Sanderson MacLeod

09/30/2026

We couldn't be prouder to see our own Harrison Lavoie receive the 2026 GBMP Consulting Group & The Northeast Lean Conference Silver Toaster Award!

The Silver Toaster recognizes people who truly live continuous improvement — not just through big projects, but through the way they solve problems, help others, and make things better every day. That’s Harrison, to a "T".

Over the past year, he’s helped cut cycle times on select automated processes nearly in half, redesigned other processes to triple output, improve our distribution operations, help build a homegrown SCADA system for machine monitoring, and mentored the people around him through the TWIST program. He’s someone who sees a problem and immediately starts thinking about how we can do it better. Not only that, but in an age where the conversations revolve around AI, Harrison is a responsible visionary, utilizing tried-and-true lean priciples

One of the best parts of today was seeing how excited Francisco “Cisco” Santos, our 2025 recipient, was to pass the torch to Harrison. Having two teammates recognized in back-to-back years is a pretty special moment for all of us at Sanderson MacLeod.

Congratulations, Harrison. Well earned.

And congratulations to all of this year’s nominees. It was great to see so many people recognized for the work they’re doing to move manufacturing forward.

See our recent TWIST podcast where Harrison details some of his recent projects, his history at SanMac, and his outlook on the years to come.

https://youtu.be/TOry_uudHXE

09/25/2026

Some people come to work to leave their impression on the world.

Others come to make an impact.

And a special few come to work determined to leave their mark on… well, anything they can get their hands on. Including burgers.

🍔 Day One of the 2026 Sanderson Burger Wars is officially in the books.

The OSI Team (Operations System Integration) struck first with bacon (of course), sweet onion jam, white cheddar, a juicy burger, and—to bring it all back down to earth—a truffle aioli.

But apparently making a burger wasn’t enough.

These bright engineers actually milled their own branding iron so there was absolutely no question which team was responsible for the creation.

OSI has set the bar for Round 1.

Let’s see what Team Ops can do next week. 🔥🍔

09/10/2026

More than 10 decades of manufacturing knowledge doesn’t come from machines. It comes from people.

That’s what makes this recognition especially meaningful.

Thank you to Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) for recognizing Sanderson MacLeod with the Excellence in Manufacturing Award.

Today, our team is building on generations of brushmaking experience through automation, digital technology, continuous improvement, our Brush Innovation Center, and programs like TWIST that give the next generation an opportunity to learn manufacturing by doing it.

We’re proud of where SanMac has been, but even more energized by where this team is taking it.

Thank you to AIM for recognizing the work happening in Palmer and for supporting the future of manufacturing across Massachusetts.

Manufacturing the future, one brush at a time.

For more than 100 years, Sanderson MacLeod has turned innovation, flexibility, and craftsmanship into a competitive advantage, creating specialized twisted-wire brushes for industries ranging from cosmetics and medical equipment to fi****ms.

Now, the Palmer-based manufacturer is being recognized with AIM’s Excellence in Manufacturing Award for its commitment to innovation, workforce development, and the future of Massachusetts manufacturing.
From its Brush Innovation Center to its TWIST workforce training program, Sanderson MacLeod is proving that the future of manufacturing is being built right here in the Commonwealth.

👉 Read the full story and discover what’s brushing up the future of manufacturing: https://okt.to/vPXOgA

09/03/2026

Every step forward is built on the people who got us here.

Recently, we had the privilege of welcoming several Sanderson MacLeod retirees back to the plant—to reconnect with old friends, meet today’s team, and see how the operation has evolved.

We showed them new automation, digital production reporting, our Setup Operator development program, and some of the investments we’re making in our people and processes. But the best part was seeing how much of today’s progress is still rooted in what they built.

Irene once produced as many as 3,000 brushes a day by hand. During the tour, she got to see the automated cell carrying that process forward and meet Kristin, the operator running it today.

Following the tradition of our Rosie machine, we also made Irene a promise: the machine will be repainted, recommissioned, and proudly named the IRENE-I.

Then there’s Ray S., who ran General Products for decades. Long before dashboards and real-time reporting, Ray managed much of what we’re trying to capture digitally today—with experience, discipline, and a yellow legal pad.

Having Ray back with our current team was invaluable. He was humble and reflective, sharing his perspective while taking a genuine interest in where we’re headed.

Recently added to the retiree list is Chris B…who left for retirement not too long ago. We got to showcase one of Chris’s last projects—a completely automatic acrylic dipping line. His work has been carried on by the OSI team and he got to see it run full production.

