Jefferson Rubber was recently featured in Rueters TV series Generation Maker: America’s new breed of manufacturers
The show highlights small manufacturers finding creative ways to make innovative products has become a successful corner of the U.S. economy. They are often called makers, and they have built a movement that could change the future of manufacturing. The video highlights how Jefferson Rubber entered the highly competitive dog toy market and competed against China after an Industrial client went out of business, cancelling their orders and leaving Jefferson with expensive tooling that was re-purposed to make dog safe K-9 flyers. Necessity being the mother of invention launched a new division selling all types of rubber pet toys.
Jefferson Rubber Works Inc., a custom manufacturer of rubber molded products, has recently received material approval from the Water Regulations Authority Scheme (WRAS).
The approved rubber material is suitable for contact with wholesome water for domestic purposes having met the requirements of BS6920-1:2000 and/or 2014 ‘Suitability of non-metallic products for use in contact with water intended for human consumption with regard to their effect on the quality of the water, according to the WRAS.
Non-metallic materials & components, such as rubber sheet material and ‘O’ rings undergo testing by the WRAS for their effects on water quality. This type of approval demonstrates that the non-metallic material/component does not itself contaminate the water and therefore satisfies this particular requirement of regulations and bylaws.
“We are excited to receive the WRAS material approval and expect this will open new opportunities for Jefferson Rubber Works in the European markets as well as with domestic manufacturers who export to Europe and need local suppliers who have WRAS approval”, said Company President Dave Pentland. “This approval should also assist in our expansion in the plumbing and waste water markets”, Pentland said.
Jefferson will be listed on the WRAS website which can be found at www.wras.co.uk/directory
About Jefferson
Jefferson Rubber Works is a leading manufacturer for over thirty- five years of custom precision, injection molded rubber products. Jefferson Rubber’s staff brings a broad spectrum of expertise and insight to every job. The company offers complete in-plant engineering services, from prototype design to finished product. For more information call 508-791-3600 or visit the Jefferson Rubber Works website: www.jeffersonrubber.com.
About WRAS
The purpose of WRAS is to contribute to the protection of public health by preventing contamination of public water supplies and encouraging the efficient use of water by promoting and facilitating compliance with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Scottish Water Byelaws. WRAS is a subscription membership company limited by guarantee and was incorporated on 4 August 2008. The subscribers of WRAS are the 26 UK Water Suppliers.
Worcester, MA – Jefferson Rubber Works Inc., a custom manufacturer of rubber molded products, has played a key role in the development of a new tactical camera ball developed by Boston based technology company Bounce Imaging.
The tactical unit is a softball-sized throwable camera that could almost instantly transmit 360-degree images to a mobile device when tossed into hidden areas such as hostage situation, burning building or the rubble of an earthquake. The idea was originally conceived with first responders’ safety in mind, but it quickly became clear that there was immense value for giving police personnel an idea of what they could encounter in potentially dangerous situations. The Boston startup is in the process of shipping out the first batch of 100 Explorers which will be tested out by the Revere/North Metro SWAT team and the Maine Department of Corrections among other organizations.
This new product was recently showcased at a first ever White House demo day. Jefferson Rubber Works has been working extensively with Bounce on the development and manufacture of the outer skin of the camera ball. The challenge was to develop a design that would support the function of the ball, manufacturability, and supply the appropriate amount of bounce and energy absorption.
The team at Jefferson Rubber worked closely with engineers at Bounce to insure the molded outer covering met all specifications. “We ran through many iterations of the design including polymer type , hardness ,heat resistance , modulus , and rebound properties of the material so the camera unit would perform as needed in extreme situations”, said Jefferson Rubber Sales and Marketing Director Christen Holmberg. “As a custom manufacturer we look forwarding to solving our clients’ needs and challenges and the Bounce project is an excellent example of our molding and engineering capabilities”, Holmberg said. “We look forward to following the progress of the Bounce project and are proud to be a small part of this effort to safeguard first responders and military personnel in the field.”
About Jefferson
Jefferson Rubber Works is a leading manufacturer for over thirty- five years of custom precision, injection molded rubber products. Jefferson Rubber’s staff brings a broad spectrum of expertise and insight to every job. The company offers complete in-plant engineering services, from prototype design to finished product. For more information call 508-791-3600 or visit the Jefferson Rubber Works website: www.jeffersonrubber.com.
About Bounce Imaging
Bounce Imaging develops sensor technology to help keep first responders safe by allowing them to safely view hazardous environments remotely and at low cost. For more information visit http://bounceimaging.com/
To increase market presence and customer support, Jefferson Rubber Works Inc. has been actively recruiting independent sales representatives in multiple territories and in multiple market segments.
We are looking for rep firms experienced selling to OEM’s markets in industries including medical, industrial, automotive, hydronics and government. Experience in rubber molded products is preferred. For more information contact Christen Holmberg at 508-791-3600.
Worcester, MA – Jefferson Rubber, a custom rubber molding manufacturer, is celebrating the achievement of going 57 months with no lost time and 53 months without any ‘Lost-Time-Incidents’ (LTI), in which a contractor or employee is forced to take time off work due to an accident.
