Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Graco Inc. designs

and produces premium pumps and spray equipment for fluid handling

in the construction, manufacturing, processing and maintenance industries.

Each Graco division focuses on different applications and develops specialty products

that set the quality standards for lubrication, paint circulation, spray finishing, sealant,

adhesives, dispensing and more. The company has built a solid reputation and customer base around the world through more than 90 years of experience.Graco Model Shop

“We are experts in material handling,” explains Jerry

Powaser, Director of Sales and Marketing for the

Industrial Products Division. “That can be anything

from pumps to proportioning devices, from atomizers to dis-

pensing systems. We make a broad range of equipment with a

global reach into many different markets.”

The Industrial Products division primarily focuses on indus-

tries that utilize paints and coatings for finishing products. For

A history of growth & innovation

Graco was established as a family-owned business in 1926 by

the Gray brothers. They developed and marketed a pneumatic

grease gun to lubricate automobiles.

“From there, the product line expanded rapidly,” shares Powaser.

“That rapid pace continues as we utilize our expertise in both

technology and manufacturing,” shares Powaser.

From its earliest days, Graco invested heavily in new product

development, continually expanding its product offering

into new fluid handling applications and markets. The team

continues to invest heavily in R&D, channel partners, and

customer service.

The United States is home to Graco’s research and develop-

ment operations and 80 percent of the company’s manufac-

turing production. The company’s fluid handling equipment

reaches customers worldwide through distribution centers in

Minnesota, Europe and Asia Pacific. To develop those products,

Graco has four main manufacturing facilities in the United

States and, through its acquisition growth, has established

manufacturing facilities in China as well.

Graco is an extremely efficient manufacturing organization

with a sterling track record of consistent growth. As a publicly

traded company, Graco’s shareholders expect a growth-orient-

ed business that produces solid returns.

“External growth through sales, acquisitions and the breadth of

our offerings creates internal opportunities for our employees,”

says Powaser. Graco is a leader in developing technology for

the markets it serves and strives to create the ultimate customer

experience. These are the foundations of the company that

have enabled its continued growth thus far.

Written by Jen Hocken

instance, Graco equipment is used for the finishing coating

of paint on any product from a golf ball to a tabletop, an

automobile, a jetliner or anything in between. The indus-

trial products division concentrates on products that require

finely detailed finishing and is a separate division from that

which provides coatings on water towers or suspension

bridges, since the desired finish is much different. The result

is a high-quality coating, paint or stain that creates a shiny,

durable finish on a substrate.

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A great place to work

Graco also has a very high record of tenure among its 3,500

employees worldwide. In 2018, Graco was recognized by

Fortune Magazine as one of the top 20 Best Places to Work

in Manufacturing and Production in the United States. Being

named as a top workplace by an independent source goes a

long way to attract new, young employees joining the work-

force and experienced employees looking for a change. It

shows people that there is something unique and special

about Graco when compared to other manufacturers.

“We announce work anniversaries each month, and it’s not

uncommon to see many employees throughout the differ-

ent divisions across Graco who have worked here for 25, 30,

and sometimes even 40 or more years. I think that speaks

volumes about the organization and the effort we put into

creating a good work environment,” Powaser states proudly.

Graco focuses on providing a rewarding atmosphere to recog-

nize employees who are willing to put forth their best effort,

continue learning, and go the extra mile for the company.

Even the CEO, Patrick McHale, participates in recognizing

employees. He’s written over 1,000 thank-you notes and mailed

them to employee homes. He believes that doing the small

things as a manager, foreman, president, or CEO, regardless of

company size, is the best way to keep talent and boost morale.

In the competitive market of today, Graco is grateful to have

such an outstanding workforce in all areas of the business

including in the factory, engineering, sales, marketing and tech-

nical support. Though the company has a very high retention

rate, it does face challenges when seeking to fill open positions.

To attract new employees, Graco provides plenty of growth

and leadership opportunities. The company also promotes its

great work environment and core values, such as quality, con-

tinuous improvement and a customer-focused attitude.

“Graco focuses on providing a rewarding atmosphere to recognize and uplift

the people that are willing to put forth their best effort, continue learning,

and go the extra mile for the company.”

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As a technology leader, Graco is driven to provide the best tech-

nical solutions for customers globally. The company continues

to innovate by listening to its customers and the evolving

needs of the marketplace. Another distinguishing factor for

the company is that it is always striving to provide the best

customer service in the industry.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that as our markets continue

to evolve and as the next generation of users of our equip-

ment come into the marketplace, the customer experience

is becoming more and more important every day,” says

Powaser. Graco has to keep up with the evolving manufac-

turing industry and remain adaptable to it, both with technol-

ogy and also the quality experience that allows the customer

Digital evolution

As the markets Graco serves continue to evolve in this digital

age, the company is paying more attention to equipment and

systems that help its customers be successful in their jobs. Self-

Monitoring Analysis And Reporting Technology (SMART) helps

detect and prevent errors. The Internet of Things (IoT) connects

equipment for more efficient management.

“SMART and IoT bring a two-way transfer of data that optimizes

performance. Instead of a person watching a piece of equip-

ment run and then trying to figure it out, the equipment itself

is providing data,” explains Powaser.

This new type of maintenance enables customers to proac-

tively maximize uptime and production. It also increases their

efficiencies and capacities to be as successful and profitable

as possible.

The industries Graco works within are automating more pro-

cesses to save costs, maximize uptime and reduce labor. Paying

close attention to industry trends, Graco uses its technical

expertise to create innovative automation solutions. Through

more than 90 years of experience, the company has built a

solid reputation and customer base around the world.

“As we move further into automation, I’m very excited about

what the future holds,” says Powaser. “I look forward to contin-

ued advances in product development and the benefits these

advances bring to our customers.”

to understand the value they are receiving from Graco

products. Graco stands behind its products proudly and it is

fully committed to ensuring that customers are happy with

Graco equipment.

The company has a promise to deliver A+ Service to every

customer, every time – a philosophy that is communicated

across the company. CEO Patrick McHale regularly talks about

A+ Service and truly lives by it, a demonstration of commitment

that helps to make it an integral part of the culture at Graco.

“There are many ways to measure and improve upon our per-

formance,” says Powaser. “Striving for A+ Service creates a

common bond amongst all employees.”

Leading technology and A+ customer experience

As Graco moves into the 21st century, the company defines its

basic mission as “service to people through profitable growth.”

Both objectives are being met as Graco becomes a world

leader in complete fluid handling systems and packages that

move, control, deliver, dispense, and apply fluids in commercial

and industrial settings.

“The company’s equipment is used for the finishing coating of paint

on any product from a golf ball to a tabletop, an automobile,

a jetliner or anything in between.”

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