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| About Us |
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History
Scot Laboratories, based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, was originally founded in 1962 to manufacture carpet cleaning and floor care products for The Kirby Company. Shortly after the business was established, the product line was expanded to include all types of cleaning products marketed under the Scot’s Commercial Products brand name.
Scot Laboratories became a division of The Scott Fetzer Company in 1971, which is headquartered in Westlake, Ohio and owns The Kirby Company, Cleveland Wood Products (a supplier to the vacuum and floor care industry), and a number of other divisions. The Scott Fetzer Company has revenues of approximately $1 billion and is privately held by Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated.
Market focus and products
Today, Scot Laboratories remains a key supplier to The Kirby Company. In addition, we have built a reputation as a premium supplier of carpeting and floor care solutions. Many of our current customers are leading equipment manufacturers who have partnered with Scot Laboratories to develop and supply cleaning solutions that optimize the performance of their equipment. These products are marketed under the customer’s brand name, dual labeled, or sold as Scot’s TUFFTM brand.
Scot’s TUFF products are sold through industrial and commercial distributors. We manufacture and market more than 200 SKU’s in the categories of carpet care, floor strippers, floor finishers/sealers, cleaners and degreasers, disinfectants and washroom products.
Scot Laboratories also manufactures and distributes a number of unique retail cleaning products through specialty distribution channels as well as major chains including Amway, Albertsons and Menards. These products are generally niche, high-value products. We also have a limited number of contract blending and filling customers.
Manufacturing
Our manufacturing facility has a state of the art automated compounding operation capable of producing batch sizes from 500 to 7,000 gallons. Batch processes are controlled using a computer control system coupled with Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s) to ensure that batches are precise and consistent. We have the flexibility to produce multiple batches simultaneously. We utilize various storage tanks to store raw materials, finished products, and to facilitate the product filling logistics.
We can fill 4 oz. to 2-1/2 gallon bottles on fully automated packaging lines. In addition, we package pails, drums, totes, and other specialty containers. All stations can be operated simultaneously.
We have in-house capability for container silk-screening. In addition, we have the capability of applying pressure sensitive labels as part of the filling process. Products are shipped in cartons or as displays used in retail applications.
Product Development and Technology Department
The technology department is one of the strongest functional areas of Scot Laboratories. We have state-of-the-art equipment and a highly educated and trained staff of research chemists that support our daily manufacturing operations as well as develop new products.
To support the manufacturing operations, our chemists test incoming raw materials to assure compliance, do periodic and final batch testing prior to release to packaging, and retain finished goods samples as a quality assurance measure. Our technology department approves raw material sources, performs stability tests on all packaging changes, and evaluates prospective new materials. Our chemists are responsible for establishing and maintaining formulas and mixing procedures. They also trouble-shoot processing or package stability issues should they arise.
We conduct product development activity on a project basis. This could be a project designed to add a new or improved product to the Scot's TUFF product line, to help identify and closely duplicate a product for a customer, or to work jointly on a product for an equipment builder interested in optimizing their machine performance.
We use both analytical and functional testing methods in the product development process to help us develop viable formulas and prove their effectiveness respectively. Many of the tests performed are exploratory in nature until we believe we have a solid solution, at which time we may go outside for confirmation testing. We recognize and use many ASTM and AATCC standardized test methods as well as internally developed tests.
Quality
Every operation in product development, blending, manufacturing and shipping follows predetermined procedures to ensure consistency in quality and performance time after time. Components and raw materials are carefully selected from certified suppliers. Products are verified at several key points of the manufacturing process, and are released to the packaging department only after they have been certified to meet specifications. In-house testing capabilities provide quick response to maintain high standards of product quality. Process controls and on-going personnel training in all manufacturing areas ensure product consistency and performance. Our Quality Assurance department incorporates any required special packaging needs and ensures that all specifications are correctly followed. We manufacture a number of products adhering to EPA requirements. In addition, our technical staff provides ongoing technical support.
Value-Added Services
Scot Laboratories also provides custom formulating, marketing support and training, technical support and training, EDI, bar-coded labels, packaging design, special packs, displays, shrink-wrapping, and sleeving. We are a full-service company, from research and development to manufacturing to delivery and customer service.
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