The New Jersey-based company was chosen as one of the Heroes of Manufacturing
May 1, 2023
NEWARK, N.J.—ZAGO Manufacturing Co., a U.S.-based manufacturer of sustainable sealing fasteners and components, has been recognized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) as one of its Heroes of American Manufacturing, the company said in a release.
ZAGO is a woman-owned business that describes itself as “a sustainable manufacturer making sustainable sealing fasteners for a sustainable world.” Its reusable, pollutant-free sealing fasteners are engineered with a 360° rubber O-ring technology that prevents contaminants from leaking into or out of equipment and potentially damaging the environment, according to the release.
The company operates from a 100-year-old refurbished factory in Newark, implementing lean manufacturing processes and making use of a 50KW solar panel array on its rooftop.
“What makes our company unique is that we are a sustainable company that creates a product that makes other companies more sustainable and other equipment more sustainable,” said ZAGO CEO and Co-founder Gail Friedberg Rottenstrich, in ZAGO’s Heroes of Manufacturing video on the company’s website. “Our products are part of the forward movement of manufacturing, not just in the United States, but globally.”
ZAGO invests within its community and workforce through education and professional development to recruit, nurture, and retain top tier talent. The company practices continuous improvement, incorporating automated production on the factory floor. Prioritizing diversity, education, and professional development, ZAGO created ZAGO Sustainability 360°, which offers scholarships, internships, apprenticeships, and professional development. The company pays 100 percent of tuition to employees wishing to pursue advanced degrees.
“It’s not just making the fasteners, that’s one part of what we do here,” said ZAGO Vice President Jackie Luciano, in the release. “The bigger part of that is the people—nurturing the people, educating the people, and making sure that they have a future.”
ZAGO, founded in 1993, said it manufactures sealing fasteners and components for thousands of engineers, manufacturers, and distributors worldwide.
“ZAGO goes above and beyond and is willing to invest in its workforce, said Michael Womack, marketing and communications manager for the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NJMEP), in the release. “Whether it is a training program for a new hire or investing in employees who are working with them already, ZAGO encourages them to continue forward with their career path.”