119
18,660
16,704 19,344 300 20,880 37,584 70,992 33,408
6,512 18,863 2,804 7,922 13,930 27,945 12,305
60,942
46,101
22,224 29,730 960 83,458
120,776 218,288 5,981 756,240
816 977
8,352 10,000
196,750 257,778
84,023 514,340
4,020 307,248 642,413 413,739 6,712 113,340 678,576
2,573 203,761 303,597 339,867 26,979 573,169 352,535
7,961,513
6,272,111
18,144 11,450 9,792 7,214 25,773 10,000 205,396 5,400 9,132 51,257 14,154 26,345 290,772 300 32,400 70,992 205,704 338,524 693 733,490 6,576 27,936 102,657 183,478 9,527 492,033 463 676 2,453 4,163 977 18,932 207,772 617,298 83,342 250,000 8,784 148,924 7,120 633,967 3,748,885 1,001,470 498,424 331,175 1,634,463 14,240 1,200 34,191,770
15,836 19,602 5,350 7,559 10,842 5,200 76,757 5,222 2,851 52,393 26,393 105,147 163,069 2,804 11,263 26,699 82,790 403,052 3,618 250,917 6,212 29,030 717,645 1,532,109 21,551 2,763,655 8,400 6,912 20,643 36,020 10,000 19,871 99,131 1,200,838 33,010 37,500 2,749 95,532 9,673 600,484 1,885,202 751,422 267,692 1,736,560 918,103 4,409 10,129 25,459,430
9603290000 Shaving Brushes, Hairbrushes, Nail Brushes, Eyelash Brushes & Other Toilet Brushes For Use on the Person Year To Date April Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q./No. Value 1,171,757 1,239,865 290,548 356,280 Canada Mexico 214,938 313,338 919,609 1,112,794 Guatmal 3,000 8,961 3,000 8,961 10,483 1,440 Salvadr C Rica 8,000 2,880 Bahamas 19,300 18,515 19,300 18,515 Turk Is 600 2,556 137 10,395 7,690 98 Cayman Dom Rep 1,084 11,724 1,084 11,724 Barbado 1,658 6,822 Trinid 3,044 26,565 4,838 46,565 10,152 13,427 N Antil 54,477 193,128 14,411 1,428 Colomb Venez 102,234 31,323 Peru 1,286 13,047 Chile 3,075 28,119 8,459 68,201 Brazil 477,933 149,851 1,189,965 302,287 47,710 5,217 14,444 1,579 Argent Sweden 1,283 15,694 5,493 40,295 Norway 374 6,657
U King Nethlds Belgium France Fr Germ Czech Poland Russia Italy S Arab Arab Em Thailnd Singapr Indnsia China Kor Rep Hg Kong Japan Austral N Zeal Egypt Gabon Rep Saf TOTAL
PAGE 25 5,389 1,092 2,528 6,756 1,669
58,283 10,953 29,510 61,431 15,269
3,456
31,605
205 2,584 3,715 2,848 2,358 520
8,794 23,634 15,667 5,924 21,557 4,655
84,459
35,980
120 720
4,644 3,492
547 1,202,008
5,000 1,236,258
34,543 3,426 20,228 23,763 43,204 15 1,875 2,040 9,354 2,620 2,246 9,610 4,020 2,848 20,378 1,688 369,427 95,610 8,377 120 720 551 2,647 4,375,149
248,178 18,368 49,414 196,339 162,774 3,085 17,150 7,060 89,892 6,727 58,453 87,885 18,457 5,924 189,130 15,329 518,541 182,567 32,079 4,644 3,492 5,040 55,195 4,956,599
9603300000 Artists Brushes, Writing Brushes and Similar Brushes for the Application of Cosmetics April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value Canada 388,305 1,014,151 1,480,282 3,584,990 Mexico 59,268 177,609 155,318 502,832 Salvadr 3,014 11,122 C Rica 576 6,944 576 6,944 Panama 2,689 11,171 Jamaica 1,266 4,672 Dom Rep 4,688 25,797 Trinid 106 4,058 Colomb 2,458 9,068 Venez 1,608 5,934 Ecuador 330 2,595 330 2,595 Peru 1,951 7,884 Chile 2,880 4,113 3,840 9,513 Brazil 2,581 9,523 78,901 306,339 Argent 1,962 3,630 Sweden 8,291 40,418 14,611 63,735 Norway 3,000 18,693 26,707 149,397 8,015 1,965 Finland Denmark 2,500 13,550 2,500 13,550 U King 30,544 171,760 153,226 1,076,109 Ireland 144 3,930 7,759 37,417 Nethlds 1,648 2,670 4,591 13,529 33,394 9,051 Belgium France 7,585 26,221 49,221 182,361 49,373 12,330 2,962 803 Fr Germ Austria 4,459 16,453 8,053 29,712 Switzld 1,514 16,869 9,600 633 Estonia Poland 9,452 34,876 Russia 1,475 5,444 1,475 5,444 Spain 1,980 2,791 10,305 40,681 2,643 267 Italy Greece 1,329 4,904 1,329 4,904 Turkey 692 2,552 Israel 5,132 18,935 5,132 18,935 280 2,546 2,334 10,126 Arab Em 9,516 2,580 Thailnd Malaysa 2,998 11,061 2,998 11,061 Singapr 6,898 25,452 10,408 38,404 Phil R 5,464 20,160 China 12,833 47,350 38,964 143,764 595,773 44,717 559,164 41,531 Kor Rep Hg Kong 168 4,759 151,423 332,186 Taiwan 792 2,924 2,554 9,424
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 26
PAGE 26
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP 40,410 74,080 3,206 4,605 2,882 2,448,140
132,090 325,506 11,304 46,000 10,633 7,985,740
Country Canada Mexico Guatmal C Rica Panama Bermuda Bahamas Jamaica Dom Rep Aruba Colomb Venez Peru Chile Argent Finland U King Nethlds Belgium France Fr Germ Switzld Italy Israel Jordan S Arab India Vietnam Malaysa Singapr China Hg Kong Japan Austral N Zeal Egypt Rep Saf TOTAL
9603402000 Paint Rollers April Year To Date Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 121,123 454,861 734,201 28,655 83,357 149,301 5,616 4,960 5,616 2,768 3,215 10,650 17,587 13,327 1,916 4,586 1,916 2,950 3,367 3,750 3,024 4,384 6,593 2,181 183 3,625 1,000 4,900 1,000 9,250 80 7,000 2,400 11,166 3,536 151 10,811 52,401 10,811 227 3,991 447 4,818 15,469 22,046 1,440 5,621 3,040 500 700 491 4,745 491 41,218 3,853 912 595 242 10,570 16,042 82,186 90,452 211 3,697 1,753 393 8,277 2,369 1,368 1,980 117,596 211,767 765,555 1,258,636
Value 2,076,944 359,270 4,960 35,776 17,316 44,712 4,586 9,567 75,967 38,279 3,209 55,034 4,900 13,745 11,665 14,180 23,865 2,650 52,401 7,852 51,035 12,661 8,780 12,289 4,745 39,434 28,620 16,000 8,953 4,250 25,328 152,503 17,463 40,905 5,043 4,060 81,141 3,370,088
Country Mexico Dom Rep Ecuador Peru Finland U King Israel Singapr China Kor Rep Hg Kong Austral Rep Saf TOTAL
9603404020 Paint Pads April Year To Date Value Net Q/No. Net Q/No. 8,688 19,973 34,770 300 399 2,898 2,000 390 2,630 625 1,267 515 498 3,036 21,548 3,680 4,500 735 7,005 3,620 200 55,272 51,156 12,849
Value 81,533 3,948 2,830 26,850 3,320 9,960 42,575 3,653 5,976 26,117 15,390 33,110 4,580 259,842
Japan Austral B Ind O Tnzania Rep Saf TOTAL
14,372 11,716
1,380 614,085
53,028 86,060
5,091 2,340,953
9603404050 Paint, Distemper, Varnish or Similar Brushes (Except Brushes of 9603.30) April Year To Date Value Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Country Canada 110,009 948,267 375,536 3,265,534 Mexico 1,293 10,473 5,337 94,348
Salvadr Hondura Nicarag C Rica Panama Bermuda Bahamas Jamaica Cayman Dom Rep Antigua Monsrat S Lucia Barbado Trinid N Antil Aruba Colomb Surinam Peru Chile Brazil Argent Sweden Norway Finland Denmark U King Ireland Nethlds France Fr Germ Poland Israel Arab Em Bahrain Vietnam Malaysa Singapr Indnsia China Kor Rep Hg Kong Japan Austral N Zeal Moroc Nigeria TOTAL
August 2010
612 1,747 650 2,101 2,922 386 1,216
