It all started a century ago in a small store in Cleveland, Ohio. From this humble beginning we have grown to become the largest U.S. manufacturer of twisted-wire brushes.
Mill-Rose has set the standard for quality, performance, and innovation in brush technology for the past 100 years. We design, engineer, and manufacture standard and custom brushes in any quantity, and our expertise is second-to-none. Choose from thousands of standard and not-so-standard sizes and shapes. Call or visit MillRose.com.
Welcome to the May/June issue of Brushware, where we bring you full coverage of the 109th ABMA Convention, held in March at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. As always, the convention served as a valuable opportunity to reconnect with colleagues from across the industry, exchange ideas and take stock of the forces shaping the months ahead. From formal sessions to informal conversations, one theme came through clearly: the pace of change is not slowing.
In many ways, the brush industry remains in an extended cycle of disruption that began during the pandemic and has continued through shifting U.S. tariff policies and an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. These forces are actively reshaping supply chains and, in turn, accelerating the need for manufacturers to evaluate and establish new supplier relationships. While uncertainty is never easy to navigate, it does create opportunity. For suppliers in particular, this moment represents a critical window to engage new partners, strengthen visibility and position themselves within evolving global networks.
This dynamic environment makes the conversations and connections formed at core industry events like the ABMA Convention, the FEIBP Congress and the World Brush Expo all the more important. Being present, sharing your capabilities and staying top of mind can make a meaningful difference as companies reassess sourcing strategies and build new partnerships.
Beyond the convention, I am also pleased to feature an interview with Davide Ori of Borghi SpA and Carlos Petzold of Borghi USA. The discussion offers insight into Borghi’s continued investment in the North American market and highlights the leadership approach behind those efforts. It’s a strong example of how global companies are thinking strategically about regional growth and customer engagement.
Rounding out the issue is our annual Global Brush Company Locator, an expansive resource that organizes brush, broom, mop and paint roller manufacturers by country to support sourcing, discovery and connection across the industry. As supply chains continue to shift, tools like this become even more essential.
Thank you, as always, for your readership and for being an active part of the global brushware community.
Brushware is a bi-monthly publication edited for key personnel in the brush, roller, broom, mop and applicator industry. Published continuously through the years, the one publication that provides a voice and community for the brush and allied industries: 1898-1923, called Brooms, Brushes & Handles; 19241947, called Brooms, Brushes & Mops, 1948-today, called Brushware
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At the ABMA Face 2 Face Sessions with Alessandro Acquaderni (SIT Brush)
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The Pulse
Lanoco Specialty Wire Co-Founder John J. Lannon Dies at 80
In March, the ABMA reported the passing of John J. Lannon, co-founder of Lanoco Specialty Wire Products, Inc., a supplier of fine-diameter wire used in the power brush industry. Lannon died March 3, 2026, after a six-year battle with cancer. He was 80.
Lannon helped establish Lanoco Specialty Wire in 1984 alongside his brother Robert Lannon and brother-in-law
Thomas O’Connor. The company became a recognized supplier of precision wire products used in industrial brush manufacturing, serving customers across the power brush sector.
Before founding Lanoco, Lannon spent 14 years with Worcester Wire, a division of National Standard Corp., in Worcester, Massachusetts. He later relocated to Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, where he assisted with the setup and training of equipment operations for National Standard before returning to Massachusetts to launch the family-owned business.
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Lannon was the son of Michael J. and Florence G. (Garrow) Lannon. He attended South High School and later graduated from Becker Junior College with a degree in business administration.
In 1963, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Vietnam. During his service, he received the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” for valor and was awarded a Meritorious Mast for outstanding performance of duty. Lannon often reflected on his military experience, saying that his country had “trained him well.”
Lannon was a member of Disabled American Veterans and the Charles F. Minney Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3329 in Millbury, Massachusetts.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Kathleen (Bradley) Lannon; his daughter Kerry Lannon and her partner Michael Elian; his son Kevin Lannon and wife Melissa; his grandsons Evan and Jay Beaudet; his granddaughters Amelia and Jocelyn Lannon; his brother Robert G. Lannon and wife Mary; and his sister-in-law Mary Ellen O’Connor. He was predeceased by his brothers Francis and Michael, his sister Patricia, and his grandson Jack Beaudet.
Mill-Rose to Sponsor Professional Angler Massey in Major League Fishing
The Mill-Rose Company, exclusive supplier of Blue Monster products used in P/H/C applications and the world’s leading supplier of PTFE thread sealants, has agreed to sponsor Matt Massey, a plumber-turned-professional angler, in Major League Fishing.
With a plumbing career spanning 44 years, the company said Matt is an ideal representative for Blue Monster products as he pursues his passion for fishing as a professional fisherman. Matt is a second-generation master plumber who built a successful business as the owner of Massey Plumbing and Heating in Denver, Colorado. After four decades of plumbing in the Denver area, Matt moved to St. Augustine, Florida, where he founded a firm specializing in plumbing and gas line installations.
Matt joined the National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) in 2020 and has had a high percentage of in-the-money finishes. In 2026, Matt switched to Major League Fishing, known for the popular Bass Pro Tour. As a professional angler, Matt said he takes pride in developing new, more efficient fishing techniques and testing lures in a broad range of onshore locations and weather conditions.
As a master plumber, Matt is an avid user and believer in Blue Monster products. “I’m thrilled to welcome Mill-Rose and Blue Monster as a sponsor. Their products have such a high reputation for quality and a deep commitment to customer trust. We hold the same core values,” said Massey.
Greg Miller, President of The Mill-Rose Company, said, “Matt Massey is the ideal representative for Mill-Rose and the Blue Monster brand. We are very proud to team up with a professional contractor that’s one of the best anglers in the world, exposing Blue Monster professional-grade products to a wider fishing audience.”
Learn more about the Mill-Rose Company at www.millrose.com
Matt Massey, sponsored by Mill-Rose, with a large-mouth bass caught while competing in Major League Fishing. Photo courtesy of Mill-Rose.
A+B Bürsten-Technik AG Acquires Raetz Firearm Cleaning Business
A+B Bürsten-Technik AG has acquired the firearm cleaning business of Büchsenmacherei Ferdinand Raetz, assuming responsibility for the production and distribution of the company’s premium cleaning rods and brushes as of March 1, 2026. The transition is part of a succession plan established by Carola and Ferdinand Raetz, who built a reputation for high-quality firearm cleaning products serving gunsmiths, retailers and shooting enthusiasts across Europe.
Under the agreement, manufacturing of the Raetz premium cleaning rod line will be transferred from Engen-Neuhausen, Germany, to the A+B Bürsten-Technik AG production facility in Wattwil, Switzerland. The products will be integrated into the company’s existing manufacturing operations.
A+B Bürsten-Technik said the move will ensure the longterm continuation of the Raetz premium product line while leveraging the company’s extensive expertise in brush manufacturing and its established European distribution network. The Switzerland-based manufacturer is known for its specialized technical brushes and precision brush solutions used in a range of industrial applications. Its experience in brush engineering and production provides a strong foundation for the continued development of the Raetz firearm cleaning line.
Company officials noted that maintaining the high standards associated with the Raetz brand will remain a top priority. Quality, precision manufacturing and dependable delivery will continue to serve as guiding principles for the product range.
Carola and Ferdinand Raetz will assist during the transition period, supporting the transfer of production knowledge and helping establish the new manufacturing process at the Wattwil facility. Customers and partners are expected to see continuity in product availability and service, now supported by the manufacturing infrastructure and technical capabilities of A+B Bürsten-Technik AG. In addition, A+B Bürsten-Technik plans to further expand its website and online shop to improve access to the firearm cleaning product range.
