Successful Launch of Consumer Product Line Helps Propel Growth

The Problem
As a leading manufacturer of industrial and commercial grade spraying equipment, Graco saw great growth potential by targeting the larger consumer market. So they designed the Magnum sprayer line to be distributed through Home Depot, the leading retailer in the home improvement industry.

There was one significant challenge, however. Home Depot wanted the Magnum sprayer on their shelves in six months. After putting the job out for bid, Graco turned to Donnelly to help manage and expedite the tooling and production launch process.

The Donnelly Solution
Working closely with Graco's product engineers, Donnelly quickly designed and built the 18 tools needed to manufacture the Magnum sprayer. Because of the short lead-time from design to production, Graco did not have inventory space for the parts. Donnelly crafted a JIT plan to ensure an adequate and reliable flow of molded parts to Graco's production line.

The Results
Graco successfully met Home Depot's timeline for delivering the sprayers within six months. The Magnum paint sprayers were shipped to over 750 Home Depot stores. It remains a vibrant and growing product line.

Graco continues to utilize Donnelly's JIT program to save costs and reduce turnaround times. As the Magnum product line has grown, the Graco and Donnelly partnership has also expanded.

According to James Trobec, C.P.M., Senior Buyer at Graco, "When Home Depot gave the green light to the Magnum product line, Donnelly responded quickly. We continue to rely on Donnelly for their expertise in all facets of thermoplastic manufacturing."