2,735 32,763 29,638 11,672 55,960 8,000 15,598
90
4,167
70
4,231
627
13,000
1,040
13,000
838 1,359 1,900
4,925 7,355 27,455
23,262 1,969 2,449 376 425 453 178
482,480 40,820 22,841 6,417 8,821 9,391 3,687
610
9,714
143 302 4,104 197
8,118 6,270 75,850 4,080
318
2,672
306 161,952
7,564 1,877,964
822 1,722 612 3,623 5,320 4,764 5,988 386 5,094 147 472 277 235 412 993 124 469 4,882 127 806 8,601 4,067 3,473 4,160 248 838 11,978 44,818 2,202 84,853 3,540 9,094 2,051 4,694 2,053 178 2,874 1,857 2,738 1,372 1,559 1,331 8,561 1,741 429 4,616 213 306 632,593
17,056 35,275 2,735 89,099 131,457 46,644 148,623 8,000 60,740 3,059 16,163 15,608 6,522 11,333 8,715 9,082 9,733 95,291 2,638 25,648 178,407 80,968 58,475 59,800 5,142 4,925 66,534 845,662 9,532 1,694,096 83,159 90,184 39,737 97,364 22,791 3,687 59,616 13,444 34,791 28,464 52,685 27,622 159,744 22,956 15,402 62,777 4,415 7,564 7,933,246
9603900000 Hand-Operated Mechanical Floor Sweepers, Not Motorized, Mops & Feather Dusters; Prepared Knots & Tufts for Broom or Brush Making, NESOI Year To Date April Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value Canada 308,944 2,787,343 1,075,281 9,839,741 3,377,839 249,702 723,687 61,592 Mexico Guatmal 316 5,121 316 5,121 Salvadr 30 2,910 Hondura 3,097 50,232 3,097 50,232 3,550 44,605 3,400 36 C Rica Panama 5,058 75,973 13,526 203,415 Bermuda 2,123 22,370 Jamaica 1,404 22,000 802 13,003 1,820 29,516 Dom Rep 2,598 160 2,598 160 Barbado Trinid 3,134 31,762 Aruba 1,073 17,400 2,225 32,369 Colomb 4,580 33,513 6,302 54,063 Venez 899 16,846 16,694 880 Ecuador Peru 475 13,348 Chile 1,430 16,324 10,003 59,952
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 27
August 2010 Brazil Uruguay Argent Norway Finland Denmark U King Ireland Nethlds Belgium Luxmbrg France Fr Germ Czech Switzld Estonia Lithuan Poland Russia Spain Italy Cyprus Lebanon Iraq Israel Kuwait S Arab Qatar Arab Em Afghan India Pakistn Thailnd Vietnam Malaysa Singapr Indnsia Brunei Phil R China Mongola Kor Rep Hg Kong Taiwan Japan Austral N Zeal N Caldn Tonga Nigeria Reunion Rep Saf TOTAL
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP 4,520 2,565
83,040 5,615
175 278 802
2,841 4,517 10,464
2,748 740 753
10,854 12,005 5,784
1,963
33,109
377 375 612 2,864 34 903 1,500
5,335 6,081 4,958 46,460 2,819 14,644 5,925
996
11,522
2,718 2,381
9,813 53,564
4,776 2,277 1,269 6,353 7,245 234
52,425 18,476 24,252 47,561 71,295 3,796
156
2,595
452
6,387
9,875 3,613 762 1,154 856 474 19,248 2,095 23,570 3,023 335 4,366 6,538 2,747 2,464 48 26 22 3,435 1,671 6,361 1,932 2,748 740 1,151 298 6,439 5,602 2,132 2,432 3,498 2,864 209 903 1,731 842 996 170 2,818 22,099 163 13,013 13,013 5,265 22,036 17,003 5,292 235 950 156 194 1,930
187 5,574 752 648 1,300 100 704 3,195 2,747 450
13,630 90,689 12,196 10,512 9,109 9,512 11,419 51,828 44,556 3,209
452,811
4,541,391
1,606,464
BROOM CAPS
187,113 16,965 11,069 18,717 13,878 27,987 244,313 47,708 205,157 39,239 16,261 70,818 114,815 44,556 20,896 5,046 6,671 5,135 55,712 21,338 86,402 11,183 10,854 12,005 22,563 4,832 70,012 90,869 30,291 39,453 29,866 46,460 12,473 14,644 9,670 21,806 11,522 2,763 14,293 287,150 2,641 118,513 188,976 97,546 159,351 229,931 43,799 3,816 7,831 2,595 3,150 23,547 16,709,582
PAGE 27
Broom and Brush
IMPORTS April Imports By Country 0502100000 Pigs’, Hogs’ or Boars’ Bristles and Hair and Waste Thereof April Year To Date Country Net Q/KG Value Net Q/KG Value China 22,500 71,294 48,174 550,490 TOTAL 22,500 71,294 48,174 550,490
Country China TOTAL
0502900000 Badger Hair and Other Brushmaking Hair and Waste Thereof April Year To Date Net Q/KG Value Net Q/KG 27,550 19,790 1,700 1,700 27,550 19,790
0511993300 Horsehair and Horsehair Waste, Whether or Not Put Up As A Layer With or Without Supporting Material April Year To Date Country Net Q/KG Value Net Q/KG Value 366 9,512 Paragua Nethlds 255 2,460 China 25,315 244,812 91,048 784,918 TOTAL 25,315 244,812 91,669 796,890 1404903000 Istle Used Primarily In Brooms or In Brushes, Whether or Not In Hanks or Bundles April Year To Date Country Net Q/KG Value Net Q/KG Value Mexico 20,064 99,088 129,483 633,624 TOTAL 20,064 99,088 129,483 633,624 4417002000 Broom and Mop Handles, 1.9 CM or More In Diameter and 97 CM or More In Length, Of Wood April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value Canada 26,748 40,369 Mexico 94,000 11,209 Hondura 393,116 191,162 1,619,964 792,983 Panama 2,232 3,487 2,232 3,487 Colomb 12,780 13,682 42,804 27,750 1,935,936 2,163,168 548,196 693,653 Brazil Indnsia 129,339 102,697 877,205 691,068 China 157,182 161,809 828,475 441,414 TOTAL 1,388,302 1,021,033 5,654,596 3,944,216 4417004000 Paint Brush and Paint Roller Handles, Of Wood April Year To Date Country Net Q/Variable Value Net Q/Variable Value Czech 22,182 22,182 Poland 103,178 Italy 637,285 2,459,190
BRUSH and HANDLE FERRULES
MANUFACTURING INCORPORATED P.O. Box 6505
Value 364,996 364,996
Wolcott, CT 06716
Phone 203-879-1481
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 28
PAGE 28
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
Thailnd Indnsia China Taiwan TOTAL
90,324 96,920 3,501 850,212
22,745 387,027 519,535 20,209 3,534,066
Country Canada Brazil Sri Lka Vietnam China TOTAL
4417006000 Brush Backs, Of Wood April Year To Date Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 446,742 139,684 1,198,688 92,950 106,916 346,000 37,400 42,952 230,740 6,000 647,538 577,092 289,552 2,428,966
Value 410,007 395,912 220,000 7,268 166,335 1,199,522
Country Canada Mexico Brazil Nethlds Indnsia China Taiwan TOTAL
4417008010 Tool Handles of Wood April Year To Date Net Q/Variable Value Net Q/Variable
190,612 5,772 16,369 56,978 269,731
Value 26,377 48,997 815,048 5,772 16,369 142,779 44,848 1,100,190
4417008090 Tools, Tool Bodies, Broom or Brush Bodies, Shoe Lasts and Trees, of Wood April Year To Date Country Net Q/Variable Value Net Q/Variable Value Canada 114,658 333,957 Mexico 13,074 Hondura 12,751
Supplier of Raw Materials to Manufacture Brooms, Mops, and Brushes • Galvanized & tinned wire for brush - broom - mop production • Processed Broom Corn & Yucca • Wood Broom - Mop - Brush Handles • Craft Broom Corn And Supplies • Other Materials - Broom Twine, Broom Nails, Mop Hardware We ship by pup or truck load direct from Mexico, or LTL/ UPS from our Greensboro warehouse.