Carola and Ferdinand Raetz expressed their appreciation to customers and partners for their many years of trust and collaboration and said they are pleased to have found a capable successor in A+B Bürsten-Technik AG to carry forward the premium cleaning rod line.
The Pulse
Trent Maynard Marks 10 Years at Global Shop Solutions
Global Shop Solutions announced that Director of Product & Engineering Trent Maynard is celebrating his 10-year anniversary with the company, reflecting a decade that spans from consulting on the shop floor to leading its unified AI initiative, Genii. “As AI rapidly reshapes manufacturing software, the role of product and engineering leadership is evolving alongside it,” the company said in a statement.
Maynard started where many begin — on the shop floor. When he joined the company in 2016, he brought with him something rare in the ERP software industry: an instinct for what manufacturers need, built from working alongside them. 10 years and four roles later, he’s now Director of Product & Engineering at the family-owned ERP provider, leading its AI initiatives and helping redefine what modern manufacturing software looks like.
His path in the company ran through nearly every part of the business. From his early days as an Operations & Technical Consultant to roles in customer service and R&D, Maynard brought the same customer-first mindset to each position, driving product advancements that strengthen system performance to lay the groundwork for the company’s AI expansion strategy.
Recently, Maynard created Genii, Global Shop Solutions’ unified AI initiative designed to live throughout the ERP platform and enhance how manufacturers interact with their data, automate processes and make decisions. Under his leadership, the company has modernized its technology stack, strengthened integration capabilities and implemented AI testing tools and best practices to support the continued evolution of Genii.
“Over the past 10 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside talented people who care about helping manufacturers succeed,” says Maynard. “Speed, stability, reliability and security are table stakes — especially as AI continues to reshape the industry. Our job is to filter through the noise, focus on what matters and build tools that put our customers in a stronger position to succeed. The opportunity in front of us is enormous, and I’m excited about where we’re headed next.”
The Inspired Home Show 2026 Gathers Home & Housewares Industry To Move Business Forward
Moving business forward was a major theme at The Inspired Home Show 2026, as home and housewares buyers and sellers from around the world gathered to discover new products, explore new trends and make invaluable connections with top decision-makers.
The International Housewares Association’s (IHA) premier annual marketplace showcased over 1,000 exhibitors, thousands of unique brands, and hundreds of thousands of products to attendees from over 100 countries at Chicago’s McCormick Place from March 10-12, 2026.
“It’s no secret that geopolitical and economic uncertainties have created challenges for retailers and suppliers,” said Derek Miller, IHA president & CEO. “But these uncertainties also come at a time when consumers are increasingly looking to their homes for cooking, entertaining, comfort, wellness and so much more.”
“Senior leaders from both the supplier and buyer sides are telling us how invaluable it was for them to connect in-person at this year’s Show and identify new partners, products, trends and ideas that will help them gain a competitive edge in the year ahead,” he added.
Nearly all the key retailers brought senior-level executives, DMMs, GMMs and buyers to the 2026 Show. U.S.-based buyers alone attending the Show represented more than 100,000 retail locations and nearly $75 billion in buying power.
In addition to key global retailers and country-specific market leaders, the Show also attracted over 1,000 smaller independent retailers. Participating exhibitors included everyone from industry leaders and legacy brands to emerging companies and start-up entrepreneurs.
“Buyers consistently tell us how much they appreciate the opportunity to meet with decision-makers from the biggest players in the industry, but also to discover new, emerging brands from all over the world,” said Miller. “This diverse mix of buyers and sellers creates meaningful opportunities for everyone at the Show.”
The 2026 Show featured multiple new and returning attractions, including:
• Four expos in two halls located conveniently across the Grand Concourse from each other: Clean + Contain, Dine + Décor, Wired + Well and International Sourcing.
• The Pet Products Pavilion — created in partnership with the American Pet Products Association.
• An expanded Debut incubator, highlighting emerging home and housewares companies and smaller new-to-the-Show exhibitors.
• An expanded Inventors Corner, featuring start-up entrepreneurs with fresh ideas and passion projects in the form of a single product.
• Global Design Points, which offered a look into emerging trends from Brazil, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Turkey.
• The Pantone ColorWatch Display showcasing housewares to match the seven palettes in the Pantone® View Home + Interiors 2027 forecast.
• The new SPLiCE Licensing Hub—produced in partnership with the Society of Product Licensors Committed to Excellence to connect attendees with brands interested in licensing deals.
• The New Exhibitor Gallery, featuring brands and products new to the Show.
• The IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia), honoring excellence in home and housewares retailing, product design and student achievement.
• Inspired Women in Housewares, which provided networking and a panel discussion for leaders in the industry.
• Networking events for the entire industry, as well as focused events for independent retailers and young professionals.
This year also marked the first year of The Inspired Home Show’s new mid-week date pattern. Feedback for the new Tuesday – Thursday pattern, which was a result of industry polling, was overwhelmingly positive.
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Collaborative Vertical Integration with Hyperscale Manufacturers
By Lisa Anderson
As manufacturers must scale rapidly to meet increasing needs across the spectrum, hyperscale manufacturing is becoming a competitive differentiator. Companies are expanding domestic production as geopolitical risks force greater control, tax and deregulation benefits roll out, tariffs stabilize and incentivize investments in manufacturing and artificial intelligence-driven demand is forcing industrialization at speed. Hyperscale manufacturing is the capability to design, ramp and operate production systems that can scale output exponentially — quickly, reliably, and repeatedly — across multiple sites and products.
The Environment Is Ripe for Hyperscale
As geopolitics provides evidence that supply chain chokepoints can have a substantial impact on companies’ ability to supply customer needs successfully and at expected costs, the need for greater control emerges. For example, the war in Iran caused the Strait of Hormuz to close, stopping the flow of 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquified natural gas and escalating the price of energy, which is used across the board in manufacturing and supply chain. Because the U.S. is energy independent, they have greater control over their supply during this period, even though prices rose with the global markets. In a similar vein, items related to national security such as defense, semiconductors and related supply chains must be produced at scale to support domestic needs and are further incented with tariffs, causing the need to scale rapidly. In addition, as the U.S. government rolls out tax and other financial incentives, manufacturers will be required to scale.
How Hyperscale Works
At its core, hyperscale manufacturing operates through a combination of industrial-scale capacity, digital intelligence, platform standardization and supply chain orchestration. Instead of adding incremental output with additional lines or facilities, hyperscale manufacturing deploys a proven model that can replicate at speed and scale without proportional increases in cost, labor and complexity. Rapid, repeatable scalability is at the core of hyperscale manufacturing; it is planned upfront and designed to be replicated across sites so that capacity can be expanded in months instead of years.
Hyperscale manufacturing uses standardized processes, equipment and designs and focuses on achieving a common architecture across products or variants so that it can be replicated quickly across the board. Resilience is built in upfront with capacity across regions, multi-sourcing of critical components and the ability to shift production dynamically. Digital-first operations provide realtime visibility across the network with AI-driven planning and optimization with technologies such as advanced planning systems (APS) and digital twins to simulate and scale across the organization.
It also requires tight control and coordination across the end-to-end supply chain to orchestrate multitier visibility and strategic control over critical components. Finally, the entire flow is automated and digitized with IoT, robotics and autonomous systems to achieve maximum throughput per square foot of space.