The tools have changed. The knowledge behind them hasn’t.

To our retirees who came back to visit: thank you for helping build the foundation we continue to improve upon today. Your fingerprints are still all over it.

08/14/2026

"Don’t reinvent the wheel" they say...

Fine. We’ll stick to reinventing the brush.

Wire. Fiber. A twist. Simple enough.

Yet somehow, we’ve spent more than 60 years finding better ways to design it, build it, and put it to work.

Turns out, simple leaves plenty of room for innovation.

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07/04/2026

For 250 years, the American spirit has been defined by the freedom to dream, build, innovate, and compete.

At Sanderson MacLeod, we’re proud to be part of that story. Every day, our hardworking brush makers, engineers, technicians, and support teams come together to manufacture products that support our partners at home and around the globe.

America’s greatest strength has always been its people—the makers, problem-solvers, and innovators whose hard work keeps our country moving forward. That spirit continues to drive manufacturing, fuel creative change, and create opportunity for future generations.

As we celebrate America 250, we’re grateful for the freedoms that allow us to build, compete, and grow…and for the incredible people who make it all possible.

Here’s to 250 years of American ingenuity, and to those who will shape the next 250.

Happy Independence Day from everyone at Sanderson MacLeod!

04/10/2026

One of the things we appreciate most at SanMac is the relationship between Quality Assurance and the Operations team—and how well the two departments truly work together.

Quality isn’t something that just gets “checked in” at the end of a process. It’s built into it. And that only happens when QA and Operations are aligned, communicating, and working toward the same goal.

What makes our QA team especially effective is their background. Every member of the team started on the production floor—running machines, troubleshooting issues, and learning the details of brushmaking firsthand. They understand the process not just in theory, but from experience.

That shows up every day.

It shows up in how they approach problem-solving—practical, informed, and grounded in reality.

It shows up in how they communicate with operators—peer-to-peer, with credibility and mutual respect.

And it shows up in how quickly we can move from identifying an issue to actually fixing it.

There’s no “us vs. them” mentality. No disconnect between what’s expected and what’s possible. Just a shared understanding of the work, and a shared commitment to getting it right.

When QA and Operations operate as one team, quality stops being a checkpoint—and becomes part of the culture.

Proud of the team we’ve built.

A special thank you to Kennedy, Josh, and Jackie for their dependability (and smiles) day after day.

04/03/2026

Proud to see Sanderson MacLeod featured in a recent Business West article highlighting our commitment to growing talent locally through our TWIST program.

Our co-op program, Technical Work Instruction and Skills Training or TWIST, partners with Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School, giving students hands-on experience, mentorship, and real-world exposure to modern manufacturing.

As CEO Mark N. Borsari shared:
“We have a unique opportunity to be producing here in Palmer… if we’re making three to four impacts a year over time, that’s an incredibly meaningful reinvestment back into the community.”

As this year’s program wraps up, we’re already preparing for the next cohort — with big shoes to fill.

Take a minute to read the full article to learn more.



https://businesswest.com/blog/businesses-of-all-kinds-thrive-in-palmer/

03/11/2026

Today was a very special day at Sanderson MacLeod.

We had the opportunity to bring back our Lean 101 Awareness training, led by David Lyman, a longtime friend and mentor to many of us at SanMac. The session brought together team members from across the organization for a hands-on introduction to Lean Manufacturing, complete with success stories, Lego simulations, and a broad look at how Lean thinking shapes the way we improve. Each participant was presented with a Certificate of Completion, and a newfound appreciation of Lean Practices.

Dave’s connection with SanMac goes back more than 17 years. Over that time, he helped lead many successful kaizen teams and played an important role in building the continuous improvement culture that remains a cornerstone of our company today.

It's an exciting moment as we reignite our Lean Journey for 2026, with a deeper focus on organization-wide engagement and problem solving.

02/13/2026

At Sanderson MacLeod, continuous improvement is driven by the people closest to the work. That’s why the GBMP Silver Toaster Award, presented by the GBMP Consulting Group & The Northeast Lean Conference, is such a meaningful recognition. The award honors a frontline employee who not only applies Lean principles in their daily work, but also elevates those around them through problem solving, innovation, and a commitment to operational excellence.

We are especially proud to celebrate Francisco Santos-Castro, the 2025 recipient.

Francisco’s achievement reflects the culture we strive to build every day — one where employees take ownership of improvement, challenge the status quo, and help drive measurable value for our customers and our team. His recognition reinforces the importance of empowering frontline experts and highlights the real impact Lean thinking has across our operations.