P.O. Box 14634 • Greensboro, NC 27415 336-273-3609 800-213-9224 Fax: 336-378-6047 E-mail: sales@recaddy.com
Chile Sweden U King France Fr Germ Switzld Russia Italy India Sri Lka Vietnam Indnsia China Taiwan Japan TOTAL
August 2010 480,259 4,115 2,287 3,451 2,217
115,749 98,350 7,508 37,672 270,448 2,704 538,007 1,677,425
1,860,158 4,115 15,064 10,444 5,335 2,983 3,201 10,070 448,043 388,258 44,713 121,492 665,844 29,875 1,741,473 5,710,850
7326908576 Metal Handles For Brooms, Mops, Paint Applicators April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value Canada 1,494 13,592 2,994 15,801 Mexico 71,358 25,986 Brazil 3,390 19,650 Denmark 1,100 10,732 Spain 483,840 200,963 1,526,400 730,718 Italy 1,238,935 572,427 5,632,555 2,387,682 Israel 3,600 4,006 3,600 4,006 China 991,227 639,001 4,205,453 2,485,768 Hg Kong 2,048 2,257 2,048 2,257 Taiwan 1,260 7,817 TOTAL 2,721,144 1,432,246 11,450,158 5,690,417 9603100500 Wiskbrooms, of Broom Corn, LT=.96 EA. Prior to Entry or Withdrawal for Consumption of 61,655 Dozen In Calendar Year April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value Mexico 2,976 2,156 11,340 9,724 China 4,800 3,379 10,800 7,608 TOTAL 7,776 5,535 22,140 17,332 9603104000 Other Brooms, of Broomcorn, LT=.96 EA, Prior to Entry or Withdrawal For Consumption of GT=121,478 Dozen in Calendar Year April Year To Date Mexico 6,288 5,345 TOTAL 6,288 5,345 9603105000 Other Brooms, of Broomcorn, LT=.96 EA, at Entry or Withdrawal For Consumption of GT=121,478 Dozen in Calendar Year April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value 28,740 25,618 7,761 9,564 Mexico TOTAL 9,564 7,761 28,740 25,618 9603106000 Other Brooms, Of Broomcorn, Valued Over .96 Each Year To Date April Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value Mexico 717,709 1,757,513 2,891,298 7,215,383 38,091 102,744 191,082 21,000 Hondura TOTAL 738,709 1,795,604 2,994,042 7,406,465 9603109000 Brooms & Brushes, Consisting of Twigs or Other Vegetable Materials Bound Together, With or Without Handles, NESOI April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 9,099 2,000 1,500 Canada 32,124 41,077 22,440 Mexico Brazil 79,645 Estonia 3,800 28,218 3,800 2,156 Italy Turkey 2,000 3,434 120 120 Israel 4,993 India
Value 13,125 63,239 43,505 28,218 6,623 5,220 3,434 2,464
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:52 PM
Page 29
August 2010 Sri Lka Thailnd Vietnam Phil R China Kor Rep TOTAL
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP 175,647 5,194 25,100
272,612 13,134 21,857
17,032
57,765
250,833
447,196
613,532 17,858 138,740 3,000 68,432 600 969,000
951,067 57,157 112,131 4,894 200,330 3,669 1,495,076
9603210000 Toothbrushes, Incl. Dental-Plate Brushes April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value Canada 31,625 14,572 88,989 50,340 Mexico 975,648 155,079 4,909,773 727,804 Guatmal 72,960 13,179 149,760 25,941 Brazil 754,848 192,181 2,892,976 765,054 Sweden 139,402 53,928 Finland 10,000 71,725 40,000 179,918 U King 9,648 8,096 Ireland 863,952 407,926 2,543,904 966,376 Nethlds 98,545 22,628 900 9,531 France Fr Germ 2,169,322 1,595,859 6,786,699 5,238,216 Hungary 33,648 44,048 121,584 168,801 Switzld 8,419,104 2,542,973 39,195,913 10,005,160 Italy 136,500 55,684 913,300 352,287 Turkey 1,962 25,079 4,582 56,008 Israel 444,672 60,976 903,744 119,638 India 4,162,728 958,791 12,110,308 2,233,636 Bngldsh 95,040 7,428 Thailnd 1,081,580 155,651 3,825,588 472,870 Vietnam 1,714,260 229,062 8,912,876 925,840 Malaysa 6,948,730 247,622 Indnsia 99,600 23,605 480,000 79,786 China 52,485,283 10,180,848 181,950,746 33,603,549 Kor Rep 19,424 10,986 836,024 97,969 Hg Kong 240,140 16,776 Taiwan 21,616 38,417 354,616 198,639 Japan 971,760 84,314 2,090,550 176,701 Austral 266,050 19,322 TOTAL 74,470,492 16,860,955 276,910,387 56,829,864 9603294010 Hairbrushes, Valued Not Over .40 Each April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value Fr Germ 11,000 4,341 11,000 4,341 Thailnd 118,080 48,459 150,768 62,143 China 2,683,484 781,531 11,452,623 3,148,262 Hg Kong 92,100 13,675 Taiwan 30,024 13,564 30,024 13,564 TOTAL 2,842,588 847,895 11,736,515 3,241,985 9603294090 Shaving Brushes, Nail Brushes, Eyelash Brushes & Other Toilet Brushes For Use On The Valued Not Over .40 Each April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 11,068,260 185,628 2,754,000 Mexico Fr Germ 1,808,560 401,404 6,490,096 Switzld 147 Italy 86,000 17,964 152,975 7,514 680,987 111,021 India Vietnam 6,048 15,451,628 703,219 5,593,584 China Kor Rep 84,816 2,257 146,140 11,500 Hg Kong Taiwan 126,900 27,782 177,300 Japan 138 TOTAL 10,491,565 1,345,768 34,258,535
Kor Rep Hg Kong Taiwan TOTAL
PAGE 29 1,480,000 226,080 431,000 22,247,632
46,337 4,520 8,785 447,964
5,029,600 466,752 581,000 80,304,491
185,215 9,900 13,985 1,812,117
9603304000 Artists Brushes, Writing Brushes & Similar Brushes For Application of Cosmetics, Valued Over .05 But not Over .10 Each April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value Mexico 7,097,497 559,168 22,850,021 1,771,689 Brazil 96,000 6,819 Fr Germ 1,726,191 119,448 4,787,690 377,441 Italy 460,800 31,250 India 36,288 2,777 36,288 2,777 Indnsia 239,808 26,070 China 16,682,570 1,281,258 55,888,700 4,237,973 Kor Rep 1,661,000 111,441 2,865,000 198,521 Hg Kong 131,062 9,726 Taiwan 520,000 37,120 635,200 47,231 TOTAL 27,723,546 2,111,212 87,990,569 6,709,497 9603306000 Artists Brushes, Writing Brushes & Similar Brushes For Application Of Cosmetics, Valued Over .10 Each April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value Canada 363 21,759 1,346 74,876 Mexico 11,366,694 1,687,966 50,501,696 8,039,259 Dom Rep 265,270 258,943 752,999 786,780 U King 201,804 246,161 668,120 1,116,498 Ireland 112 11,245 Belgium 410 24,133 France 75,260 223,189 359,999 1,070,055 Fr Germ 1,808,140 374,430 4,805,688 1,407,638 Switzld 213 6,586 2,910 57,671 Spain 10,119 69,698 42,239 256,550 Italy 23,040 15,600 233,795 96,807 Israel 957 3,051 India 708,043 285,936 2,787,770 1,105,635 Sri Lka 274,524 163,561 636,216 353,903 Thailnd 226,252 106,477 728,740 463,263 China 15,881,896 9,562,785 57,339,646 34,663,603 Kor Rep 290,940 259,395 1,128,202 810,877 Hg Kong 444,649 137,757 1,867,714 645,692 Taiwan 143,263 57,888 361,371 175,277 Japan 290,911 1,180,029 1,105,187 4,170,169 Austral 711 5,877 711 5,877 30,140 6,818 Mauritn Maurit 4,181 16,330 6,544 25,113 TOTAL 32,016,273 14,680,367 123,339,190 55,394,112
Person, Value 739,884 1,217,889 2,892 36,544 26,814 2,585 1,978,744 19,761 20,577 37,358 2,586 4,085,634
9603302000 Artists Brushes, Writing Brushes & Similar Brushes For Application Of Cosmetics, Valued Not Over .05 Each April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value 6,578 150,500 Canada Mexico 820,800 11,516 3,304,200 67,217 Fr Germ 1,392,058 47,608 7,404,058 241,566 Italy 6,164,000 75,385 16,155,300 185,146 2,245 1,657,920 28,342 264,000 India China 11,469,694 251,568 45,555,161 1,074,168