Scaling in the Real World
Companies including Intel, Tesla and SpaceX have explored new approaches to large-scale semiconductor manufacturing aimed at dramatically increasing output for AI-driven demand. The goal is to build highly integrated facilities capable of producing advanced chips at a scale far beyond traditional fabs, with vertically integrated design, fabrication, testing and packaging in a single footprint.
These facilities are designed as fully integrated production environments built for exponential demand. Vertical integration and tight coordination across the end-to-end supply chain are of paramount importance to ensure speed, with the ability to iterate rapidly as conditions change and improvement opportunities emerge. Although this approach scales manufacturing, more importantly, it represents a new model for rebuilding industrial capacity and capability.
The Bottom Line
No matter your company or industry type, forward-thinking companies are evaluating hyperscale manufacturing concepts. Manufacturing and related supply chains will rapidly evolve into this new model as companies want to quickly scale capacities and capabilities without added cost or labor. It fits with the evolution towards regional supply chains and the rapid expansion of domestic manufacturing. As executives look to mitigate risks and maximize results, taking control internally with tight orchestration across the supply chain will lead to an AI-enabled hyperscale manufacturing boom.
Lisa Anderson is the founder and president of LMA Consulting Group, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in manufacturing strategy and end-to-end supply chain transformation that maximizes the customer experience and enables profitable, scalable, dramatic business growth. She recently released “SIOP (Sales Inventory Operations Planning): Creating Predictable Revenue and EBITDA Growth,” an e-book on how to better navigate supply chain chaos and ensure profitable, scalable business growth. A complimentary download can be found at www.lma-consultinggroup.com/siop-book/
2026 ABMA CONVENTION
GRANDE, PUERTO RICO | MARCH 24-27, 2026
2026
ABMA CONVENTION:
ZAHORANSKY Claims Innovation Excellence Award in Puerto Rico
The 2026 ABMA Convention drew 151 attendees to the Hyatt Grand Reserve for three days of business meetings, educational workshops and the 20th anniversary presentation of the William A. Cordes Innovation Excellence Award.
The American Brush Manufacturers Association (ABMA) held its 109th Annual Convention at the Hyatt Grand Reserve in Puerto Rico from March 24 to March 27, gathering 151 attendees representing 48 companies. Against a backdrop of tariff uncertainty and consolidation pressures, the convention delivered what ABMA members have come to rely on most: uninterrupted face-to-face access to the people who matter.
The week’s most anticipated moment came on Wednesday morning, when ABMA President R.J. Lindstrom (Zephyr Manufacturing) announced the winner of the ABMA Innovation Excellence Award. Two companies had submitted entries this
year: Wooster Brush Company, with its GripTech MAX paintbrush series, and ZAHORANSKY, with its Z.WASP1 drilling and tufting machine.
After weeks of open voting that closed at midnight the night before, ZAHORANSKY’s Z.WASP1 claimed the top honor with a system designed to significantly increase output in the production of large-format industrial brushes. At its core is a dual-station configuration that allows drilling and tufting to occur simultaneously, effectively doubling production compared to traditional sequential processes.
ZAHORANSKY team with the William A. Cordes Innovation Award. From left to right: Christof Aurich, Heinrich Sielemann, Ulrich Zahoransky, Steve Bellocchio and Sofiane Knobel
ABMA President R.J. Lindstrom (Zephyr Manufacturing) addresses the convention during the Opening Business Session
Taylor Jameson of Ram Manufacturing Company delivers the Public Relations report
ABMA Vice President Todd Leventhal (Nexstep Commercial Products)
ABMA Treasurer Lance Cheney (Braun Brush)
2026
The machine supports disc brushes up to 900mm (35 in.) in diameter and achieves tufting speeds of up to 200 bundles per minute, depending on configuration. In addition to its output gains, the Z.WASP1 introduces expanded material flexibility, including the ability to process flat wire from up to four spools simultaneously and produce brushes with mixed plastic and wire filaments within a single tufting hole.
Designed as a flexible platform for technical brush manufacturing, the system accommodates a wide range of brush sizes, shapes and filament types, with capabilities tailored to demanding applications such as street cleaning and snow removal.
ZAHORANSKY’s Heinrich Sielemann said, “We have many new innovations here at ZAHORANSKY, so it was hard to choose what to present. But this machine offers something the marketplace doesn’t have today.”
Lindstrom thanked both nominating companies for their entries and underscored the award’s broader purpose. He said, “It’s an important thing that we do as a group to recognize innovation in our industry. It shows that our industry is thriving and still coming up with new ways of doing things.”
With 151 attendees, the 2026 convention held essentially flat to the 150 who gathered at Lost Pines in Austin, Texas, the previous year — a number convention committee chair Todd Leventhal (Nexstep Commercial Products) called encouraging given the logistical challenge of Puerto Rico for some members. The supplier face-to-face table count dipped slightly, from 26 tables in 2025 to 21 this year, though ABMA leadership noted that overall supplier membership remains stable; several companies simply opted not to attend based on the distance. If one topic threaded through every informal conversation and formal committee session alike, it was tariffs. Jeff Mink of FM Brush reflected on the convention’s broader significance and summed up the industry’s mood with characteristic precision, “The industry is stable, but growth is hard to find right now.”
“The insights I gather are still circling around the tariff situation,” Mink said. “How is it going to be resolved, if and when? And how difficult will it be to recoup some of this money?” He noted that the environment has accelerated supplier consolidation, with companies being absorbed or merging at an elevated rate, reducing choice for manufacturers seeking materials.
Kim Johnstun of Easy Reach Supply — which, like its parent company, Gordon Brush, sources as much as possible domestically — offered a more nuanced picture. “Tariffs help us in some ways, because more people want to shop here in America,” she said. “But in other ways they hurt, because some things you simply can’t source in America.” She added that demand from Buy American-oriented customers, including government contractors, has reached levels she has not seen in her seven years with the company.
The Statistical Committee’s spring survey, conducted two weeks before the convention and presented at the Tuesday morning meetings, confirmed the complicated picture: some ABMA members are benefiting from tariffs, others are being harmed, and the spread was wide enough that the association chose not to take a collective stance, instead assisting individual sectors where needed. Wire manufacturers, hit particularly hard, received association support in navigating the regulatory process.
The Convention as Relationship Engine
For all the economic cross-currents, the event’s top draw continues to be the opportunity for networking. Executive Director Donna Frendt said that was the top response in the association’s post-convention survey from 2025. “Face-to-face, in a digital world, is a really great opportunity,” Frendt said. “That comes up again and again.”
Mink, who has attended the convention for decades, said, “This is not the type of event where you’re writing orders, but the connections and the networking reinforce your position in the marketplace. And in these uncertain times, the relationships you forge can be very helpful.”
Gary Enchelmaier (Industrial Brush Company) presents the Statistical Committee report
Imre Karetka (Pferd Tools) reports on the Safety Committee meeting
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What makes the ABMA distinctive, he suggested, is that personal relationships still carry real weight in the brush industry — even as they’ve become increasingly transactional elsewhere.
Johnstun, who was at her fifth convention, echoed the sentiment, describing the convention as a family reunion. “We buy everything we can from people at ABMA,” she said. “And they buy from us. We keep it in the family.”
Lindstrom, in his first year as ABMA president, offered the association’s clearest membership pitch: “A manufacturer that’s not part of the ABMA doesn’t know who they don’t know. There may be suppliers and other ways of doing business in this room that they’re not aware of — and that they should be.”
