Anderson Manufacturing, a family-owned specialty fastener business for nearly 40 years, is launching a new chapter with its July 17, 2017, acquisition by the principals of Big Shoulders Capital.

David Muslin and Todd DiBenedetto, principals of Northbrook, IL-based Big Shoulders Capital, acquired Anderson and reorganized the management team to position the company for strong growth in the specialty and complex cold-formed fastener business. 

As an initial step in saving 50 company jobs, they have brought back Tim Cash as the new president. Cash had been with Anderson for 20 years.

“We intend to reinvigorate the business, beginning with additions to our engineering department and then building every area of expertise,” said Cash. “Our business is very specialized and requires an expertise that is not common among mass producers of fasteners.”

“We have highly skilled and experienced team members who allow us to create solutions where others simply can’t. Our plan is to leverage and grow that expertise.”

Anderson Manufacturing plans to grow organically by entering new markets and by making strategic acquisitions.

“We saw this as an opportunity to invest in a company with a demonstrated track record of success and a high ceiling for the future,” Big Shoulders principal Muslin said. “Anderson had a tough year following a failed roll-up strategy by a private equity group. The company was linked to Rockford Products, which has since gone out of business. Now, we intend to invest in Anderson Manufacturing and return it to its position as one of the leading specialty fastener manufacturers in the nation.”

Cash added, “Our customers and vendors will recognize a renewed sense of energy, commitment and vision as we launch this new chapter in our company history.”

Muslin began in the machinery and equipment auction business 40 years ago. According to BigShouldersCap.com, Muslin observed small and medium-size manufacturers and found situations to buy a business’s loans from a bank or lending money with his company capital. The global financial crisis beginning with the 2008 recession created tight credit for small businesses.

In 2012, Muslin created a non-bank lending business plan for small and medium-sized business. He hired DiBenedetto, who had manufacturing plus deal structuring experience, and they opened Revere Finance. In 2014 the company name was changed to Big Shoulders Capital.

Big Capital loans based on commercial and industrial assets and buys or leases back machinery. Web: BigShouldersCap.com

Founded in 1976 by Roy Anderson in a 19×19-foot garage, Anderson Manufacturing has grown to a 52,000-sq-ft facility in Wisconsin. In 1992 Roy Anderson was nominated for the National Small Business Administration’s Award for Excellence as a small business subcontractor.

Anderson Manufacturing products include complex cold formed terminals, pins, semi-tubular rivets, shoulder rivets, screws, contacts, threaded forming screws, self-tapping screws, clinch studs and anti-cross threaded product for automotive, medical, electronics, appliances, hardware and housewares and other industries.

Anderson Manufacturing provides secondary operations including thread rolling, tapping, grinding, sorting and packaging, and value-added services such as cost reduction and manufacture ability reviews.

Anderson is located at 1800 86th St., Bristol, WI 53104. Tel: 262 857-7056 Email: sales@andersonmfg.com Web: AndersonMfg.com