Country Canada Mexico Sweden Nethlds Fr Germ China Hg Kong TOTAL
9603402000 Paint Rollers April Year To Date Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 4,816 521,214 4,486,912 1,217,865 400 720 128,005 29,267 898,259 1,409,516 13,427,962 3,034,481 162,680 4,380,351 1,959,997 18,981,749
Value 14,935 1,937,706 3,006 5,347 181,105 5,514,501 81,969 7,738,569
9603404020 Paint Pads (Other Than Of Subheading 9603.30) Year To Date April Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value U King 1,500 3,540 1,500 3,540 Pakistn 53,600 4,942 China 985,519 846,329 3,391,484 2,648,993 987,019 849,869 3,446,584 2,657,475 TOTAL 9603404040 Natural Bristle Brushes, Other Than Brushes Subheading 9603.30 April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 26,112 28,053 52,932 Canada Mexico 11,576 56,881 15,844 56,881 Sweden
Of
Value 65,260 13,160 15,844
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:53 PM
Page 30
PAGE 30 Nethlds France Fr Germ Italy Turkey Israel Thailnd Vietnam Indnsia China Taiwan Japan Austral TOTAL
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP 252
2,104
252 63,552 3,256 26,200 24,300 19,719 39,978 742,506 19,197,105 328,118 34,604 3,438 984 20,605,401
2,104 18,150 16,642 138,328 101,505 14,535 43,529 72,909 2,983,724 120,344 15,901 33,999 2,851 3,658,785
Country Canada Mexico Brazil Sweden U King France Fr Germ Spain Italy Turkey Thailnd Vietnam Indnsia China Kor Rep Taiwan Japan Austral TOTAL
9603404060 Paint, Distemper, Varnish/ Similr Brushes Exc Brushes of Subheading 9603.30 NESOI April Year To Date Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 9,086 7,540 13,183 362 3,935 362 19,656 5,620 27,768 25,250 4,000 4,028 4,014 1,300 2,670 7,504 101,201 264 612 3,370 26,768 12,024 29,867 12,024 49,868 1,400 1,661,290 287,511 9,317,406 24,663,128 5,131,110 71,335,257 43,060 351,048 15,878 41,004 333,420 1,095 26,388,706 5,521,489 81,644,688
Value 24,585 3,935 8,433 17,397 6,286 6,840 66,725 4,117 24,383 29,867 38,325 3,686 1,600,287 18,106,508 12,155 171,940 172,090 7,750 20,305,309
Country Belgium Switzld China TOTAL
9603908010 Wiskbrooms April Year To Date Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 240 4,722 52,590 55,116 94,853 52,590 55,116 99,815
Value 8,495 4,571 130,601 143,667
Country Mexico Guatmal Colomb Brazil Argent Spain Italy Vietnam Malaysa China Hg Kong Taiwan Egypt TOTAL
9603908020 Upright Brooms Year To Date April Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 162,633 46,878 47,793 49,128 24,215 20,400 5,160 7,884 12,032 60 5,344 21,228 42,943 21,228 16,021 116,776 9,720 15,400 3,145 1,500 1,500 596,601 2,834,750 562,174 12,096 1,440 4,240 3,444 4,261 6,000 6,000 670,315 750,336 3,241,343
Value 174,649 58,290 5,310 60,465 9,911 42,943 196,062 17,243 3,145 3,335,224 16,303 18,292 4,261 3,942,098
24,300 18,000
101,505 9,120
5,116,516 32,956
716,339 28,822
1,920
16,486
5,276,937
918,273
9603908030 Push Brooms, 41 CM or Less in Width Year To Date April Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Mexico 1,276 2 U King Sri Lka 1,440 5,995 1,440 52,134 17,567 7,788 China Taiwan 300 TOTAL 9,228 23,562 55,152
Value 4,855 4,598 5,995 72,773 2,371 90,592
Country Canada Mexico Guatmal Salvadr Panama Colomb Brazil Czech Switzld Russia Spain Italy Israel India Sri Lka Thailnd Vietnam China Kor Rep Hg Kong Taiwan TOTAL
August 2010 9603908040 Other Brooms, NESOI April Year To Date Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. 29,764 44,554 286,792 327,845 805,808 2,230,183 41,280 6,360 5,867 77,400 11,700 20,281 11,700 21,984 39,348 83,916 1,250 3,068 37,433 54,680 56,722 169,672 3,576 4,000 18,504 26,283 84,654 94,812 199,201 411,789 900 3,500 3,800 17,900 65,608 150,557 251,355 1,500 4,392 8,500 2,500 2,686 5,450 489,284 562,545 1,851,369 600 2,148 600 44,880 27,376 44,880 4,476 10,385 4,476 1,179,247 1,965,021 5,627,825
Value 498,885 3,333,974 40,916 75,440 20,281 162,204 248,049 147,976 4,682 2,553 126,736 531,721 4,434 17,826 615,326 16,520 7,821 2,100,131 2,148 27,376 10,385 7,995,384
9603908050 Brooms, Brushes, Sqeegees, Etc., NESOI April Year To Date Country Net Q/No. Value Net Q/No. Value Canada 1,961,674 9,303,901 Mexico 2,944,465 11,641,567 Salvadr 65,618 86,888 Hondura 908,429 5,075,642 Dom Rep 18,274 109,018 Colomb 121,525 393,706 Brazil 24,564 87,804 Argent 69,248 Sweden 15,454 37,914 Norway 10,125 Finland 11,675 Denmark 127,680 581,831 U King 78,545 278,854 Nethlds 178,454 636,164 Belgium 149,694 364,011 13,174 42,445 France Fr Germ 105,722 727,314 Austria 2,302 4,607 Czech 9,401 48,268 Hungary 3,462 3,462 Switzld 12,169 69,639 4,837 10,623 Estonia 16,597 Lithuan Poland 14,251 59,464 415,822 108,037 Spain 1,520,395 506,904 Italy Turkey 9,761 25,981 Israel 47,484 India 86,332 329,770 Pakistn 440,821 1,540,751 14,581 30,108 Bngldsh 407,545 1,110,562 Sri Lka Thailnd 441,210 1,847,186 Vietnam 107,064 331,188 74,378 19,383 Malaysa Singapr 5,609 Indnsia 31,973 164,909 Macao 3,602 China 25,727,464 105,312,245 Kor Rep 76,399 675,806 250,127 1,273,733 Hg Kong 998,676 3,910,328 Taiwan Japan 94,626 289,592 250,347 Austral 18,786 85,821 Egypt 36,099,383 148,916,384 TOTAL
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:53 PM
Page 31
August 2010
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
By Rick Mullen Broom, Brush & Mop Associate Editor
W
hile the U.S. industrial segment took a heavy hit during the recent recession, other companies that conducted business in that marketplace also suffered. While there were challenges related to the economy faced by industrial brush manufacturers, some companies pulled from their tradition of offering quality products and quality customer service to remain successful. Broom, Brush & Mop recently spoke with executives from four manufacturers who shared how their respective companies fared during the recession, and how they have emerged more competitive than ever.
C
elebrating its 30th year in business, Abtex Corporation, of Dresden, NY, has been, and still is, focused almost exclusively on the manufacture of “application-specific” abrasive filament power brushes, according to Abtex President Mark Fultz. “It is a pretty small niche that we service in the industrial brush market, but our concentration on it for the past 30 years has given us a pretty significant understanding of how to apply the product,” Fultz said. “We have also built a lot of versatility and flexibility into our manufacturing processes to allow us to customize brushes for our customers’ specific applications.” Abrasive filaments in brush format Mark Fultz of Abtex Corporation are used in many industrial applications such as deburring, edge radiusing and surface finishing. Abtex fiber abrasive brushing tools are available in disc, radial wheel, tube and end type and cylindrical formats. Abtex offers a wide variety of stock brushes as well as custom designs for specific applications.