Educational Sessions: Intellectual Property and Succession Planning
Tuesday afternoon’s educational workshops drew strong attendance. Patent attorney Meredith Lloyd of Taylor Dykema PLLC walked members through the full spectrum of intellectual property tools available to brush manufacturers, using the Oreo cookie as a case study in layered IP strategy: utility patents on composition and manufacturing process, design patents on the cookie’s shape,
trademarks on the logo and name, and a trade-secret formula locked in a Norwegian vault. Her message was practical: Businesses can build comprehensive IP protection by stacking multiple instruments, each covering a different aspect of a product’s value.
Mark Huber of Thornwood Financial followed with a candid succession planning presentation shaped by his own experience as both a manufacturer and a failed succession plan recipient. His framework emphasized starting early, knowing what your company is actually worth (not guessing), and identifying which of the “five Ds” — divorce, disagreement, disability, distress or death — might force a transition before you’re ready. “Control your destiny, or somebody else will,” Huber said, quoting Jack Welch.
Those sessions were followed by a teambuilding exercise that featured a piratethemed adventure with attendees grouped into teams. The adventure was run by the ABMA staff, with Taylor Kervin directing the teams through each challenge in the adventure. Ultimately, it was the Rogue Waver Riders with Derek Peterson (Palmer Fixture), Ken Rakusin (Gordon Brush), Andreas Reimann (Roth Composite Machinery), Nate Labecki (WCJ Pilgrim Wire), Marco Acquaderni (SIT Societa Italiana Tecnospazzole) and William Shaul (Draper Knitting Company) that scored the highest in the challenge.
Wednesday’s Business Session
Lindstrom opened Wednesday’s sessions with an introduction and general meeting notes before introducing FEIBP President Simone Lorillier, who spoke on the increased collaboration between the ABMA and the FEIBP. He extended a personal invitation for ABMA members to attend the upcoming FEIBP Congress in Lyon, France, September 22-24. The ABMA’s Emerging Leaders program is again offering a financial assistance for qualifying members under 45 who wish to attend. Thomas Cottam of Industrial Brush Corp., who took advantage of the program to attend last year’s congress in Ischia, Italy, told the Wednesday general session that the experience was worth the logistics, which involved two planes, two trains, a taxi and a hydrofoil.
“Every industry has a gap between today’s leaders and tomorrow’s,” Cottam said. “The ones that succeed are the ones that find a way to actively close that gap.”
Mark Huber of Thornwood Financial
Meredith Lloyd of Taylor Dykema PLLC
Thomas Cottam of Industrial Brush Corporation
2026
Scholarship Winners
The ABMA Foundation’s announcement of this year’s Kathy K. Parr Scholarship winners put that mission in concrete terms. The recipients of $2,500 scholarships for 2026 included:
Celeste Newton, who is pursuing a business degree at Ohio University and is the daughter of Pete Newton of the Delaware Paint Company and Ohio Brush Works.
Cody Boudreas, who works at Felton Brushes and is looking to advance by completing a Manufacturing Engineering Technical Program at Mohawk College.
Honoring Ulrich Zahoransky
The session also saw Heinrich Sielemann take the podium to honor his predecessor, Ulrich Zahoransky, who stepped down late last year after nearly four decades at the helm. Under Zahoransky’s leadership, the company grew from a double-digit to a triple-digit million-euro enterprise, built a global footprint spanning Germany, Spain, India and beyond, and expanded into healthcare and automation. Sielemann spoke of a leader who never lost sight of what mattered in a family business — apprenticeship, employee satisfaction and a culture of
respect — and who, when business discussions drifted inward, had a habit of pulling everyone back with the same question: what does the customer want, and how do we deliver it? The room responded warmly, and Zahoransky himself was present to receive the tribute.
Donald Cooper: Stop Setting Goals
Wednesday’s keynote was delivered by Donald Cooper, a Canadian business coach and inductee into the Canadian Speaking Hall of Fame, whose 34-year practice has taken him through 40 industries worldwide. Drawing on pre-convention interviews he conducted with ABMA members to tailor his material, Cooper built his session around a deceptively simple premise: most businesses are in denial about where they actually stand and have no clear picture of where they’re trying to go.
His central argument was that the language businesses use — goals, targets, aims, objectives — is too soft to drive real accountability. “A target by definition is something we hit sometimes and miss other times,” he told the room. “Replace those words with one word: commitments.” That shift, he argued, changes culture in ways that metrics and performance reviews cannot.
Cooper structured the session around five pillars of organizational clarity — purpose, values, a three-to-five year vision, an annual mission and specific commitments to action — and challenged attendees to go back and have their entire teams, from managers to frontline workers, independently assess where the business stands. The exercise, he suggested, almost always surfaces uncomfortable gaps between how leadership sees the company and how everyone else does.
Attendees left with access to a library of 54 free business tools at www.donaldcooper.com. In addition, Cooper made an unusual offer: anyone who missed a chance to speak with him at the convention was welcome to call or email him for follow-up coaching at no charge — “as long as I am still alive on this planet,” he noted, “and at my age, I’d be calling sooner rather than later.”
Looking Ahead: Arizona in 2027
The association’s next convention will be held March 23-26, 2027, at the Westin Kierland property in Scottsdale, Arizona — a resort the group has visited twice before and one that Leventhal praised for its on-property golf course and walkable retail and restaurant district suitable for non-golfers. Room rates are set at $415 per night, above the association’s historical under-$400 benchmark, a reflection of broader resort pricing pressures the convention committee acknowledged openly.
Looking further out, the ABMA has confirmed its 2028 convention will return to Bonita Springs, Florida, at the Hyatt Coconut Point, March 21-24, 2028. The Florida destination was a deliberate scheduling decision to offer a more accessible Florida location in the same year as the World Brush Expo in Ghent, Belgium (May 16-18, 2028). The reasoning: in World Brush Expo years, attendance at the ABMA convention typically softens as members weigh the cost of two international-caliber trips. Keeping 2028’s convention close to home should ease that calculation.
ZAHORANSKY’s Heinrich Sielemann honored retiring leader Ulrich Zahoransky
Keynote Speaker Donald Cooper ABMA’s Taylor Kervin led the team-building activity
The Rogue Wave Raiders won the team-building activity. The team included (left to right) Derek Peterson (Palmer Fixture Co.) Ken Rakusin (Gordon Brush ), Andreas Reimann (Roth Composite Machinery), Nate Labecki (WCJ Pilgrim Wire), Marco Acquaderni (SIT Brush SpA) and William Shaul (Draper Knitting Co.)
2026 ABMA CONVENTION | FACE 2 FACE GALLERY RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO | MARCH 24-27, 2026
Ken Rakusin (Gordon Brush) and Jarda Markvart (Wohler Bohemia / HTFilament)
Ken Kanthook, Maggie Gu and Tom Morrissey from Celanese
Lance Cheney and Max Cheney from Braun Brush with Ralph Rosenbaum and Emre Kadayifci from Stainless Steel Products
Soren Homburg (Woehler Brush Tech) and Fred Spach (Carolina Brush)
Left to Right: Terry Hogan (Monahan Filaments), Gary Townes (Magnolia Brush) and Matt Monahan and Jon Monahan of Monahan Filaments
ZAHORANSKY team of Steve Bellocchio, Sofiane Knobel, Christof Aurich, Ulrich Zahoransky and Heinrich Sielemann with Taylor Jameson and Todd Ramsey of Ram Manufacturing Co.
