Colson Group Announces Vertical Market Sales Managers

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As Colson Group continues to increase our focus on value creation and market driven solutions, we are pleased to announce the newly created roles of Vertical Market Sales Managers for the Automotive, Food Service and Medical industries. These roles will be focused on driving customer solutions and growth, maximizing our product portfolio, and developing our strategic position within these vertical markets.

Their emphasis will be on identifying new opportunities, specifying Colson Group products in collaboration with our partners in all channels, and then overseeing these opportunities to closure. These members will be highly collaborative with our internal teams and distributor partners alike to develop wins that deliver on both our customers’ mobility expectations and our strategic business plans.

Please join us in welcoming the following vertical market sales managers. If you have new business opportunities supporting these markets please find their contact information also noted below. We welcome any opportunity to grow with you and look forward to applying their knowledge and skillsets to better servicing your account.

Automotive

Scott Fisher brings 20+ years of caster experience to his new role, originating with selling heavy duty and automotive applications as a distributor for Colson. Most recently, Scott held director level roles in both Heavy Duty Product Management and Distributor Sales for Colson Group. Scott’s automotive knowledge along with his product management and sales expertise will drive significant value to our current and new automotive customer opportunities.

Food Service

Darrell Metzger has a strong background in the food service industry, previously serving as the VP of Sales and Marketing for Jarvis Caster. In addition, Darrell has worked as the Director of Product Design and Director of Customer Service for Colson Group. His market and product knowledge along with his engineering and sales background provide a focused skillset that will benefit current and new customers throughout this industry.

Medical

Carl Susini joins Colson Group from Ametek Engineered Medical Components Group, where he served as Business Development Manager and Key Account Manager. Carl has over 10 years of experience in sales as well as experience in purchasing and product management. His successful track record will help Colson Group identify new customer opportunities and grow our presence with medical OEMs and designers alike.

To reach out to our Vertical Market managers, please contact us with your questions today.

Colson Group USA Welcomes New Members to Engineering Design Team

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St. Joseph, MI

As part of Colson Group USA’s continued strategy to best position our company for growth as the global leader in the caster industry and to bring our brands together as “One Colson,” we are pleased to announce the addition of the newest members to our Engineering Design team.

Joe Hasik brings expertise and experience to Colson Group USA as Senior Project Engineer, where he will oversee specific customer projects. Prior to joining Colson Group USA, Hasik served as special projects design engineer manager for Dekker Vacuum Technologies, Inc. He also worked as senior designer for Sullair, and earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Northern Michigan University.

Jacob Lindgren joins us as Project Engineer, with initial assignment to the Avant medical caster development. Jacob’s experience includes serving as a manufacturing engineer for AM General, LLC, and as Bending Engineer with General Stamping and Metalworks. Lindgren received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University.

Pattie Christensen, veteran of Colson Group USA since 2010, has moved into a new role as Engineering Configuration Control Specialist. Christensen moves from Inside Sales, bringing customer-first focus into this role, and joins Dieter Milbrandt, Colson Group USA CAD Designer, on the newly established Engineering Configuration Control (ECC) team.

The ECC team will ensure proper and consistent management of business-critical items, leveraging defined release and notification processes, including: engineering and Colson Group standards; ERP bills of materials or operations, and associated maintenance; engineering prints; customer-controlled documents; industry standards; and part number issue control.

“This enhanced team approach,” said Charles Schenk, Director of Engineering – US, “ensures we are driving results the right way to best support sales, customer service, and operations by reacting more efficiently and effectively to day-to-day customer needs, continuous improvement initiatives, and preparing the company for sustained growth.”

Colson Group USA appoints Vice President of Sales

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Colson Group USA’s strategy continues to be:

  1. Best position Colson for growth as the global leader in the caster industry
  2. Continue to bring Colson together as one company and align us for the future

We are pleased to announce that Shelley DePuy has joined the Colson Group USA team as Vice President of Sales.

Shelley brings customer-focused leadership experience in all Colson Group USA’s primary sales channels: OEM, Distributor, and Industrial channels.  Most recently, she held the role of Director of Sales for the Kidde Fenwal division of United Technologies Corporation, a manufacturer of fire suppression systems. Prior to that role she worked with PBC Linear as their Director of Sales and Marketing.  Shelley holds a Bachelor of Science from State University of New York and a Master’s in Business Administration from Suffolk University.

Shelley will lead Colson Group USA’s three unique sales channels and continue to work with each to further develop winning customer relationships and growth strategies that support Colson Group USA’s leading solutions portfolio and industry position.

Colson Adds New 2 Series Models to World’s Largest Caster CAD Model Library

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Colson 2 Series CAD Additions

Colson Group USA, a leading global caster and wheel manufacturer, is expanding its world’s largest computer-aided design (CAD) model library with the addition of three Colson brand product series: the 2-Series LoPro, 2-Series Stainless, and 2-Series Stainless Steel Precision. Customers can now quickly configure part numbers and download or deliver 2D/3D CAD models and interactive 3D PDF datasheets for these new additions.

“Colson continues to advance the world’s largest caster CAD library, meeting our customers’ needs for high-quality, dependable casters,” said Colson Light Duty Product Manager Jeremy Brault. “Through the expansion of the 2-series CAD models, customers can easily access pertinent specifications and easily integrate the designs of these three premium, three-year warranty products for their various caster and wheel needs.”

