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Company Profile:
Static Control Components, Inc.
by: David Ruzga

The Secret to their Success

Looking into the future

Awards

Hidden away in the woods of North Carolina is a little town of 22,000 people who enjoy southern pit barbecue, no traffic jams, and friendly honest neighbors. But there is something different about this town named Sanford. In this town lives a 14 year old giant. A company larger than sixteen football fields, comprised of 18 facilities that cover a major section of the town. It is considered to be one of the leaders of the toner cartridge recycling industry. It is also the ESD Industry's largest bag manufacturer. This giant calls itself Static Control Components, Inc. SCC

Static Control Components, Inc. (SCC) is the world's largest manufacturer of Static Shield and Moisture Barrier Bags, a leading supplier of workstation and personnel grounding products, and a leader in the imaging industry. With more than 1,000 employees, SCC occupies over 850,000 sq. ft. of engineering, manufacturing, laboratories, sales, shipping, and warehouse space. SCC operates a 50,000 square feet distribution and sales support facility that is strategically located in San Diego California to serve both the California and the fast growing Mexican market. There also is an SCC Europe with a staff of 70, and a 60,000 square foot facility that supplies Europe with ESD products. SCC plants have robotic wand assembly machines, cartridge component injection molding machines, and static bag machines. SCC also has high-tech clean rooms, with laboratory technicians performing computerized toner evaluation, and systems development engineers analyzing component compatibility and refining remanufacturing equipment. Even to list all of this doesn't begin to give this prosperous company justice.

The static shielding bag production facility consists of 18 bag manufacturing machines producing over 25 million bags each month. In 1999 after two years of design work, SCC built the first of a new generation of high speed bag machines capable of producing twice the output of standard machines. By 2001, SCC will have four new high speed machines to complement the existing 18. This will increase productivity by 40%.

 

Behind all of this massive manufacturing is an underlying philosophy of "total system support" that is the backbone of the organization. This total system support is based on the very nature of cartridge remanufacturing today. When Cannon or any other major OEMs develop and produce a new cartridge, every part is designed to work specifically with its other components and perform at its maximum potential. All parts perform in unison, as a team performing its task. There is a predetermined set of standards that are easy to follow and standardize throughout production of the product(s). But, unfortunately there are no rigid compatibility specifications in the business of cartridge remanufacturing-except with SCC. They have devised a system that they call Integrated Product Systems (IPS). This system utilizes rigid specifications by grouping components and supplies that are compatible and that will work for specific applications thus taking the remanufacturing of cartridges to a new level. This devised system minimizes field failure and maximizes quality and customer satisfaction.

Static Control Components, Inc. continues to grow without bounds. It now requires its own photographic studio, print shop, machine shops, injection molding machines and construction crews. As large as this may all be, SCC still continues to have a sort of "down home" feel.

Ed Swartz (CEO) along with two sons Bill (president of the Imaging Supplies Division) and Michael (president of the ESD Division) maintain the attitude that "selling quality products is simply not good enough." They also strongly support the idea of one-on-one customer service and support.

In 1986 Ed, who had sold and retired from his automotive aluminum smelting business, and his son-in-law, Jim Rattz started SCC in Ed's basement. Michael Swartz was their first employee. Jim who worked for a plastics company had recently visited the EOS/ESD Symposium in Orlando, Florida. He and Ed quickly grasped the potential of the ESD bag market. 14 years later the sales of SCC in the year 2000 may reach $200 million in all divisions.

SCC has modeled itself after successful giants such as Hewlett-Packard. There is virtually no bureaucracy, but a sort of sharing of the various operations. Each manufacturing, testing, R&D, and customer service group functions as an autonomous organization. This decentralized system produces a motivated staff that is quick to respond to the needs of the customers and to the cooperation as a whole.

The Secret to their Success

The exponential growth over the past decade is unequaled in the static control industry. They went from a small bag manufacturer selling directly to end users in the 1980's, to the largest manufacturer of bags, wrist straps, heel grounders and workstation products selling through over 400 distributors in 1999. SCC has single-handedly changed the way this industry buys static control products with products in stock, same day shipping, and highly competitive prices their customers continue to benefit from their success.

So, how did this success come about? By focusing on the basic and practical aspects of business to business commerce. The use of the newest high speed automation technology when developing a new product or process ensures their cost position which consistently translates into lower prices and quicker deliveries for their customers. SCC's quality system is based not on appearance or show, but on actual product testing and traceability. Since SCC develops there own product technologies, they have the internal laboratories and technologists to examine incoming materials, control manufacturing processes, and test products.

SCC offers unmatched customer service above all. Ed Swartz states that, "With commodity products, you have to make it so easy for the customer to get it, that he won't even think about going somewhere else." A lot of effort and dollars have been invested to make this concept a reality. Building product for inventory, distribution hubs in California, London, and North Carolina, same day shipping, custom packaging and inventories. But most importantly, their customers have access to actual people. A person answers SCC's phone, and can connect the customer with the people that will solve the problem - no automated phones here.

Looking Into the Future

Looking into the future involves looking for a faster, more efficient means of production. In 1999, after two years of design work, SCC built the first of a new generation of high speed bag machines capable of producing twice the output of standard machines. By 2001, they will have four new high speed machines to complement there existing 18 standard machines-thus increasing capability by 40%.

Brent Beamer, Technical Director, says SCC plans are for an evolving product line. SCC is bringing their unique business abilities to personnel grounding products. They began manufacturing heel grounders in 1997, added wrist straps in 1998 and will continue to introduce more SCC manufactured products in 2000 and beyond. As far as technology goes, SCC is on top. They recently completed the implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning computer system. This system enables them to better control the supply chain. It means faster order placement and response to order questions, and enhanced production planning. And finally, E-Commerce is about to begin. Before 2001, SCC will be processing orders through the Internet. Order status, order history, technical bulletins, and more will be available to customers on line.

 

SCC Awards Page(Back to top)

1999- Fast 50 One of the fastest growing companies in North Carolina.

1999- Governor's International Trade Award.

1998- Entrepreneurial Company of the Year-Governor's Award.

1998- 11th largest company on the Top 100 Technical Companies of the Research Triangle Park Technologies List.

1997- 15th largest company on the Top 100 Technical Companies of the Research Triangle Park Technologies List.

visit SCC at: http://www.scc-inc.com