Kim Johnstun of Easy Reach Supply LLC
Maria Caballero (PMM), Enrique Mejia (PMM), Daniel Morehouse (Osborn International), Dennise Silva (PMM) and Nora Bravo (PMM).
Dave Magner of Deco Products Co. with Christian Donovan (Abtex LLC) and Dan Kirtz (Malish Corporation)
ABMA Executive Director Donna Frendt with Alessandro Acquaderni (SIT Brush SpA)
Jim Benjamin of Precision Brush with Sofia Teles of Filkemp
2026 ABMA CONVENTION | FACE 2 FACE GALLERY RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO | MARCH 24-27, 2026
Chris Monahan (Brush Fibers), Bart Pelton (PelRay International Co.) with Stephanie Grimaldi and Michael Grimaldi of Torrington Brush Works
Andreas Reimann and Gernot Mueller of Roth Composite Machinery with Jim Benjamin of Precision Brush
Roth Composite Machinery supplier table shows off brush product capabilities
Leistner Werkzeug GmbH
Auerbacher Str. 15
D-08328 Stuetzengruen/Germany
www.leistner-gmbh.de info@leistner-gmbh.de
Ph: +49-(0)37462-288 150
Fx: +49-(0)37462-288 159
Lisa Boucherie, Frank Kigyos and Kris Geldof of Boucherie
Jens Becker, Mel Chavis and Christian Schaaf with Perlon-Group / Hahl Inc.
Pictured Left to Right: Bob Arnold, Rob Wilson, Josh Cole, Carlos Petzold and Matt Tompkins
The History of Bodam International Ltd. and Borghi USA
1976
Carlos Petzold demonstrates a Dal Maschio broom stitcher producing plastic‑stitched brooms in Cadereyta, Mexico. Petzold summer vacations were so much fun!
1999
Carlos Petzold hires Matt Tompkins to lead spare parts sales and technical support, beginning the growth of a dedicated service infrastructure for Borghi machinery customers in North America.
1986
Carlos Petzold establishes Bodam International LTD. to strengthen the brand recognition of Borghi brush manufacturing machinery in North America. Location: Parkton, Maryland.
2000
A separate company is incorporated to focus on spare parts distribution and technical support. Borghi USA is formally established.
2001
Land is purchased for a new headquarters designed to support the growing operations of Borghi USA and Bodam International.
2002
Borghi USA opens its headquarters in Aberdeen, Maryland, creating a centralized hub for machinery support, spare parts inventory, and customer service.
2026
Bodam International Ltd., led by Carlos Petzold, continues to represent Borghi S.p.A. of Italy for machinery sales in the USA and Canada.
Borghi USA provides spare parts and technical support for Borghi machinery under the leadership of Matt Tompkins.
Borghi Expands Its Voice in North America Through Davide Ori
Getting to know Davide Ori, Area Manager for Borghi S.p.A., providing a relationship-driven approach to global machinery markets.
At the ABMA 2026 Convention, Brushware magazine sat down with Davide Ori, area manager for the USA, Canada, and Poland at Borghi S.p.A., alongside Carlos Petzold, President of Borghi USA, to discuss Davide’s history with Borghi and the integration of Unimac into the Borghi brand, evolving automation trends and how Borghi is strengthening its connection to customers in the U.S. and Canada.
Can you tell us a little bit about your role with Borghi today?
Davide Ori: I’m based at the Borghi s.p.a. headquarters in Castelfranco Emilia, Italy, working with Borghi as area manager for the U.S., Canada, Poland and nearby countries.
Borghi and Unimac have had a longstanding relationship. Can you give us a picture of how the organization has been integrated?
Ori: The Unimac entity no longer exists as a separate company, but the technology is very much alive within Borghi. All of the machines related to power brushes and metal handle lines are now manufactured under the Borghi name, using Unimac technology and continuing to improve it.
Carlos Petzold: The decision was really about consolidation. Borghi and Unimac had overlapping departments — engineering, purchasing, logistics — and it made sense to bring everything under one structure. The benefit is that all Unimac employees transitioned into Borghi, so the knowledge and experience were fully retained.
Davide, take us back a little bit. How did you get started in the industry?
Ori: I started in 1999 with Tecno-Plastic, a Borghi company focused on extrusion lines for monofilament (synthetic brush fibers). I began at a very basic level, working on electrical connections for the machines. Over time, I grew with the company and eventually became President. After we sold
TechnoPlastic to a German company in 2014, I stayed on as sales manager. Then, in 2019, when Borghi acquired 100 percent of Unimac, I moved into the role of General Manager at Unimac.
After Unimac was fully incorporated into Borghi in 2024, I took on my current role as Borghi Area Manager covering the United States, Canada and Poland.
Can you tell our readers more about the focus of your new role?
Ori: My main commitment is to support Borghi’s presence in the USA and Canada as effectively as possible. I aim to be a true point of contact between the U.S. and Italy to ensure we are aligned, responsive and efficient every day to support our customers in the areas of my responsibility.
Petzold: The key is that Davide represents the voice of the USA and Canadian customers inside Borghi. Because of time zones and distance, it’s critical that customer needs are clearly communicated back to Italy. Every region has different requirements, and Borghi organizes its global strategy through area managers like Davide to ensure those voices are heard.
Can you tell us about new or recent innovations from Borghi?
Ori: We continue to develop new machines. Recently, we introduced a new power brush knotting machine, and we’re also working on a new twisted-in-wire machine that will be released soon. Since incorporating the Unimac lines of machinery into Borghi’s engineering department, a process of
renovation of that range of equipment has been started. All the former Unimac machines are now being redesigned using the Borghi concept of interchangeability and modularity, as well as short index times for increased productivity.
Petzold: We’ve also seen tremendous success with the “Moon” machine — Borghi’s fully automatic staple-set platform. Borghi has sold more than 30 units globally in a short time. Its success comes from its reliability, flexibility and highly productive output.
Can you expand on the importance of flexibility for brush manufacturing?
Petzold: Historically, automation limited versatility. Now, with modular design, a machine like the Moon can handle a wide range of brush types, like cylindrical, flat,
and semi-spherical, without excessive cost or changeover time. It can also operate in hybrid modes: fully automated for high-volume runs or manually loaded for smaller production. That balance is what’s driving adoption.
Another key example of flexibility is that Borghi has been integrating finishing directly into the machinery. The Gemini machine model can produce large cylindrical or flat brushes and complete trimming within the same system. Historically, that required multiple steps and machines. Now, the product comes off the machine nearly finished, reducing handling, labor, and cost.
Ori: Today, automation is essential, but it must come with flexibility.
Is the demand for manufacturing automation in North America the same as in other parts of the world for the brush industry?
Ori: Yes, absolutely. Labor challenges are global, and automation demand is increasing everywhere.
Petzold: Again, the difference now is that automation no longer sacrifices versatility. Machines like Stargate and Moon allow manufacturers to scale production while still handling diverse products that can be manufactured on the same machine.
How is artificial intelligence factoring into the equation for Borghi?
Ori: For us, AI will primarily improve internal processes — streamlining operations, purchasing and service systems.
ABMA President R.J. Lindstrom meets with Davide Ori and Carlos Petzold during the Face 2 Face session at the 2026 ABMA Convention in Puerto Rico.
Petzold: Machine design still comes from direct customer interaction. AI can support efficiency, but innovation in our industry comes from understanding real-world needs.
We also must be careful. AI can introduce errors quickly if not applied properly. In our business, where machines are highly specialized and produced in small volumes, precision matters.