PAGE 31
The company’s full range of deburring and surface treatment systems are designed to meet a customer’s specific application. Abtex deburring systems are engineered to be simple, overbuilt and optimally effective. “What we are seeing is that industrial brushes are starting to become recognized as technical tools,” Fultz said. “I think for years the general industrial population just figured a brush is a brush. The mind set was, ‘I can open up a catalog and buy a brush from either company A, B or C, and they are all going to perform similarly. The only determining factor is cost.’ “The applications for our type of brushes are very engineeredoriented. Oftentimes they are a critical component in a manufacturer’s process. The customer is looking for a product that is going to give them value and good performance. This kind of elevation of the visibility of the industrial brush has benefited our company, because of our technical approach to the application and to the manufacturing process. “The other part of the equation is our suppliers that sell us the abrasive filament. They are beginning to experiment with different types of grits, and trying to change the characteristics of the filament in an effort to create a wider marketing opportunity for the product. It is kind of making our slice of the pie a little bigger.” As is typical in the brush-making segment, automation plays an important role in producing quality products, while reducing labor costs. Because of Abtex’s unique manufacturing methods, to a large extent the company develops its own manufacturing process equipment. “Automation is extremely important from a process standpoint,” Fultz said. “There is another side of our business where we actually build the machinery that drives our brushes. Therefore, when a customer comes to us with a particular part that he or she needs deburred, we are able to build the machine to take that part and present it to our brush. Very often the solution that we are providing is to replace a manual type of a process the customer may have. We are looking at automation both internally, and also to provide it externally to our customer. It is a little bit of the razor and the razor blade. We are providing the machinery and then the
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
PAGE 32
2:53 PM
Page 32
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
machinery is consuming our brushes, while providing a valuable service to our customers.” As the economy show flickers of coming out of the recession, business at Abtex “is getting better,” Fultz said. “The majority of our customers produce parts for the automotive industry. When automobile sales tanked along with the rest of the economy, that had a significant impact on our business. Just about a year ago, we saw things starting to gradually get better. With each passing month, our business keeps getting a little more healthy. “With the resurgence of automobile sales and the uplifting of the general economy, it has created increased demand for our brush products. We have been in business for 30 years and we have had our ups and downs, but certainly nothing like we have gone through over the past year and a half.” As the economy nosedived into recession, Abtex officials, realizing that the downturn was going to be much more than a temporary setback, took action. “The first thing we did was invest our efforts at reducing our break even point, which was accomplished through elimination of non-essential expenses,” Fultz said. Like many other companies, it also became necessary for Abtex to reduce its employee count. Fortunately, a New York state “shared work” program allowed the company to do so without having to instigate permanent layoffs. “What the shared work program allowed us to do was take our production team and split it in half,” Fultz said. The way the program worked was, team A would work for one week, while team B was allowed by the state to collect unemployment for the week. “We alternated work between our A and B teams to, in effect, reduce our head count without really losing any of our employees, which was our No. 1 goal,” Fultz said. “It was kind of a win-win program. Everybody shared in the pain of the down economy.” As the economy has improved, Abtex is no longer participating in the shared work program. “Around the beginning of this year, we got everybody back pretty much to full time,” Fultz said. Abtex’s focus on keeping its employees during the depths of the recession is in keeping with Fultz’s philosophy that, in many ways, a company is only as good as its employees. “My philosophy is the employees are the most valuable asset that any company has — certainly ours is no exception,” Fultz said. “Employees are really what differentiates one company from the other. I attribute our success and the reason that we are still here after 30 years to our employees. Our employees are very focused on the customer. Everybody is keyed in on making Abtex successful. We all celebrate our victories. If we do have a defeat, we put our heads together and figure out what went wrong and what have to do better next time. “It is great to have a team that is pulling in the same direction. They have a ‘whatever it takes’ mentality. If it requires staying longer after work, they will do it. If it requires driving a box to UPS so a customer can get his brushes for next-day shipment, they will do it. Nothing is out of the question when it comes to meeting the needs of the customer or the success of our company. From my perspective as a business owner, it is extremely gratifying.” Because of the highly technical and specialized nature of Abtex’s business, the company’s “whatever it takes” attitude is
August 2010
essential in building the types of relationships that will result in meeting the needs of customers. “The type of business that we are involved with demands that we get and stay very close to our customers,” Fultz said. “Because it is an engineered-based sale, we need to get into the customer’s plant, understand the customer’s needs and expectations, and then develop a solution tailored specifically for those needs and expectations. We have very close relationships with all of our customers. The culture of Abtex is that we are extremely customer service oriented.” Also, because of the technical nature of Abtex’s business, the company’s website, www.abtex.com, has proven to be an important asset as a platform by which technical information can be presented. “We are able to provide a lot of technical information via the website that might be difficult to explain during a phone call,” Fultz said. “Also, we try to maximize our visibility on the search engines that our customers are using to find specific solutions. For example, if somebody is looking for ‘brush deburring,’ we orient all our efforts to try and make sure our company is going to show up at the top of the heap when the search engine goes out and looks.” As the entire business world deals with the challenges brought on by the current economy, Fultz outlined two major challenges that Abtex, in particular, is facing as it moves into the future. One is the company’s traditional reliance on a domestic manufacturing customer base. The second challenge Fultz spoke of is competitive pressure from overseas companies. “It seems to be epidemic in the United States that more manufacturing companies are either being forced, or are electing to move offshore,” he said. “We are seeing companies that we have dealt with for years making this decision. It is very difficult to capture a customer after he or she has gone offshore because there are, obviously, other brush companies located elsewhere in the world. It just makes it much more difficult for us to sell our product overseas because of the logistics involved. “In addition, there are going to be increasingly competitive pressures on our business as foreign companies look to expand to the United States. These are really the two big challenges that we have: customers leaving the United States and sometimes North America, and the competitive pressure coming from outside of our country.” While running a successful business is never without its challenges, Fultz sees a bright future for Abtex. “I am optimistic or I wouldn’t be in the business,” Fultz said. “I think there is always going to be a need for a premium product above and beyond just providing what might be perceived as a commodity. Our products are certainly not commodities; they are very custom oriented. “With the growth of the abrasive filament market and the applications associated with it, we are ideally positioned to take advantage of this growth. I think the industrial brush industry, as a whole, has kind of given up on providing commodity products and is looking toward customization and specialization. “We are celebrating our 30th year, which I think is a significant milestone for any company. We have survived the challenges of the past two years and, quite frankly, have probably emerged as a stronger company than before the recession began.” Contact: Abtex Corporation, 89 Main Street,
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
August 2010
2:53 PM
Page 33
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
P.O. Box 188, Dresden, NY 14441. Phone: 888-662-2839; Fax: 315-536-0280. E-mail: sales@abtex.com. Website: www.abtex.com.
