ZAHORANSKY Wins 2026 ABMA Innovation Excellence Award
Convention in Puerto Rico highlights global collaboration, leadership development and a steady push toward industry growth
The 2026 ABMA Convention delivered a clear message: innovation remains a defining force in the brush manufacturing industry. That message culminated with the announcement of the William A. Cordes Innovation Excellence Award, where Zahoransky was named this year’s winner for its Z.WASP drilling and tufting machine — a system designed to expand flexibility in brush production across a range of applications.
The award, voted on by attendees following presentations and pre-event materials, continues to serve as a benchmark for both machinery and product innovation within the industry. Zahoransky’s entry stood alongside Wooster Brush Company’s GripTech MAX handle technology, highlighting innovation on both the manufacturing and end-use sides of the business.
Built on Connection
Held in Puerto Rico, the 2026 gathering brought together 151 attendees representing 48 companies, along with 21 supplier Face 2 Face tables, reinforcing the event’s role as a key networking and business development platform. Attendance was up slightly as the 2025 event in Austin, Texas, had 150 attendees, but supplier tables were down from 26. The reduction was attributed to holding the event off the mainland and associated challenges with bringing materials for a supplier table.
From structured face-to-face meetings to informal networking dinners and educational sessions, the format of the overall convention continues to emphasize one of the industry’s most consistent themes: relationships drive business. That sentiment was echoed in committee discussions, where face-to-face engagement was identified as the most effective way to grow membership and strengthen industry ties.
A Global Industry, Increasingly Connected
International collaboration was a central thread throughout the event. FEIBP President Simon Lorrilliere reinforced the importance of cooperation between organizations, pointing to the recent joint success of launching the World Brush Expo in 2024. He also spoke about future opportunities to align the global brush industry with the upcoming FEIBP Congress in Lyon, France, to be held September 22-24, and the 2028 edition of the World Brush Expo set for May 16-18, 2028, in Ghent, Belgium. He said it was particularly for younger professionals to attend these events to expand their global perspective, noting that the industry remains highly specialized and the future is increasingly international.
Scholarship Awards
The ABMA also underscored the importance of investing in future talent, granting two scholarships through the ABMA Foundation. Two scholarships were awarded:
- Celeste Newton, pursuing a business degree at Ohio University, connected with Ohio Brush Works and Delaware Paint Company. She is the daughter of Pete Newton of the Delaware Paint Company and Ohio Brush Works.
- Cody Boudreas, working at Felton Brushes and looking to advance by completing a Manufacturing Engineering Technical Program at Mohawk College.
Leadership, Strategy and a Call for Clarity
Wednesday’s keynote, delivered by Canadian business speaker and Canadian Speaking Hall of Fame inductee Donald Cooper, pushed members toward what he called a culture of commitment. He urged companies to replace the language of goals and targets with the harder discipline of specific, agreed-upon commitments. His session on creating high-performance cultures drew from 34 years of coaching across 40 industries, and his free business tools (available at www.donaldcooper.com) generated notable interest among attendees.
Industry Priorities Moving Forward
Committee reports and discussions throughout the convention pointed to several ongoing priorities:
- Membership growth through more proactive outreach and recruitment
- Improved communication and engagement, including better utilization of digital channels
- Data and benchmarking, with increased participation in industry surveys
- Regulatory awareness, including evolving standards and compliance requirements
- Financial stability, with the association maintaining a strong position
Looking Ahead
The 2026 ABMA Convention balanced recognition, strategy and connection—anchored by a clear signal that innovation remains a core driver of the industry’s future. With continued investment in technology, workforce development and global collaboration, the brush manufacturing sector is positioning itself to adapt to both new challenges and new opportunities. The next ABMA Convention is scheduled for March 23-26, 2027, in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa.
Learn more about the ABMA at www.abma.org.