Davide, what do you enjoy most about working in the brush industry?
Ori: The people. Building relationships and learning from others has helped me grow over more than 25 years.
As a company leader, do you have any advice for younger professionals looking to build careers in the machinery or brush sectors?
Ori: You have to “roll up your sleeves.” I started from a very basic technical role and worked my way up. If you are willing to push yourself and commit fully, you can reach your goals.
Along those lines, how are you approaching workforce challenges?
Ori: It is difficult today to find people who are willing to put effort into manufacturing roles. Borghi is continuously cooperating with technical schools as well as Universities to attract young students to consider working in our field. This cooperation gives Borghi the opportunity to work with these students as they are studying and seeing the potential for a job in the technology sector. Borghi has hired many new employees through this program.
Petzold: Manufacturing is not always seen as an attractive career path for younger generations. However, I have had opportunities to meet with some of the young students during visits to Borghi and I encourage them that it is an excellent career path if they enjoy what they experience at Borghi during their internships.
Ori: But when you find the right people, you must take care of them. Borghi always takes care of their people.
Looking ahead, what excites you?
Ori: Continuing to help customers grow. Understanding their challenges, their goals, and working together to find solutions— that’s what drives me.
Petzold: That collaboration is what fuels innovation. When customers share their needs, it gives us the foundation to develop new solutions.
Can you tell us about life outside of work? What do you enjoy when you are out of the office?
Ori: Spending time with my family. I have a wonderful wife and lovely twin daughters. We enjoy skiing, hiking, snorkeling and just spending time together.
Is there something people might not know about you?
Ori: I try to be clear and direct, and very open and transparent. What you see is what you get. I care that my words have important value, so I work in this way.
Petzold: He’s also very involved in his community. During the severe flooding that took place in the Castelfranco Emilia region in 2023, he volunteered extensively to help people recover.
Ori: I try to always be present—for my family, for friends, and for business partners. People who know me know they can always count on me. It is my hope to travel throughout the USA and Canada to meet the people of the industry and make more connections and friends.
“You have to ‘roll up your sleeves.’ I started from a very basic technical role and worked my way up. If you are willing to push yourself and commit fully, you can reach your goals.”
— Davide Ori
2026 GLOBAL BRUSH LOCATOR
Brushware magazine is proud to introduce the 2026 Global Brush Company Locator. This edition showcases over 400 manufacturing companies specializing in brushes, brooms, mops and paint products. Organized by country, our directory highlights the global scale of the brushware community and serves as an invaluable resource for buyers and those eager to join this dynamic, technology-driven industry. The innovative products manufactured by the companies featured here are essential to consumers and industries around the world.
UNITED STATES
CALIFORNIA
A & B BRUSH MFG CORP DUARTE BRUSH RESEARCH MFG. CO., INC. LOS ANGELES
GORDON BRUSH MFG .... CITY OF INDUSTRY www.gordonbrush.com (323) 724-7777
MICHIGAN BRUSH MFG. CO., INC. CITY OF INDUSTRY
MILWAUKEE DUSTLESS BRUSH CITY OF INDUSTRY
PARKER BRUSH CO INC CITY OF INDUSTRY
PREMIER MOP & BROOM CORONA
REDTREE INDUSTRIES, LLC CITY OF INDUSTRY STATIC FACTION, LLC CITY OF INDUSTRY WEST COAST BRUSH CO POMONA
CONNECTICUT
SOLO-HORTON BRUSH CO INC TORRINGTON
FLORIDA
ABCO PRODUCTS CORP. MIAMI
CORONA BRUSHES INC TAMPA
PREMIER BRUSH INC PANAMA CITY
SHURHOLD INDUSTRIES, INC. PALM CITY
SKIMLITE MANUFACTURING BARTOW
TORRINGTON BRUSH WORKS SARASOTA WHIZZ LARGO
GEORGIA
INNOTECH,INC. DECATUR
K D BRUSH MANUFACTURING SUWANEE LAFITTE MOP CO. VILLA RICA MOERMAN ATLANTA
IOWA
HARPER BRUSH WORKS FAIRFIELD
LISLE CORPORATION CLARINDA
MARION BRUSH MFG MARION
PARTS BRUSH DIVISION CLARINDA
ILLINOIS
BRUSH MAN INC MAHOMET
BRUSKE PRODUCTS TINLEY PARK
ERIE BRUSH & MANUFACTURING CORP. CHICAGO
J.R. EDWARDS BRUSH & ROLLER CO KANKAKEE
LIBMAN COMPANY ARCOLA
NEWTON BROOM & BRUSH CO. NEWTON
UNIVERSAL BRUSH MFG CO HARVEY
INDIANA
HA-STE MANUFACTURING UNION CITY
OSBORN INTERNATIONAL RICHMOND
REIT PRICE COMPANY UNION CITY
REMCO PRODUCTS ZIONSVILLE
ROYAL BRUSH MFG., INC. MUNSTER
VIKAN N.A. ZIONSVILLE
KANSAS
CARDINAL BRUSH OLATHE
FULLER INDUSTRIES, LLC GREAT BEND
GOLDEN STAR OVERLAND PARK
UNITED ROTARY BRUSH CORP. LENEXA
MASSACHUSETTS
JAZ BRUSH USA, INC. NEW BEDFORD
SANDERSON-MACLEOD, INC. PALMER
SUPER BRUSH COMPANY INC INDIAN ORCHARD
MICHIGAN
DETROIT QUALITY BRUSH MFG. CO., INC. LIVONIA
HI-TECH INDUSTRIES INC. FARMINGTON
MINNESOTA
LIBERTY BRUSH SHAKOPEE
MISSOURI
HAVILAND CORPORATION LINN
JEBB BRUSH COMPANY LEE’S SUMMIT
MR. LONGARM, INC. GREENWOOD
S. M. ARNOLD INC. SAINT LOUIS
ZEPHYR MFG. CO. SEDALIA
MONTANA
MONTANA BROOM & BRUSH CO BUTTE
NORTH CAROLINA
CAROLINA BRUSH CO. GASTONIA
NEBRASKA
JUSTMAN BRUSH CO OMAHA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
FELTON INC. LONDONDERRY
NEW JERSEY
ANDON BRUSH CO LITTLE FALLS
INDUSTRIAL BRUSH CO INC FAIRFIELD
JENKINS
PREMIER PAINT ROLLER RICHMOND HILL PRINCETON ARTIST BRUSH CO PRINCETON SILVER
OHIO
2026 GLOBAL BRUSH LOCATOR
UNITED STATES
OKLAHOMA
CARLISLE FOODSERVICE PRODUCTS OKLAHOMA CITY
OREGON
AMERICAN POWER BRUSH MFG PORTLAND GROUT GATOR EUGENE
PENNSYLVANIA
COCKER-WEBER BRUSH COMPANY TELFORD NATIONAL NOVELTY BRUSH COMPANY LANCASTER NORSHEL INDUSTRIES CROYDON
WEILER ABRASIVES GROUP CRESCO
RHODE ISLAND ACS INDUSTRIES LINCOLN
SOUTH CAROLINA