F
elton Brush Inc., of Londonderry, NH, operates three business units — industrial, retail and transportation — specializing in serving mid-size to large companies with highly engineered products for sealing, guiding and surface preparation applications. “We manufacture specialty custom brushes for industrial customers that are used in machinery and equipment,” said Felton Brush Chairman Mark Godfrey, who is also the current president of the American Brush Manufacturers Association (ABMA). “We sell many types of brushes and assemblies to large OEMs throughout the country. “What we have done is become Mark Godfrey more market segment focused. We of Felton Brush divide our business units into market segments. We have teams inside and out, selling and concentrating on markets instead of just having a sales person out in the field.” As one of the largest manufacturers of custom brush products, Felton designed products can be found in automobile shift levers and seat belt mechanisms; aircraft windows and seats; printing and lithographic equipment; postage meters; machine guards; vacuum cleaners; and a wide range of agricultural equipment. As the U.S. economy is struggling to rebound from the recession of the past couple of years, Godfrey reported that business is “better.” “Like many companies, last year was a ‘down’ year. Fortunately, we were able to mitigate it with some new business,” Godfrey said. “This year business is coming back slowly. We are in a large diverse market, so some markets are better than others. Sales are up 10 or 15 percent with our core business. We have continued to invest in research and development and in new innovative products and services.” While automation is a critical aspect of Felton Brush’s manufacturing operation in reducing labor costs to remain competitive, it is the company’s employees who have been the underpinnings of success. Felton Brush is half owned by its employees. “You are only as good as your employees. We are half owned by the employees, so it is in their best interest for the company to do well,” Godfrey said. “Most of them have been here a long time. Like other companies, we are starting to see many of our people retire, so we are hiring some new ones. I like some of the new ideas brought into the mix by the younger generation — they help us look at things differently.” The company’s winning culture is predicated on its foundational values of integrity, respect, safety and teamwork, as outlined on the company’s website. In its custom designed brushes, Felton Brush uses synthetic and natural materials including polymers, rubbers, metals and fabric. “Raw materials are becoming harder to obtain, especially filaments,” Godfrey said. “Filament suppliers are becoming fewer and fewer and they are not catering to the industrial segment as
PAGE 33
much as they did in the past.” In addition to raw material issues, another challenge brought about by today’s economy is in the area of demand and supply. “Keeping up with demand is a challenge as there are shorter lead times and less visibility for the future,” Godfrey said. “It used to be that customers knew pretty much what they were going to order and they were somewhat cyclical. Today, many companies have lost visibility of what is coming in the future and are waiting until the last minute to place orders.” Despite the challenges and uncertainties of doing business in today’s economy, Godfrey remains optimistic. “I am very positive about our company and I feel we are going to grow leaps and bounds in some new areas,” he said. “As for the industry as a whole, I think companies have become more specialized and are going to see, over the next 5 or 10 years, some major changes, especially in abrasives. They will need to innovate in some new products. “There will always be a demand for toothbrushes and paintbrushes. However, those who are machining steel or any type of metal would rather not have to deburr. As machine techniques improve, there is going to be less deburring and less need for abrasive products.” According to Felton Brush’s website, www.feltonbrush.com, the business is the oldest industrial brush manufacturing company in the United States, founded as the H.G. Wilson Co. in 1852. In 1872, the company was purchased by Silas Felton and renamed S.A. Felton & Company. By 1880, he had purchased both the Robie Company and L.H. Josselyn, consolidating all brush manufacturing in New England under single ownership. In 1884 Silas’ son, Dudley, came on board and the company was renamed S.A. Felton & Son Company. In 1906, The United Shoe Machinery Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer of automated shoe making machinery, purchased controlling interest in Felton. In 1961, USM Corporation purchased the minority Felton family interest and Felton Brush became a wholly owned subsidiary of United Shoe Machinery Corporation. In 1980, the Felton operating management, one of whom was Mark Godfrey’s dad, Richard Godfrey, purchased Felton Brush from Emhart Corporation, which had acquired the USM Corporation in 1974. This transaction also included the sale of Felton Brushes Ltd. to the Canadian Operating Manager. The company name was changed to Felton Brush Inc. in 1981. Mark Godfrey joined the company in 1985. In 2004, after all of the original owners had retired, Richard Godfrey sold his shares to the employees of Felton Brush through an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan). In 2006, Dan Boehm joined the company and has since become the president/CEO. Contact: Felton Brush, Inc., 7 Burton Drive, Londonderry, NH 03053. Phone: 603-425-0200; Toll Free: 800-258-9702; Fax: 800-329-0756. E-mail: info@feltonbrush.com. Website: www.feltonbrush.com.
T
he Precision Brush Company, of Solon, OH, in the greater Cleveland area, offers customized industrial brushes for a wide variety of applications and industries. “We specialize in manufacturing custom metal channel strip brushes — straight strips, cylinder brushes and formed shapes,”
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
PAGE 34
2:53 PM
Page 34
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
said Precision Brush President Jim Benjamin. “We carefully and skillfully produce custom-designed brushes that have touched nearly every aspect of society, both public and private. From standard door seals to unique military applications our engineers, friendly customer service representatives and dedicated and loyal manufacturing staff are all committed to providing the best service and brush products available.” Precision Brush’s engineers are able to design brushes to meet customers’ individual needs — from brushes soft enough to spread confectioner’s sugar on a doughnut, to brushes made to resist harsh chemicals and/or extreme temperatures, for example. The company’s brushes are used in food processing, steel processing, glass manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, data cable management, Jim Benjamin and many more industrial applicaof Precision Brush tions. Precision Brush also offers an extensive selection of brush materials and filament diameters to fit the needs of a wide variety of industries. The company’s brushes are made using synthetic filaments — such as nylon, polypropylene and polyester — metal filaments and natural filaments, such as hair or plant fibers. In addition, the company’s brushes come in many shapes, including spirals, coils, arcs, rectangles and disks. Like many other companies in all segments of the U.S. business world, Precision Brush is experiencing an improved 2010. “Sales have slipped, but seem to be rebounding in 2010, and we are in a great position to competitively service customers,” Benjamin said. “We have spent quite a lot of time and money upgrading equipment and capabilities over the past couple years. Brushes are used in almost all industries and, as the economy grows or shrinks, so do we. This is our biggest challenge.” The company’s reputation for customer service is a result of its highly-trained and dedicated staff. Especially in the arena of providing specialized custom brushes, it is important that Precision engineers closely interact with customers. Precision engineers take the time and effort to learn about a customer’s business. This is done to better offer insight for that customer to be able to make the best possible choices. The uncertain economy has also resulted in added customer service pressures. “The trend in sales seems to be that every order is a rush order,” Benjamin said. “Many customers are waiting until the last minute to order and, as a result, are putting a lot of pressure on us for quick deliveries. We have added staff in the office to service customers as quickly and efficiently as possible. “We have many employees who have been with Precision Brush for more than 10 years. We are very interested in cross training and making each employee a valuable team member. Our manufacturing team works well together, and we have made a significant effort the past few years to hire and retain hard working, honest and conscientious people.” Lloyd Benjamin founded the company in 1951 in a two-car garage in downtown Cleveland, specializing in manufacturing metal channel strip brushes. The company grew and, in 1960, was relocated to a facility in Maple Heights, OH.
August 2010
By 1998, the company had expanded to the point that a new facility was needed. Precision Brush began the process to construct its current state-of-the-art facility, specifically designed and built around the unique brush manufacturing requirements of Precision Brush products. While the company has grown and undergone changes over the years, Lloyd Benjamin’s commitment to providing superior products and excellent customer service remain the foundational principles by which the company operates. “Our reputation in the industry is very important to us,” Jim Benjamin said. “We work hard to service customers quickly, keep our prices competitive and manufacture a very high quality product.” Contact: Precision Brush Company, 6700 Parkland Blvd., Solon, OH 44139. Phone: 800-252-4747; Fax: 800-252-0834. E-mail: info@precisionbrush.com. Website: www.precisionbrush.com.
L
iberty Brush Manufacturing, LLC, of Shakopee, MN, located in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area, specializes in being a one-stop source for replacement brushes for sweeping and scrubbing equipment. “We offer aftermarket cylindrical and rotary brushes as well as brooms and other items,” said Liberty Brush Production Manager Matt Bjornberg. “Most of our customer base is distributors, but we also manufacture some OEM products.” Liberty Brush currently manufactures a complete line of sweeper and scrubber main brooms that it guarantees will fit and meet, or exceed, all original equipment manufacturers’ specifications. According to the company’s webMatt Bjornberg site, www.libertybrush.com, Liberty of Liberty Brush Brush also offers product lines through partnerships with other brush and equipment manufacturers. Business recently at the 10-year-old company has been “good,” Bjornberg said. “We are pretty happy.” While the U.S. economy has taken a beating during the past couple of years, Liberty Brush has made it through the recession thus far in good shape. Bjornberg attributed the company’s success in this area to the ability to offer lower prices while maintaining quality and by being an aftermarket manufacturer. “We know we can keep our profit margins by lowering the costs of our goods. It is easier to do in this environment, that’s for sure,” Bjornberg said. “Being an aftermarket supplier is a benefit, too, as people are shopping for better deals, which certainly helps us. We owe much of our success to offering high quality products. If you make a quality product, it is a lot easier to sell than an economical product of lesser quality.” Indeed, it has been the company’s quality products and its commitment to customer service that has helped make the journey through the recession a successful one. “We are a small, family-style company that pays attention to detail,” Bjornberg said. “It is important to have good employees. All of our employees bring something positive to the table. Our
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:53 PM
Page 35
August 2010
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
PAGE 35
company is only 10 years old and we have some people who have been here 7 or 8 years. It certainly helps to have these veteran employees on our staff.” Another positive for the young company has been its website, www.libertybrush.com. The website has attracted enough interest that the company is planning an upgrade in the near future. While automation is an important aspect of Liberty Brush’s manufacturing process, it is only one of the keys to the company’s success, along with quality products, customer service and dedicated knowledgeable employees. “Automation is important. It is something that we are working on, but it is not our top priority. As we continue to upgrade our business, it is definitely something that we keep in mind. However, we are not building our business around automation. Everything we do is staple set. It is all done by machines, but we are not going robotic or anything like that,” Bjornberg said. Moving forward in today’s uncertain economy, there are chal-
lenges to overcome. One issue that Bjornberg said he worries about is the possibility that outsourcing may become more prominent. Thus far, Bjornberg reported, this has not been a serious problem. More immediate challenges the company faces are those associated with the trend of vendors to consolidate. “Also, raw material costs have gone up and lead times are a problem, especially in the nylon market,” Bjornberg said. “Challenges notwithstanding, Liberty Brush and the industry as a whole are in a good position to grow. The economy will pick back up. It appears that manufacturing jobs are what is needed to boost the economy right now, and our industry is in a position to grow and provide those types of jobs.” Contact: Liberty Brush Manufacturing, LLC, 1475 Maras St. S, Shakopee, MN 55379. Phone: 877-275-2500; Fax: 952-402-9449. E-mail: info@libertybrush.com. Website: www.libertybrush.com.
