Year of the Business Owner: ZAGO Manufacturing Co.

On Aug 8, 2023

Describe your business.

ZAGO Manufacturing Co. manufactures sustainable sealing fasteners, switch boots and crystal seals that protect and seal equipment in a variety of industries, such as military & aerospace, medical device, offshore wind, electric vehicles & batteries, electronics & enclosures, manufacturing and others. Our sealing fasteners are engineered with a 360-degree unbreakable seal that protects both equipment and our environment from being harmed by contaminants. My husband Harvey Rottenstrich, lead engineer, and I (Gail Friedberg Rottenstrich) started ZAGO in 1993 at the NJIT Enterprise Development Center small business incubator in Newark. Today, we own and operate a manufacturing facility in Newark, employ 34 people, and are a certified Women Business Enterprise (WBE).

What is your biggest challenge?

Planning for and balancing rapid growth in a volatile economy and turbulent world.

Describe your most recent successes.

We are celebrating 30 years in business, which is a big feat for a small manufacturer. Our longevity and continued growth are a testament to the long-term and budding relationships we have with our vendors, partners, customers, employees, community, government, business and trade organizations, and others.

What is your approach to maintaining your workforce?

We help our workforce achieve its professional and personal goals. Whether it’s going to vocational school, or earning a four-year college or master’s degree, we pay 100% tuition and offer flexibility to accommodate class schedules. When our associates see their colleagues’ earning degrees, acquiring new skills and advancing, they want to advance their careers, too.

How do you maintain a positive business cash flow?

We find the right balance between extending credit and managing receivables, controlling material and labor costs, and finding the right pricing for our products so as to provide the best value for our customers while maintaining viable margins. 

About the Business

Location: Newark, NJ | Established: 1993 | Founders: Gail Friedberg Rottenstrich and Harvey Rottenstrich | 973-643-6700 | [email protected]

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