CAROLINA MOP COMPANY ANDERSON O’DELL CORPORATION WARE SHOALS
TEXAS
BIRDWELL CLEANING PRODUCTS BURLESON FILMOP USA CONROE
MAGNOLIA BRUSH CLARKSVILLE RAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY LUBBOCK
EVERYDAY BRUSH INDUST, LOT 16 SETAPAK YEW LEE PACIFIC GROUP PUSING
MALTA WOODSTOCK BRUSH, THE LUGA
2026 GLOBAL BRUSH LOCATOR
INTERNATIONAL
NETHERLANDS
ALMELOSE BORSTELINDUSTRIE NN ALMELO
BORSTELFABRIEK HOLLAND BV WEERT
BRUSHCOM OSS
COSMA BORSTELFABRIEK HOLLAND BV WEERT
JOBO BORSTELFABRIEK BV HOOGEVEEN
KOTI IND. EN TECHN. BORSTELWERK BV WEERT
LACTONA EUROPE BV BERGEN OP ZOOM
LUVA BORSTELFABRIEK AALTEN
RIZZ BV NIJKERK GLD
VAN DAM’S KWASTENFABRIEK BV CULEMBORG
NEW ZEALAND
BROWNS BRUSHWARE LTD AUCKLAND
HAYDN BRUSH CO LTD CHRISTCHURCH
LUXIDENT TOOTBRUSH CO LTD. AUCKLAND
NZ BRUSH CHRISTCHURCH
OMAN
AL FELAIJ BRUSHES IND OMAN
PAKISTAN
UNIVERSAL BRUSHWARES KARACHI
POLAND
MALWO MROZY
SAUDI ARABIA
NATIONAL CO. FOR CLEANING & PAINT BRUSHES RIYADH
SOUTH AFRICA
ACADEMY BRUSHWARE PTY LTD GERMISTON
ADVANCE BRUSHWARE JOHANNESBURG
AFRICA FLOORCARE ROGGEBAAI
APOLLO BRUSH CC KIRKNEY
HAMILTON BRUSH KUILS RIVER
SABENZA BRUSHWARE ROSSBURGH, DURBAN
WERNER BRUSHWARE JOHANNESBURG
SPAIN
APARISI CEPILLOS, S.L. VALENCIA
FECIN, S.A. DEBA
GRECO VALENCIA
INDUSTRIAS ORIOL 1942, S.L. BARCELONA
ISIDRO TORRAS, S.L. BARCELONA
JAZ SURFACE EXPERTS EIBAR (GUIPÚZCOA)
LEOPARDO-CEPILLOS LA IBERICA SAN CIBRAO DAS VIÑAS
RODAPIN, S.A. LA MANJOYA (OVIEDO)
TERMIX BARCELONA
VIGAR GATA DE GORGOS (ALICANTE)
VIKINGA-CEPILLOS MARIÑO, S.L. PONTEVEDRA
SRI LANKA
BENS BRUSHES (BUDDHIKA BRUSHES) PANAGODA
CEYLON BRUSH TECH (PVT) LTD KANDALANDA
FUJI LANKA INTERNATIONAL GOTHATUWA
SAMTESSI BRUSH MFG COLOMBO
TISSA BRUSH MANUFACTURERS KIRILLAWALA
WARNA EXPORTERS (PVT) LTD. BOPE, PADUKKA
SWEDEN
KRON INTERNATIONAL AB VINSLÖV
SWITZERLAND
A+B BÜRSTENTECHNIK AG WATTWIL
EBNAT AG EBNAT-KAPPEL
ERZINGER BÜRSTEN WÄDENSWIL
HOLA PINSEL- UND FARBROLLERFABRIK NÄFELS
ITTEN NÄFELS
PEKA BRUSH FACTORY AG EBNAT-KAPPEL
TRISA OF SWITZERLAND TRIENGEN ZEINTRA AG WIL
TAIWAN
CHUNG THAI BRUSHES CO., LTD TAIPEI
HSIN SHIEH FA BRUSH IND. LTD. TAICHUNG
UNION BRUSH-EANG LIAN CORP. KAOHSIUNG COUNTY
TANZANIA
TANZANIA BRUSH PRODUCTS DAR-ES-SALAAM
THAILAND
FIRST THAI BRUSH CO LTD BANGKOK
TUNESIA
LA BROSSE CRISTAL TUNIS
TURKEY
BANAT FIRCA VE PLASTIK SAN. A.S. SISLI- ISTANBUL
HILAL FIRCA BRUSH COMPANY 5508 SOK. NO:4
UAE
INDODENT DUBAI MERLIN DENTRIFICES PVT LTD GUJARAT
UNITED KINGDOM
ACCRINGTON BRUSH CO LTD LANCASHIRE
ATTENBOROUGH BRUSH LTD NOTTINGHAM BRUSHTEC NEW CASTLE UPON TYNE CHARLES BENTLEY & SON LTD. LOUGHBOROUGH COTTAM BRUSH HEBBURN CROWN ARTIST
VIETNAM
TAIYO BRUSH VIETNAM DONG NAI PROVINCE
WEST INDIES
BRUSHRITE IND LTD TRINIDAD
ZIMBABWE
PHOENIX BRUSHWARE CO HARARE
US Manufacturing Hits Four-Year High as Cost Pressures Surge
Expansion spreads globally, but inflationary pressure and geopolitical risk keep the recovery uneven.
U.S. manufacturing activity expanded at its fastest pace in nearly four years in March, with the ISM Manufacturing PMI rising to 52.7 percent. This marks the highest reading since August 2022 and a modest increase from February’s 52.4 percent. Gains were broad-based, with production, new orders and supplier deliveries all advancing, even as employment remained in contraction and export demand softened.
While the PMI points to strengthening manufacturing activity, the underlying picture is more complex. Input costs surged to their highest level since June 2022, creating a split environment for brush manufacturers — improving demand alongside intensifying cost pressure.
EXPANSION BROADENS, BUT MOMENTUM IS MIXED
The PMI’s rise to 52.7 percent reflects continued expansion rather than a one-month rebound. Production accelerated to 55.1 percent, while new orders remained in expansion territory at 53.5 percent, though at a slower pace than in February. Backlogs also remained in growth at 54.4 percent, signaling that manufacturers are still working through accumulated demand, even as the rate of expansion moderated.
Customer inventories remained in “too low” territory at 40.1 percent, a forward-looking indicator that typically supports continued production in the near term.
At the same time, employment remained in contraction at 48.7 percent, with a majority of firms indicating that managing headcount continues to be the prevailing strategy. This reflects ongoing caution around demand durability, cost pressures and broader economic uncertainty.
PRICES SURGE TO NEAR FOUR-YEAR HIGH
The Prices Index jumped to 78.3 percent in March, up sharply from 70.5 percent in February and reaching its highest level since June 2022. Over the past two months alone, the index has risen more than 19 percentage points, underscoring the speed and breadth of cost escalation.
Tariffs remain a central factor, alongside higher metals pricing and energy-related impacts tied to escalating Middle East conflict. ISM respondents also pointed to growing uncertainty around trade policy and supply chain realignment as contributing pressures.
Notably, no commodities were reported down in price for the month, highlighting the broad-based nature of inflation across manufacturing inputs.
The Supplier Deliveries Index rose to 58.9 percent, indicating slower delivery times and marking the fourth consecutive month of deceleration. In the ISM methodology, slower deliveries can reflect both stronger demand and supply chain constraints.
ISM® MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE (US)
MARCH 2026
Source:
In March, both dynamics were at play. Panelists cited increased demand alongside emerging logistical challenges tied to the Middle East conflict, particularly in global shipping lanes. These factors are contributing to longer lead times and increased uncertainty for manufacturers managing inbound supply.
For brush manufacturers sourcing internationally, the data reinforces the importance of supplier diversification and strategic inventory positioning.
