Innovation Excellence Award Winner 2026: Zahoransky Z.WASP 1

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Innovation Excellence Award Winner 2026: Zahoransky Z.WASP 1

admin April 28, 2026 0 Comments

Zahoransky Z.WASP 1
Wins ABMA 2026 William A. Cordes Innovation Excellence Award

The American Brush Manufacturers Association (ABMA) is proud to announce the 2026 winner of the ABMA William A Cordes Innovation Excellence Award is Zahoransky’s Z.WASP 1 Drilling and Tufting Machine.

The “Willie” as it is known in the industry, is given to recognize outstanding innovation of manufactured products, components or services in the Broom, Brush, Mop and Roller Industry. The award is named after William Cordes, who served as the Association’s first President from 1917-1928. This award serves as a constant reminder that all new and exciting endeavors have beginnings that connect with real people.

The Z.WASP 1 is a drilling and tufting machine for the production of technical and household brushes. The machine processes long filaments of up to 700mm in standard and up to 660mm with flat wire. It is possible to produce brushes with “filament mix” of plastic and wire filaments. With its flexible design, quick change systems, and user-friendly software, it enables efficient, reliable and cost-effective brush production for many brush types.

The machine is equipped with two clamping devices and two drilling units operating at speeds of up to 12,000 rounds per minute. The tufting tool achieves speeds of up to 200 bundles per minute, depending on tool stroke and brush configuration. Two different filament colors can be processed, and two different materials – such as nylon and metal – can be mixed within a single tufting hole. Thanks to its robust design and the ability to process both wooden and plastic bodies as well as natural fibres and nylon filaments, the Z.WASP 1 offers maximum flexibility for demanding industrial applications.

Flexible system for different brush sizes, shapes, and filament types
Processes flat wire of up to four flat wire spools at the same time
Production of disc brushes with up to 900mm with “filament mix” of plastic and wire filaments
Reliable and precise operation ensures consistent quality and lower operating costs.

ZAHORANSKY AG is known for cutting-edge technology in machine engineering and mold making for over 120 years and is today an internationally active technology provider which is 100% family owned. Based on decades of experience combined with foresight and a culture of innovation, ZAHORANSKY is a full-service provider and technology partner for companies in the brush industry, medical technology and other sectors. Market-leading manufacturers of oral care and cosmetic products, producers of household and industrial brushes as well as pharmaceutical companies worldwide rely on the comprehensive consulting, development and service expertise of ZAHORANSKY.

One of the company‘s proven strengths: on request, ZAHORANSKY provides customers with complete solutions from a single source for the manufacture of complex plastic, hybrid and glass replacement products. This includes injection molds, upstream and downstream automation solutions and quality control as well as the integration of injection molding machines and other system components for turnkey, fully automated production lines. About 700 people are employed at our headquarters in Germany and the sites in Spain, China, India, Japan, Brazil and the USA.