“Last year, when much of the country was closed, some of our employees didn’t take all their vacations because destination options were limited. Now, as things are opening, they are trying to get caught up on vacations, and trying to have a life outside of work again. “We have been able to hire some people, and are moving right along. That includes working some overtime. Life is good.” ZWP was instrumental in the founding of the Wood Technology Center of Excellence, also located in Antigo, in 2011. The school has become a pipeline to introduce the younger generation to the forest product and woodworking industry. According to its website, “The Wood Technology Center of Excellence is a one-of-a-kind, 27,000-square-foot facility dedicated to preparing students for careers in the forest products and woodworking industry. Through a combination of cutting-edge technology and industry-driven curriculum, graduates are trained for a field that boasts more than 1 million jobs nationwide.”
“I think we are going to continue to have a tight lumber market and a tight labor pool. We are going to have to continue to adapt, like we always have, to take care of what is ahead.” ~ Ben Zelazoski
Since its inception, The Wood Technology Center of Excellence has been a source of new employees for ZWP. “We have had a few students work part time for us,” Zelazoski said. “Our manufacturing process does not involve a production line, so students can work a few hours a day, on their day off, or during their vacations. It gives them an idea of what the production atmosphere is really like, and gives us some very good, enthusiastic workers. “Currently, we have two graduates working for us, and both of them are very good. We have our door open again. School is just starting. We have one student who is going to continue to work part time.” The Technology Center of Excellence also offers the opportunity for ZWP employees to receive further training or to attend refresher courses. “The center has been a very successful resource, not just for us, but also for any company who has hired a student from there,” Zelazoski said. Looking ahead, Zelazoski predicts ZWP will remain very busy for quite some time. “I think we are going to continue to have a tight lumber market and a tight labor pool. We are going to have to continue to adapt, like we always have, to take care of what is ahead,” Zelazoski said. “The only thing that doesn’t change is change. Over the years I have worked here, our main PG 44
product line has changed several times. However, we have a few items, such as broom and brush blocks, that have remained constant. There has always been something else that has come along to help us keep us going. It has been a very interesting career for me.” Contact: Zelazoski Wood Products, Inc., 835 Ninth Ave., P.O. Box 506, Antigo, WI 54409. Phone: 800-240-0974. Email: ben@zwpi.com. Website: www.zwpi.com.
.D.F. di De Franceschi Gabriella & C. sas, located in Bazzano/Valsamoggia, Italy, offers a wide range of products to the cleaning industry. “Since 1983, G.D.F. has been a supplier to foreign customers of ‘made in Italy’ products, including foamed or solid plastic blocks, epoxy-painted metal handles and poles, plastic buckets and other cleaning products,” President Gabriella De Franceschi said. “Because of the emergence of the COVID-19 Delta Variant, business has slowed. We are facing a lot of challenges as people are being infected by the virus.” Other challenges the company faces have to do with the availability and the price increase of raw materials G.D.F. uses, including steel, plastic, cardboard and wood. “Conducting business has been very complicated since December 2019,” De Franceschi said. “However, despite the difficulties, business in 2020 was not bad. Our turnover during 2020 was about 40 percent lower than 2019, but this was acceptable when compared to other segments Gabriella De Franceschi that were significantly damaged, as they recorded turnover of 80 to 90 percent.” De Franceschi started G.D.F. in 1983 after gaining experience in the field of synthetic monofilaments. The mission of the company remains the same — to provide brush and broom makers with good, quality components so that they can make their products from one source. Grouping together products also saves on transportation costs for companies. Furthermore, the customer only has to pay one supplier, she said. After working for some of the major Italian monofilament companies, De Franceschi launched her company with the main objective of grouping together all of the necessary components for customers, and servicing the worldwide market with quality products, reliable service and competitive prices, she said. De Franceschi feels quick service and caring about customers’ needs, while offering quality items at competitive
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BBM MAGAZINE | September/October 2021