EXPORT DEMAND SLIPS BACK INTO CONTRACTION
The New Export Orders Index fell to 49.9 percent in March, returning to contraction territory after briefly expanding in February. While only marginally below 50, the shift signals softer international demand amid rising geopolitical tension and trade uncertainty.
This trend suggests that U.S. manufacturers may face increased difficulty relying on export markets to offset rising domestic cost pressures in the near term.
COMMODITIES
UP IN PRICE: Aluminum; Chemical Products; Cooking Fats; Copper; Copper Based Products; Corn; Diesel Fuel; Electronic Components; Freight; Fuel; Memory Components; Methanol; Natural Gas;
IN SHORT SUPPLY: Bearing Components; Electrical Components; Electronic Components; Memory; Rare Earth Components; and Semiconductors.
US SECTOR REPORT
ISM GROWTH SECTORS (13): Apparel, Leather and Allied Products; Textile Mills; Paper Products; Printing and Related Support Activities; Chemical Products; Plastics and Rubber Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Computer and Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances and Components; and Transportation Equipment.
ISM CONTRACTION SECTORS (3): Wood Products; Food, Beverage and Tobacco Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing.
Economic Dashboard
MARCH ISM REPORT COMMENTS
(U.S. Manufacturers)
Transportation Equipment: “Changes in the tariff structure are bringing cautious opportunities to offset significant costs for the balance of 2026. The actions in Iran, however, add a new wrinkle to energy costs throughout the world, including India. We continue to try and plan for the unpredictable and unexpected.”
Fabricated Metal Products: “We’re seeing steady increases in activity, but geopolitical issues and the Iran war are already waning sentiment.”
Machinery: “Customer orders have increased considerably as the construction market remains strong, resulting in higher production volume and increased forecasts to suppliers.”
Food, Beverage and Tobacco Products: “Current Middle East unrest is already starting to impact business operations by increasing lead times, costs, container delays and the like.”
Plastics and Rubber Products: “The Middle East war has created domestic and global turmoil for the olefins and polyolefins business. Feedstocks and finished product pricing are accelerating dramatically as Middle Eastern and Asian producers suffer from shipping blockages. Global customers for packaging resins are scrambling to cover needs from North America and South America in the face of supply chain complications.”
Chemical Products: “Geopolitical tensions related to the conflict in Iran are contributing to rising manufacturing supply costs, and ongoing tariff uncertainty is negatively impacting purchasing strategies and cost forecasts.”
Food, Beverage and Tobacco Products: “Lots of relief from Supreme Court striking down (emergency) tariffs, particularly with organic cane sugar from Brazil.”
Chemical Products: “Ongoing geopolitical instability has emerged as a persistent factor influencing global trade dynamics. We anticipate strategic realignment of supply chains as organizations respond to energy market volatility and shifting trade policies. In light of these macroeconomic headwinds, we — like most organizations — are maintaining a cautious posture regarding investment commitments while continuing to monitor market conditions closely. Our purchasing strategy is being recalibrated to address supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by energy market volatility and evolving trade protectionism.”
Computer and Electronic Products: “Metal commodity prices continue to put pressure on mechanical commodities. Memory price escalation is causing large cost increases that cannot be mitigated in other areas of the product cost.”
GLOBAL PMI NOTES
EURO AREA: Eurozone manufacturing expanded at its fastest pace since mid-2022 in March, with the PMI rising to 51.6 as output strengthened and backlogs signaled emerging capacity pressures. However, supply disruptions tied to the Middle East conflict drove up input costs sharply, while employment declined and business confidence softened.
BRAZIL: Brazil’s manufacturing sector continued to contract in March, though at a slower pace, with the PMI rising to 49.0. While output declines softened and employment edged higher, rising costs and weak demand weighed on confidence and pricing strategies.
CANADA: Canada’s manufacturing sector stalled in March, with the PMI slipping to 50.0 as output contracted and new orders weakened under tariff pressures and high costs. Firms reduced staffing and faced rising input prices, while confidence fell amid geopolitical uncertainty and trade tensions.
CHINA: China’s manufacturing expansion slowed in March, with the PMI easing to 50.8 as output and new orders grew at a reduced pace. Rising costs and supply delays intensified pressures, but firms remained optimistic, supported by demand, investment, and policy support.
FRANCE: France’s manufacturing sector was broadly flat in March, with the PMI at 50.0 as output declined and new orders fell at the fastest pace in five months. Rising input costs and supply disruptions added pressure, while confidence weakened amid ongoing uncertainty.
GERMANY: Germany’s manufacturing sector strengthened in March, with the PMI rising to 52.2—its strongest growth in nearly three years—driven by gains in output and new orders. However, supply chain disruptions and surging input costs weighed on sentiment, pushing business confidence down to a four-month low.
INDIA: India’s manufacturing growth slowed to a near four-year low in March, with the PMI at 53.9 as output and orders expanded more modestly. Despite rising cost pressures, firms increased hiring and maintained optimism, supported by stronger export demand and continued investment.
ITALY: Italy’s manufacturing sector posted its strongest performance in over three years in March, with the PMI rising to 51.3 as output, orders, and employment improved. However, supply chain delays and rising costs tied to geopolitical tensions continued to challenge operations, even as confidence remained positive.
JAPAN: Japan’s manufacturing PMI eased to 51.6 in March, reflecting slower growth as output and new orders moderated from February’s strong levels. Rising input and labor costs drove higher selling prices, while business confidence declined amid uncertainty tied to global conditions.
MEXICO: Mexico’s manufacturing contraction eased in March, with the PMI rising to 48.9 as declines in output and new orders moderated. Cost pressures intensified and employment fell, while ongoing tariffs and supply disruptions continued to weigh on demand and operations.
UNITED KINGDOM: UK manufacturing growth remained positive in March, with the PMI at 51.0, though output declined for the first time in six months amid rising uncertainty. Input costs surged due to higher energy prices, prompting firms to raise selling prices while confidence weakened.
Source: Institute for Supply Management®, PMI® (Purchasing Manager Index), Report On Business®. For more information, visit the ISM® website at www.ismworld.org.
FRANCE MANUFACTURING PMI
36 MONTHS | MOVING AVERAGE: SIX MONTHS
GERMANY MANUFACTURING PMI
36 MONTHS | MOVING AVERAGE: SIX MONTHS
MANUFACTURING PMI
36 MONTHS | MOVING AVERAGE: SIX MONTHS INDIA MANUFACTURING
36
|
| Moving Average: 12 Months
PPI: ARTIFICIAL FIBERS/FILAMENTS
PRODUCER PRICE INDEX: LUMBER
| Moving Average: 12 Months GLOBAL PRICE OF COTTON
REDUCED PRICE OF $10,000 FOR BOTH MACHINES TOGETHER
Everything required to manufacture 2 sizes of pot scrubbers. Includes assembly machine and 2 plastic injection steel moulds also MSM 25 ton moving head press. All included $18,000. PRICE REDUCED TO $5,500 USD.
EMAIL: gemicor2018@gmail.com
PHONE: 514-445-9725
WhatsApp: 514-445-9725
Everything required for the manufacture of 3 styles of dish mops in picture. 3 plastic injection steel moulds and assembly machine $12,000 USD. PRICE REDUCED TO $5,500 USD.
EMAIL: gemicor2018@gmail.com
PHONE: 514-445-9725
WhatsApp: 514-445-9725
Dish Mop Assembly Machine + More
Pot Scrubber Assembly Machine + More
ABMA ................ Inside Back Cover www.abma.org
