This year marks the 75thanniversary of CSS International, which was established in Philadelphia by Herbert Coulston, Fred Shutz, and Harry Speth, just one month after the end of World War II. Today, the company’s timing screws, feed systems, change parts, bottom code/inspection diverters, lane combiners/diverters, and more, are used by packaging companies around the world. OEM Magazine recently caught up with CSS president Vance Coulston to talk about the company’s history and future.
OEM: Over the past 75 years in business, CSS international has reinvented itself a few times- from its beginnings as a tool and die company to developing parts for the glass industry in the 1960s and moving into packaging in the late 1970s. How has the company been able to reinvent itself over the years?
Coulston: CSS has reinvented itself by necessity. By observing changes in its markets, selecting new markets where the company’s expertise would allow it to be competitive, then hiring managers with backgrounds that enabled the company to expand into these new products, CSS has been able to successfully evolve. The 1960’s marked the death knell for many tool and die and general machine shops. With the advent of CNC machines, highly skilled mechanics could be replaced with lower skilled workers. Cheap overseas labor and an aging skilled domestic workforce created a market of declining sales. Executives of CSS decided to make a strategic hire. This individual helped design glass container manufacturing machinery with patented components. This product maintained the company’s sales volume until the industry went offshore to Europe in the 1980’s and plastic bottles gained increased market share. Since an important component in many glass container machines was timing screws, CSS hired Al Andrews, one of the pioneers of the timing screw industry. With his guidance, the company expanded its product line to include timing screws, feed systems, change parts, bottom code/inspection diverters, lane combiners/diverters, product orienteers, side grip belt units and vacuum reject systems.
OEM：Your portfolio is focused on tools and accessories for conveyor systems. What makes your products standout in the market?
Coulston:大部分的原因,CSS产品中脱颖而出the marketplace is due to the company’s heritage. As a former tool and die and general machining shop, an emphasis is placed on proper design and fabrication coupled with a respect for using the best available materials. With its concentration on the design process, CSS is the ideal supplier for OEMs who require equipment which meets the increased speeds and accurate positioning of customer products. CSS employs hands on mechanics who are experienced in fabricating its products. With extensive manufacturing experience, materials are selected to ensure long component life. An example of this attention to detail is the use of stainless steel for timing screw shafts versus cheaper, less durable materials.
OEM：2020年为您的客户和合作伙伴影响了您的客户和合作伙伴的最大的业务和/或技术趋势是什么，以及CSS如何响应？
Coulston:美国消费者要求更多的产品选择和商店品牌正在获得市场份额。所有这些都导致较小的集装箱运行，宽阔的容器形状，尺寸和材料宇宙。定时螺杆改变部件对处理这种品种变得更加重要。凭借其丰富的经验，CSS设计最小化了有效处理不同容器尺寸所需的定时螺杆更换部件的数量。随着使用产品跟踪的容器的使用增加，CSS分流器（独特的产品）允许进入容器，同时它们仍在输送线上。因为当容器是个性化（装饰蚀刻，金属化，个性化印刷）集装箱处理时需要特殊操作变得更加重要。2020年代的主要市场趋势IE：更加较小的产品运行，产品跟踪增加，更昂贵的定制包装是增强CSS产品价值的因素。
OEM：未来75年的CSS店有什么用？
Coulston: During the difficult times that CSS faced when transforming itself over the past 75 years, my father, Herb Coulston, CSS’ founder and chief executive, had an overriding goal in mind of doing what was right for his customers and employees. Although profits are important, I’m dedicated to the company and to my father’s goals. I have a graduate degree in industrial management and have developed a 10-year strategic plan to advance the company. The key will be executing this plan. We’ll take it 10 years at a time rather than trying to go at the full 75 in one shot.
