multi wedge® a brand is born!
Origin
Robert Cameron, Owner and CEO of Multi Wedge®, worked at an oil tool company in 1999. He watched as workers struggled to pry expensive precision valves with a piece of nylon scrap. Metal tools caused scratches and dents leading to leaks. Robert thought there must be other uses. He had experienced the same problem when working on motorcycles. He realized the need for the right tool to be created. Inspired and willing to take a risk, Robert left his job and rented a corner of a friends machine shop.
The Prototype!
Robert made the first wedges from modeling wood to test the size, and look of the product he hoped to create.
Design & Build
After finalizing the design, Robert built the injection mold using a traditional Bridgeport Type Mill. Relying on his Tool & Die apprenticeship and a great deal of patience, Robert finally built the tool he had envisioned.
EDM Machining (Electrical Discharge Machining)
The Carbon Electrode burns (erodes) the wedge shape into the mold.
Year 2000 First Wedges
Finally the first set, Hot off the press!
Finding a Market
Robert brought the first sample wedges made to a Yamaha Motorcycle Dealer, hoping they could use them to tear down engines. A few weeks later, the mechanics informed Robert that they already used pullers and did not need the wedges. Devastated but believing in his vision, Robert looked for new opportunities to bring his wedges onto the market.
New Direction
One night at the shop, Robert noticed a worker prying a wooden picture frame from the glass. Seeing the delicate process, inspiration for a new market was realized. The next day, Robert dropped a box of wedges at a local woodshop. Two weeks later, the workers reported that they loved the wedges and used them for a variety of uses.
New Markets, Woodworking to Automotive
Robert began selling his product in woodworking catalogs. Soon after, new inspiration struck when the owner of a car installation shop noticed the wedges. Seeing the tools could be used to remove trims and moldings without causing damage, a new market emerged.
2004 National Hardware Show
Multi Wedge's first hardware tradeshow in Chicago!
Packaging Machine
As orders increased, Robert designed and built a packaging machine for production.
Packaging Machine In Production!
Multi Wedge in Production Today!
a family tradition
In 2000, Marearito (photo on left) tested one of the first runs of the product with 200 pieces. As years went by and demand increased, Marearito became the go-to assembler, packaging thousands of wedge sets. Later, her daughter, Yesenia, joined her mom at the workplace and the pair began packing the wedges together.
23 year long Manufacturing partnership!
During the early stages of production, Dino believed in the product too. Dino produced small runs even at a loss, until we made Multi Wedge a success!
a great success - 3.3 million single wedges made