The 2-Series LoPro features a low profile design with cushion or hard rubber wheel options, providing floor protection and quiet operation in the lowest overall height; ideal for business machines, stock picking carts, warehouse dollies, and housekeeping carts. The 2-Series Stainless Steel series offers several tread types in 3” to 5” wheel sizes, two brake options, and a higher grade of stainless steel helping to prevent rust in even the most corrosive conditions. This makes it ideal for hostile and controlled environments, including the food, pharmaceutical, and healthcare industries. The 2-Series Precision Stainless Steel series provides the same great advantages of the 2-Series Stainless, but adds improved ergonomics and noise reduction to a users’ experience through the use of a durable stainless precision bearing raceway.

The 2-series CAD models are available on Colson’s Caster CAD 3-D app or online at www.colsoncaster.com. The 3-D CAD models are compliant with major world standards and are suitable for use in current CAD systems, saving engineers time, and money.

Meet Darren Taylor-Ridge

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As Director of Global Operational Excellence, Darren is eager to build highly-efficient teams that will help our company drive solutions and deliver customer satisfaction globally.

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Advantage: National Distribution Center

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As the National Distribution Center in St. Joseph, MI celebrates one year of operation, CEO Tom Blashill takes a moment to reflect on the previous year and our advances toward “One Colson” in this edition of the Colson Group Advantage.

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Distribution Center Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

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In 2016, Colson Group USA opened the national distribution center (DC) in St. Joseph, Michigan. The DC has allowed our manufacturing plants to further enhance operational and service responsibilities.

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New Pemco SuperKat Wheel Saves Stores Money on Out-of-Control Shopping Carts and Caster Replacements

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Pemco SuperKat Tensioner Wheel

Pemco, a Colson Group USA brand, has launched an upgraded shopping cart wheel designed to help slow-down out-of-control shopping carts and reduce wheel flat-spotting. The new Pemco SuperKat Tensioner wheel features an innovative tensioner inside the center of the wheel to help reduce unexpected rolling of unattended shopping carts. The wheel tension provided by the bearing helps stores save money on costs associated with runaway cart damage, while remaining undetectable to shoppers.

Launched in November 2016, the superior shopping cart wheel features a soft, natural rubber tread with a rounded shape. This unique tread design allows the wheel to move naturally in any direction the cart is pushed or pulled reducing sideways dragging that leads to wheel flat-spotting and necessary replacements. The improved SuperKat wheel also features a dual precision bearing allowing a smooth and quiet rolling of the cart — providing an enhanced experience for shoppers.

The SuperKat is stocked in St. Joseph, Michigan, at Colson Group USA’s new national distribution center and is already receiving excellent field reviews from leading cart manufacturers and retailers across the country.

The new 5-inch wheel includes a variety of product features, including:

  • A high-performance natural rubber tread, specially designed to make the SuperKat resistant to flat-spotting
  • Durability, lasting 64% longer than the competition
  • Non-marking and quiet rolling
  • Resistant to chemicals and oils
  • Built-in tensioner ring increases parking lot safety

To learn more, download CAD models or datasheets, please visit www.pemcocasters.com/caster/superkat/.

U.S.-Manufactured 310 & 410 Casters Meet Heavy-Duty Customer Needs Quicker Than Ever

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Albion has made major advancements in its heavy-duty manufacturing capabilities. The 310 and 410 Series of casters are now manufactured in Michigan, laser cut and assembled within days. Learn more about the enhancements made to this kingpinless caster series.

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Colson Group Expands Role of Director of Global Operational Excellence

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Colson Group, the largest global manufacturer and supplier of caster, wheel and mobility solutions, announced today the expansion of Darren Taylor-Ridge’s, director of global operational excellence, role with the company. He will continue to provide support to Colson Group’s U.K. production team, while also increasing his support to global projects in North America and Asia to drive quality, health, safety, environment and customer service improvements.

Reporting to Colson Group Chief Operating Officer Christopher Cummins, Taylor-Ridge’s expanded role now includes leading global initiatives to improve customer service, quality, health and safety and productivity of the company’s operations in the U.K., China and the United States. He will be based in Colson Group’s China operations and spend time at the Saint Joseph, Michigan, distribution center.

“We are thrilled to expand Darren’s role,” said Cummins. “This move helps us better leverage his experience and expertise to continue to bring Colson together as one company and supports our goal of unmatched customer service and quality leadership.”

Taylor-Ridge joined Colson Group in April 2015 with responsibilities focused on production, health and safety, environmental and quality initiatives. During his time with the company, he has driven several process improvements in lead time, scrap reduction and the working environment. Taylor-Ridge also has been implementing lean methods to drive continuous improvements in all areas of the business.

Prior to joining Colson Group, he spent 14 years serving in the Armed Forces Infantry and six years in the Army Reserve. He then worked in manufacturing roles at Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd. and other manufacturing companies.

Taylor-Ridge earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Manchester Metropolitan University in the U.K. and a Master of Science degree in occupational safety and health technology from the University of Birmingham in the U.K.

About Colson Group:

Colson Group is the largest manufacturer and supplier of caster and wheel products in the world. Over 1,600 global employees support Colson Group’s leading product portfolio and proprietary global value chain. World renowned brands, such as: Colson, Albion, Shepherd, Jarvis, MedCaster, Rhombus, Revvo, Flexello, Pemco, and Faultless are manufactured and marketed around the world through Colson Group’s 25 global facilities – where over 192,000 products are shipped daily. For more information, visit colsongroup.com.