NOT JUST METAL BENDERS

   The Tusco Display story started over 60 years ago when we printed advertising signs.  Producing the metal substrates on which the signs were printed came next and we became metal benders.  Along the way, the business morphed into industrial sewing, stadium seating, storage tanks and eventually the production of permanent displays and store fixtures.
   Today, we produce products in fiberglass and various plastics, we work in wood and laminates, and we even dabble in fabrics and graphics.
   We still bend lots of metal, of course, to produce displays and fixtures as well as everything from aluminum fire truck doors to stainless steel control cabinets, tandoori ovens to bingo machines.  But the heart of what we do is far more than cutting, bending, welding and coating metal.
   We are mental benders.  We help consumer packaged goods (CPGs) companies – many famous name-brands – effectively present their wares in retail environments throughout N America.  We help them connect with shoppers.  We influence stores to carry products and shoppers to buy them.  We help shoppers find what they need and want.  We understand, design and produce to meet the needs of the CPGs, their retailer partners and shoppers.
   Understanding how people interact in-store, how they approach purchase decisions, how they are attracted or not attracted to products in stores is far more of what we do today than simply printing signs or building shelves.  Tusco helps create in-store inspiration.

“WE MAKE THINGS HERE”

That’s a phrase people in northeastern Ohio will soon see and hear more often in advertisements and promotional materials. After decades of “Rust Belt” hell, manufacturing is enjoying a renaissance here. Many old-line industrial operations have fallen by the wayside while industries like aerospace, materials sciences and health sciences are growing. Industries that apply world-class technologies and techniques are flourishing here. That’s why the state’s regional economic development group, Team NEO, has chosen that phrase as their new tagline.

The phrase reflects new economic research showing that, between 2010 and 2015, manufacturing in the region’s 18 counties is expected to far outpace manufacturing growth in the rest of the country.

This phrase aptly describes Tusco Display, too. Unlike many display producers who may design and sell but outsource all of their manufacturing, Tusco Display has consistently reinvested in our manufacturing capabilities, even during the tough years of the recent past. That’s why we can say, “We make things here” today, too.

With modern production capabilities and skilled associates, northeast Ohio manufacturers are winning business and finding growing success. At Tusco Display, we’re proud to count ourselves among them.

Culture of Urgency

One of the things that we pride ourselves on at Tusco Display is our nimbleness. What does this mean though? This is not about wild, out-of-control speed which harms our ability to be a reliable partner for our clients. Instead, the goal = speed + results. We have a strong sense of urgency about getting the most important things done immediately.

A recent example is a client who contacted us on one day and visited us from out of state the next day. We engineered a solution for them overnight and they ordered a prototype two days later. We built, tested, personally delivered and installed the solution – it involved steel tubing, wire, acrylic and sheet metal – within days.

Having the right equipment, capacity and processes (e.g., lasercutting, CNC routing, powdercoating, tube forming) allowed us to respond nimbly. But it’s more than that. At Tusco, we understand our client’s urgency and we take it on as our own. Yes, we’re eager to satisfy the client – even delight them. But we understood the need and acted to meet it on our client’s terms. In this case, they had an important retailer meeting and needed to have the final piece – the custom merchandising equipment – on-hand to impress the retailer. And they did.

Owning our clients’ urgency is part of what working with Tusco Display delivers. It’s also part of our culture. When we take care of our clients, they can become clients for life. And, in some cases, great friends, too.

Michael Lauber
Tusco Display