The rubber molding supplier achieved the milestone by conducting safety workshops, correcting potential hazards and emphasis on leadership and proactive reporting. The company achieved the safety record while increasing production and sales levels and adding new employees over the last year.
“Safety is a top priority”, said Company President Dave Pentland. “Achieving this safety record is a testament to our employees and management as they continue to extend their abilities to work safely while achieving production goals,” Pentland said. “It has been very satisfying to increase sales in this demanding market while reaching new safety milestones. We expect to see that trend continue into next year.”
About Jefferson Rubber Works, Inc.
Jefferson Rubber Works is a leading manufacturer of high precision, custom injection, rubber molding products and has been for over thirty years. Jefferson Rubber’s staff brings a broad spectrum of expertise and insight to every job. The company offers complete in-plant engineering services, from prototype design to finished product. For more information call 508-791-3600 or visit the Jefferson Rubber Works website: www.jeffersonrubber.com.
Jefferson Rubber Works, Inc. (JRW), a leading manufacturer and provider of custom molded rubber products, has recently hired Christen Holmberg as Director of Sales and Marketing.
He joins Jefferson Rubber Works from Meggitt Polymers & Composites—an aerospace elastomer supplier where he most recently was responsible for program management of sealing systems products for the airframe market.
“We are excited about the addition of Christen to the staff”, said Company President Dave Pentland. “With our recent growth and the addition of new injection molding machines Christen will assist us in penetrating new markets while improving customer service to our valued clients.”
“I look forward to working with the team at Jefferson Rubber and targeting our growth in key markets,” Holmberg stated. “Jefferson Rubber has an excellent reputation as a custom supplier of rubber goods and the recent purchase of a new plastic injection molding machine expands our capabilities and offerings,” Holmberg said.
About Jefferson Rubber Works, Inc.
Jefferson Rubber Works is a leading manufacturer for over thirty- five years of custom precision, injection molded rubber products. Jefferson Rubber’s staff brings a broad spectrum of expertise and insight to every job. The company offers complete in-plant engineering services, from prototype design to finished product. For more information call 508-791-3600 or visit the Jefferson Rubber Works website: www.jeffersonrubber.com.
Worcester, MA – Jefferson Rubber Works, Inc. (JRW), a leading manufacturer and provider of custom molded rubber products, has recently purchased a new plastic injection molding machine. Installation of the new injection molding machine was completed in June.
The molding machine will increase the capacity and plastic injection molding capabilities at the Worcester Massachusetts manufacturing facility. Jefferson Rubber is a leading manufacturer of custom rubber products with expertise in rubber injection molding, liquid silicone molding, transfer molding, thermoplastic rubber and composite molding.
“We are pleased to be expanding our capabilities in plastic injection molding to both existing and new customers,” said Dave Pentland, President. The new injection molding machine system gives Jefferson Rubber and its’ clients additional capacity and quick turnaround time for custom plastic molding requirements.
The new machine is a 300 ton Powerjet Injection Molder
Materials that Jefferson will mold includes all thermoplastic materials.
Jefferson Rubber Works is a leading manufacturer for over thirty- five years of custom precision, injection molded rubber products. Jefferson Rubber’s staff brings a broad spectrum of expertise and insight to every job. The company offers complete in-plant engineering services, from prototype design to finished product. For more information call 508-791-3600 or visit the Jefferson Rubber Works website: www.jeffersonrubber.com.
Jefferson Rubber has received the “Supplier of the Year” award from premium dog toy supplier Ruff Dawg. The award recognizes Jefferson Rubber for extraordinary vendor performance in 2011.
“We are honored to receive this annual award from Ruff Dawg ,” said David Pentland, Jefferson Rubber President.. “We value our relationship with Ruff Dawg and appreciate the opportunity to provide products to meet the company’s growing requirements.”
According to Ruff Dawg , Jefferson demonstrated a continuing sense of urgency to meet stringent delivery requirements, solve problems, provide engineering support and meet the company’s growth objectives.
“Jefferson has performed with outstanding quality, timely delivery and excellent support,” said Jerry Moffett , National Accounts Manager. “They continue to meet our growing demand and expanded product line of premium dog toys, he said.”
About Jefferson Rubber
Jefferson Rubber Works was incorporated in June, 1975, to provide a source of high precision, cost efficient rubber molded parts for large volume rubber consumers. Jefferson produces custom rubber molded parts for the Automotive, Medical, Consumer, Government and OEM markets.
About Ruff Dawg
Ruff Dawg is a supplier of premium rubber dog toys. Whether you have a sheltie or a shepherd, a boxer or a bichon-frise, Ruff Dawg designs and distributes rubber retrieving toys across the United States and are available though all major pet stores and Internet retailers. For mor einfo visit www.ruffdawg.com
Guards against dust and maintains lubrication of Heavy Equipment joints
Worcester, MA – Jefferson Rubber Works, Inc. (JRW), a leading manufacturer and provider of custom-engineered, injection-molded rubber solutions, offers protective dust boot covers for off-road vehicles. For over 30 years, JRW has designed and manufactured rubber protective boots for Constant Velocity (CV) Joints used in large off-road construction vehicles and heavy equipment.
