Zenith Cutter

Founded by Richard Blazer, Zenith Cutter was established in Loves Park, Illinois, in 1923, as a manufacturer and distributor of cutters for the woodworking industry.  In 1953, Zenith Cutter began expanding its product lines and entered the corrugated industry.  Throughout the next 20 years, we continued to grow by entering new markets and gaining new customers.  In 1985, we started manufacturing blades for plastic granulators. That entry into the plastic industry soon led us to produce a variety of other products, including blocks and screens, and it was our first step into manufacturing recycling products. We built on that momentum and entered the tire recycling industry in 1994 with our tough shredding knives. Then, in 1995, we entered the tree care market with wood chipper knives.  As Zenith Cutter continued to look for new ways to expand, we acquired the Vietnam manufacturing operations of Great Knives LTD in 1997.  The following year Zenith Cutter began manufacturing shingle knives for the roofing industry. In 2005, we opened a new 135,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  After spending decades growing and expanding, Zenith Cutter was acquired by the Fisher Barton Group in 2011.  By joining with a larger corporation, we were instantly able to leverage many services and capabilities that Fisher Barton offered, including a state-of-the-art materials lab.  The Fisher Barton Group is now a group of world-class manufacturing companies that believes in ongoing investment in innovation, cost-effective manufacturing, longer-lasting products and outstanding customer service.