Fiber/Filament
inside of roofing, snow and railroad brooms. “More than likely, you wouldn’t find (palmyra) in a broom bought in a store unless it was a specialized type of store for contractors,” Caddy said. In terms of total units shipped, he added the vast majority of broom corn bales from R.E. Caddy is delivered to commercial broom makers, but there are plenty of people who still make handmade craft brooms as well. “Classes are taught at various places around the country. People are always learning how to make brooms,” Caddy said. Demand for natural broom making materials on the commercial side is greatest during the summer, although business is conducted throughout the year. On the craft side, most customers seek supplies from March through October, although this too is a yearly business for R.E. Caddy. Along with fiber, the company provides other supplies to help its customers produce various types of brooms — as well as brushes and mops. This includes steel wire, which is used to either wind brooms and mops, or under special applications, to staple set brushes. R.E. Caddy also supplies nails, either for nail machines or to be used when making brooms by hand; polyethylene sewing twine for stitching brooms; broom knives and a variety of other tools used in the craft broom industry. “Those in the craft trade like a variety of knives, hand sewing needles and all kinds of threads and twines. It’s quite a variety of supplies,” Caddy said. “The bulk of our sales comes from commercial factories, however, so for those customers it’s confined to broom corn, yucca and palmyra fiber, wood handles, steel wire, nails — these are the main components that we supply.” Caddy described the fiber business for his company as being good of late, especially when considering the fragile U.S. economy experienced in many regions of the country. “Customers who are commercial broom manufacturers are still keeping busy in the retail sector, while sales from customers catering to jan/san distributors have been very strong,” Caddy said. “On the craft broom side, I had one customer who felt there was less traffic last year at craft markets, but this seems to have picked up a bit in 2010.” R.E. Caddy & Company was incorporated in 1958 by the late
Continued From Page 16 according to Crawford. Among the synthetic filament product mix available from Monahan Filaments are nylon 6, nylon 6.6, nylon 6.12, polyester (both PBT and PET), polyethylene, PPS and polypropylene. These filaments can be used for the production of staple set and strip type brushes found in industrial, oral care, paint, construction and automotive markets. “We are constantly evaluating new materials and new sources of raw material,” Crawford said. He added that overall demand for the type of filaments provided by the company has been strong as of the middle of July. “The year started strong and continues, with new inquiries and new applications for filaments coming in,” he said. “Lead times have been reduced by working with customers on forecasting, combining orders, consolidating product offerings and holding stock where it makes sense to do so.” Monahan Filaments continues to operate with both direct sales people as well as representatives who are technically knowledgeable in brushmaking and materials, Crawford explained. Contact: Monahan Filaments, 215 Egyptian Trail, Arcola, IL 61910. Phone: 217-268-4957 or 800-451-3448. E-mail: info@monahanfilaments.com. Website: www.monahanfilaments.com.
W
hen it comes to natural broom production materials, R.E. Caddy & Co., supplies both broom corn hurl and insides as well as yucca and palmyra fibers. The vast majority of these natural fibers is grown and imported from Mexico. For the past 52 years, the Greensboro, NC, company has worked with many commercial and craft broom makers to help supply their needs. R.E. Caddy & Co. President Richard Caddy explained that broom corn and yucca fiber can be used together for making brooms. This is called a blended broom as opposed to an allbroom corn broom. Palmyra stalks, meanwhile, are used in the production of certain types of commercial brooms. Some broom manufacturers use these stalks as stiffeners that are placed in the
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
PAGE 36
2:53 PM
Page 36
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
Richard “Earl” Caddy Sr., who entered the broom corn business in 1946. The company has been at its current location since 1948, first as John L. Denning & Co., and then, 10 years later, as R.E. Caddy & Co. Today, Earl’s son, Richard, runs the operation. Just as it did in the early years, R.E. Caddy specializes in providing individualized service. This includes having a large inventory on hand. “With our raw materials, we seek out quality and have worked with many of the same suppliers for a long time. They have a good track record,” Caddy said. For smaller customers, such as craft broom makers, Caddy is willing to spend time guiding them toward the proper materials to use. He also works on planning inventory for larger commercial accounts. “I try to anticipate what they are going to need going forward, such as if they are planning a fall or back-to-school promotion,” Caddy explain. “It’s important to make sure enough inventory is on hand to meet any sudden increase in demand. “There are customers who buy pretty heavily from our company every month. We keep in constant communication. We don’t want to cause them to miss an order because they were late getting raw material.” When it comes to such natural fibers as broom corn and yucca, there can be challenges to attaining enough supply from northern Mexico, which is where this fiber is grown and processed. This is related to weather issues as well as ongoing security problems in the region. “We always have to make sure our supply of fiber is reliable. There was a concern a couple of years ago about the lack of size with the Mexican broom corn crop,” Caddy explained. “But farmers there are still planting broom corn, and we continue to work with processors (in northern Mexico) to make sure enough raw material is available.” Recently, Hurricane Alex struck northern Mexico and southern Texas. Although the hurricane, and the heavy rainfall that followed, did not severely damage this year’s first broom corn crop from the Torreon region of Mexico, it did flood Mexican roads leading to Laredo, TX. These are the same roads used to transport broom corn to the United States. “It’s important to stay far enough ahead with inventory just in case there is an unforeseen weather event,” Caddy said. As for the future of natural fiber demand, Caddy said there remains a need for brushes and broom corn brooms. He added that although the U.S. industrial base has shrunk over the years, the manufacturers who are left know what they are doing and work in specific markets. “It’s up to us (as U.S. suppliers) to provide them with raw materials,” Caddy said. Contact: R.E. Caddy & Company, Inc., P.O. Box 14634, Greensboro, NC 27415. Phone: 336-273-3609; Fax: 336-378-6047. E-mail: sales@recaddy.com. Web site: www.recaddy.com.
S
upplying primarily natural fiber brush manufacturers for well over100years,it’sfairtosaytherootsofMFC,Ltd.,ofLaredo, TX, run deep in the NorthAmerican brush marketplace.
August 2010
“Throughout the years, we have worked hard to find good suppliers of raw materials,” MFC’s David Kalisz said. “Once we find these suppliers, we work with them for many years — sometimes through several generations. This has allowed us the ability to supply fibers with quality that is second to none. “We try to have the same long-term relationships with customers. We are thrilled to be able to say that our customers’ production departments value their relationship with MFC, as the fiber we supply works well with their machinery and provides less waste and better thru-put. It’s also important to our customers’ purchasing departments that our prices remain competitive.” Among the fibers that MFC supplies are tampico, union and patent fiber, horsehair and boar bristle mixtures, cattle hair, synthetic mixtures, and tapered paintbrush mixtures. These fibers are used in the manufacturing of many types of brushes including household, paint, personal, industrial and janitorial. “Each of the different fibers that we sell has its own benefits. When we make a mixture of various fibers, the manufacturer can then tailor a brush to a certain application and/or price point,” Kalisz explained. “The benefit of a mixture is having all of the fibers, each with its own special characteristic, spread out evenly over the brush.” Kalisz reported overall business at his company is improving thus far in 2010. “Our formula for success has not changed. We provide customers with good service as well as consistent mixtures — all at a fair price,” he said. “Our company’s expertise allows us to work with customers to develop mixtures to help them meet performance and price objectives. “It may sound like a cliché, but treating the customer as one would want to be treated works very well.” Challenges, however, are always part of business. For Kalisz and MFC, the biggest challenge to overcome is the continual loss of manufacturing in North America. “We believe that our customers, North American brush manufacturers, will adapt and innovate in order to not only survive, but thrive. It is important that we work closely with them so they can achieve their objectives,” he said. “I have full confidence in our American brush manufacturers’ abilities to adapt to today’s increased competition. I also believe that they will recapture some of the business that has been lost to China.” According to Kalisz, this will happen because when a person or company seeks products (brushes or fibers) from overseas, he/she must order and stock larger quantities in order to justify the import. That person also has less control over quality, can’t adapt as easily to increases in demand because of longer lead times, and is faced with the possibility of currency issues and increased freight costs. “I’m optimistic about the future, and feel that all of our adjustments to survive the deep recession will help MFC continue to do well as the economy picks up,” Kalisz said. Contact: MFC LTD, 1904 Freight St., Laredo, TX 78041. Phone: 800-TAMPICO (826-7426) or 956-724-5191; Fax: 956-725-8080. Email: info@mfc-usa.com; dkalisz@mfc-usa.com; paty@mfc-usa.com. Website: www.mfc-usa.com.