The CV Joint in off-road equipment provides consistent drive shaft speeds regardless of the operating angle of the joint, and requires proper lubrication to maintain functionality. Jefferson’s rubber boots have proven exceedingly effective at maintaining the necessary volume of grease to keep the joint lubricated while protecting against dirt and water in an off-road environment, where dust makes the joint more susceptible to failure.
Using only the most durable synthetic rubber, JRW has ensured a longer operating life for CV joints in heavy construction equipment and off-road vehicles. Now with free-prototyping, Jefferson Rubber is the market standard for custom-injected molded rubber solutions. Jefferson’s continued commitment to quality products is rivaled only by the company’s devotion to customer needs.
Lutco Inc. in Worcester makes bearings and other small machines parts—precisely crafted little pieces of metal that can be shipped from one country to another fairly easily. So Lutco’s president, John Stowe, is acutely aware of trends that determine whether customers buy from his company or from its counterparts in China.
Lately, a number of factors about buying from China have been moving in Lutco’s favor.
“Lead times have jumped way out to 180 days or more,” Stowe said.
That’s because many Chinese plants are overworked, making products to supply the domestic market in that country, he said. And government policies to limit pollution may keep casting companies operating only five days a week instead of seven, further stretching production times. Then there’s the time involved in shipping products around the world.
Stowe said that these days, even after waiting half a year, some machine makers find their parts don’t come in as scheduled. Then, they have to shut down their production lines, perhaps paying employees for hours that they can’t work, and sometimes even finding a domestic source to fill the gap at the last minute.
Price Of Chinese Goods Rising
At the same time, Stowe said, the price of goods from China is rising compared to the stuff he makes. That’s a product of a few factors, including domestic demand, the cheap dollar and the rising cost of fuel for shipping.
“There’s a myriad of things,” he said.
Some buyers may look to Mexico as an alternative to China, Stowe said, but the United States’ immediate southern neighbor has its own problems with limited production capacity and security concerns.
Stowe said the rising competitiveness of Lutco’s products is one contributing factor that helped the company grow 28 percent last year and 30 percent so far this year, making this the busiest time in the company’s history.
Revisiting China Production
Jack Healy, director of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership in Worcester, said many companies seem to be rethinking the idea of producing products in China to ship to the U.S. Some are put off by rising costs related to fuel and other factors, but others may be realizing they made a mistake in the first place, Healy said. With most U.S. companies focused on lean manufacturing techniques and just-in-time models, buying from local sources often makes more sense. In some cases, Healy said, business leaders tell him that their boards of directors demanded they source products from China just because it seemed like what everyone was doing.
“What happened, very candidly, a lot of people did things without thinking,” Healy said. “Now they’re starting to understand they’re not getting the quality.”
Focus On Quality
Quality is the way many Central Massachusetts companies try to differentiate themselves from Chinese competitors.
Athol toolmaker L.S. Starrett has manufactured products internationally since the 1950s, according to President and CEO Douglas Starrett, but it’s done to mainly to serve international markets, not to ship tools back to the U.S. He doesn’t worry much about international competitors because the company differentiates itself through high-quality products and a well-known brand name.
“We’ve always been a premium-price product,” he said.” I think we’re recognized for that.”
Mark Furman, owner of R. Murphy Co. Inc., an Ayer company that makes knives for industrial and consumer markets, has seen Chinese prices rising 25 percent in the past year or so, making his knives relatively more affordable. But he said the company competes mainly on quality. The one market that’s been impossible to break into is the restaurant business, he said. That’s because most restaurants get their knives from “knife sharpening” services that collect the tools at the end of the week. But he said they don’t really sharpen them —they replace them.
“They’re buying Chinese knives for $4, so it doesn’t even pay to sharpen them,” he said. “They’re disposable.”
More Customers Look To U.S.
Dave Pentland, owner of Jefferson Rubber in Worcester, said his company competes with China in its line of dog toys. He said Jefferson’s toys might cost $11 to $14 each, compared with a Chinese product that’s $6 or $8. But he said the higher quality of his products makes them competitive. And he said he sees more customers seeking out American-made products than he did a year ago. In fact, he thinks that’s a bigger contributor to his sales than rising Chinese prices.
“For a part you might buy for 10 cents, it might be 11 cents now,” he said. “It’s not that much of a big deal. I would probably say more of it has to do with the mentality of people wanting to buy stuff that’s made in the USA.”
Still, no manufacturer imagines a world where production isn’t global. Even Pentland buys some materials from China. Furman is looking at adding new sales capacity in Canada to chase the paper market, which has largely moved north, and which has a need for cutting tools. And Starrett said it’s clear that demand is rising faster outside the U.S., making its operations in China and Brazil more of a growth area than those in the U.S.
As for Stowe, he says Lutco’s enormous growth has a lot to do with the fact that the company makes parts that end up in agricultural equipment. His customers are shipping farming machinery to Brazil, the Ukraine and China, where rising middle classes are pushing farmers to grow feed to accommodate their growing taste for meat.