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
T
2:53 PM
Page 37
Brush Producers, Suppliers Participate In Victor F. Miller Golf Outing
he greater Cleveland, OH, metro area has traditionally been home to several brush companies. In 1960, the founder of The Mill-Rose Company, of Mentor, OH, located just northeast of Cleveland, had an idea for a unique and fun way for local brush companies to interact with their vendors. Mill-Rose’s founder, Victor F. Miller, invited representatives of vendors who served brush manufacturers to Cleveland to participate in a golf outing. The idea was a hit, so much so that the event became officially known among vendors across the country as the Victor F. Miller Golf Outing. In June, The Mill-Rose Company hosted the 50th Annual Victor F. Miller Golf Outing at the Acacia Country Club in Lyndhurst, located on the east side of the Cleveland metro area. While vendor reps typically visited brush companies at various times throughout the year, Miller’s original concept was to offer an opportunity for brush makers and their suppliers to all get together in one place at one time to network, do some business and have fun in a relaxed atmosphere away from everyday business demands and pressures, explained Mill-Rose Director of New Development Nate Zappola. “Suppliers throughout the country are welcome to attend,” Zappola said. “This year there were 44 golfers among 65 total attendees representing about 40 different companies.” The Mill-Rose Company is a U.S. manufacturer of twisted-in-wire brushes used in virtually every type of industry throughout the world. Mill-Rose is a family-owned organization, now in its fourth generation. “Along with myself and the people
involved with putting the golf outing together, it is anticipated by all those who attend,” Zappola said. Located in northern Ohio on Lake Erie, winters in the Cleveland area can be long and hard. The Annual Victor F. Miller Golf Outing has become for many an event that ushers in the long-awaited summer season. “It is an event that kind of brings in the
summer,” Zappola said. “The golf outing is good people getting together and having fun, and getting some business done as well.” Today, Mill-Rose operates manufacturing and warehouse facilities throughout the United States and Mexico, including a 64,000 square-foot production facility in Mentor, and a 33,000 square-foot production facility in Mexico.
Jim Benjamin and Paul Miller
Frank Kigyos, Artur Seger and Ian Moss
Dennise Silva, Tom Vichich and Fred Spach
Richard Mertes and Terry Hogan
Scott Enchelmaier, Dave Parr, Jim Benjamin and Terry Hogan
Tom Vichich, Chris Monahan, Greg Miller and Kevin Lannon
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:53 PM
Page 38
PAGE 38
BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
August 2010
U.S. Imports 77 Short Tons Of Broom Corn In May By Harrell Kerkhoff Broom, Brush & Mop Editor A total of 77 short tons of broom corn was imported into the United States during May 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The imported broom corn was valued at $231,863, with a cost per ton of $3,011 ($1.51 per pound). All of May’s broom corn arrived from Mexico. After the first five months of this year, 353 short tons of broom corn entered the United States, with total value of $1,039,099. The cost per ton of this broom corn was $2,944 ($1.47 per pound). All broom corn imported into the United States during the first five months of 2010 arrived from Mexico. Richard Caddy, of R.E. Caddy & Co., Inc., in Greensboro, NC, said May’s broom corn import figures seemed to be accurate. This includes the price per pound of $1.51, which he said factors in the pricing of both broom corn hurl and insides. When interviewed on July 14, Caddy said that the first broom corn harvest of the year from the Torreon region of Mexico has begun. He added that more information about the true size of this harvest will be known by August. “There is currently an adequate supply of broom corn. Last year, as the new crop arrived, pricing remained firm and even went up a bit. This was because processors were overloaded with orders. The new broom corn was already spoken for, and it took some time (for everyone to receive their orders,)” Caddy said. “We are not experiencing the same situation this year. Therefore, a little reduction in pricing is taking place.” He added that carry-over Mexican broom corn grown in 2009 is still available for purchase and remains in good quality. Some of this inventory, however, may actually be Apatzingan or “local” broom corn grown earlier this year (in 2010). There were some major weather events that took place in early July when Hurricane Alex struck parts of northern Mexico and southern Texas. Although the Torreon region was spared from major damage, massive flooding did take place in Monterrey. Area roads were closed for a period of time, causing trucking delays into the United States. “This is the time of year when hurricanes do strike. Luckily, we (R.E. Caddy) didn’t have anything in a truck when the roads became
flooded,” Caddy said. The flooding reportedly did not cause any delays in getting yucca fiber to the United States since processing of this import is conducted further west of the flooded regions. Bart Pelton, of PelRay International, LLC, in San Antonio, TX, also felt that May’s import figures were accurate. He noted that it’s been a long time since broom corn has been imported into the United States from any other country besides Mexico. “The Mexicans are fairly efficient with growing and processing broom corn. It’s hard for other countries to reach the same productivity levels while also overcoming the cost of shipping broom corn across the ocean,” Pelton said. It was not uncommon several years ago for broom corn imports to reach the United States from such regions as Eastern Europe, Ethiopia and China. All three areas, however, have been absent from 2010 U.S. broom corn import figures. “I don’t see anything on the horizon taking place as far as broom corn arriving from overseas. The Euro had moved up against the U.S.
Flooding caused major problems in various parts of Mexico including the Monterrey area. dollar during the last few years, although it’s down some right now. I don’t believe Eastern Europe can be competitive enough right now to send broom corn here, and China really hasn’t been able to do much as far as growing a lot of broom corn,” Pelton said. Regarding the wet weather that struck a large portion of northern Mexico in early July, Pelton said Monterrey reportedly received approximately 31 inches of rain in three days. “The river that goes through downtown Monterrey completely overflowed to bridge levels. There was serious water runoff coming from the mountains and causing erosion,” Pelton said. “The flood pushed cars and trucks around, and huge chunks of the area’s major highway that runs east-west were washed away. “In addition, there was flooding from other area rivers that covered highways. The highway between Monterrey and Laredo, TX, was blocked at some low points. We were not able to
get any trucks out of Mexico for several days.” Pelton said that from what he can tell, Hurricane Alex and other bad weather in northern Mexico during early July did not cause major problems in the Torreon area. “The broom corn growing areas did get some rain, but it was not a massive amount. I’m sure some broom corn was damaged and harvest may had been delayed, but it shouldn’t be that bad. The result could be some broom corn that is over-ripe and stained due to the rain,” he said. Along with the rain, Mexican broom corn prices have also fallen as of late. Pelton said it’s hard to predict how long or far down this trend will take place. “Some of it is going to be exchange rate driven. There is plenty of carry-over broom corn, so I don’t see prices going up,” he added. May’s broom corn import figures looked accurate as well to Tim Monahan, of The Thomas Monahan Co., in Arcola, IL. He also reported on July 15 that the first Torreon harvest of 2010 is taking place, and that broom corn supply appears ahead of demand. “Prices have eased off some. It’s hard to tell if prices will stay low, but (broom corn demand) is not high. I expect pricing to stay about where it is,” Monahan said. He did report that the new Torreon crop is expected to feature good qualities, such as proper color. “Insides may be a little bony, but we usually get more insides later in the season,” Monahan said. As for the flooding that took place in northern Mexico, he added that it appears the broom corn processing areas of Cadereyta escaped serious damage. On the yucca fiber front, Monahan feels processors have cut production due to a lack in demand, especially from the United States. A lot of yucca fiber, he explained, is being used by broom makers in Mexico. Regarding overall business as of late for his company, Monahan reported handle and fiber sales “have been holding up.” “The economy remains fragile, however, and there is now talk about the recession coming back some. It’s hard to tell what is going to happen with the economy. We are staying busy right now,” he said. “The third quarter is always the busiest time. The first two weeks of July are usually a little slow as many people are on vacation, but we should start to see more orders coming in during the last two weeks of July as well as in August and September.”
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:53 PM
Page 39
BBM.Aug.x
7/26/10
2:53 PM
Page 40