Powering Progress: The Expansion of an American-Made Industrial Shredder Team

I am proud to say that I work for a second-generation, family-owned manufacturing business. Cresswood Shredding Machinery, an American made industrial shredder and grinder company, was founded back in 1963, and over the past 60 years has earned a rock-solid reputation for manufacturing the world’s most reliable and robust single-shaft industrial grinders for wood, pallet, paper, and plastic industries. Yet despite this incredible history of accomplishments, we know that Cresswood must constantly evolve and improve in order to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers.

One of the most critical aspects of maintaining the core identity of the business over time is bringing in bright new talent in key areas. Succession planning is absolutely essential in order to continue our upward growth trajectory and meet the ever-increasing demands for greater quality, efficiency, innovation, and service.

I am extraordinarily proud of and honored to work alongside the core group of longstanding team members in our organization. Yet today I am also excited and inspired by the positive contributions of our new team members. I feel confident that our future is bright and in great hands. To me, this means our customers can be assured there will be no letdown in the level of service and quality they’ve come to expect from Cresswood over the decades. In fact, I see evidence that we are positioning ourselves to exceed these expectations and raise the bar even higher!

Ryan Butzman
President, Cresswood

Celebrating the Growth of the Cresswood Team

We’re thrilled to announce the newest additions to our world class industrial grinders and shredders manufacturing team, each bringing a unique set of skills and experiences that further enrich our collective expertise. As we continue to evolve and excel in the dynamic landscape of industrial production, these new team members inject fresh energy and perspective into our operations. Their arrival not only strengthens our workforce but also reaffirms our commitment to delivering high-quality products. We believe that their dedication and innovation will undoubtedly contribute to our ongoing success, driving us to new heights as we navigate the exciting challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Please join us in warmly welcoming them aboard as we forge ahead together in shaping the future of our manufacturing endeavors.

Sales Team

Aaron Hansen, New Territory Application Sales Manager

Aaron Hansen joins Cresswood with 25+ years of experience working in the manufacturing sector, spending the past 16 years with two prominent gear motor manufacturers. He’s held roles in engineering, operations, marketing and sales. This broad exposure across business functions imparted a keen eye and a passion for process and operational excellence in a manufacturing organization, making him a substantial asset to our American made industrial shredder and grinder sales team.

Aaron was born and raised in Southern California. At age 8 his career began in his dad’s auto parts store, then later in the automotive aftermarket, working for some exciting performance product manufacturers such as N.O.S., So-Cal Speed Shop, and Edelbrock.

Aaron earned his Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, followed a few years later by his MBA, both from Northern Illinois University (Go Huskies!). Aaron is blessed with a beautiful family, his wife Katie, and their two spirited daughters, Charlie (6) and Abby (4). He and Katie love to travel in the name of food, they love cooking together, supporting their local community’s food purveyors, and keeping active with their two girls with bike rides, gymnastics, and frequent trips to the pool.

Field Service Team

There is perhaps no other department in our organization that our customers appreciate more than our Cresswood service team. They provide training and start-ups on new systems and are there to stand behind that equipment with parts, tooling, and gold-standard service.

Tony Morales comes from a background of providing customized services to trucks used in heavy industry. He enjoys working with customers, getting to know exactly what they want, and then executing that vision. This involved one-on-one interaction with the clients, as well as pneumatic, hydraulic, electronic, and mechanical changes to the vehicles. All of these experiences are critical skills as a Cresswood service technician, and Tony has progressed rapidly toward independence.

Neil Ip worked for many years as a contract welder/fabricator supporting a variety of industries in the field. He traveled to the job site and had to fulfill the mission he was given, sometimes with little or no support. Problem-solving is something that comes naturally to Neil, and he brings that value to the table as the newest addition to the field service team.

Both of these guys have job experience that matches up with the requirements of the position including mastery of welding, mechanical aptitude, and working directly with customers in a service setting.

Fabrication Team

Just about everything we make is fabricated from the ground floor with raw materials. We are proud to say that Cresswood products are Made in the USA, and it all starts with having the skills and equipment to fabricate our machines right here in Cortland, Illinois. The Fabrication Team here at Cresswood puts together all of the grinder frames, cutterheads, hoppers, and conveyors, and welding is obviously the core skill needed for success as a fabricator.

Conner O’ Donnell
Connor is very enthusiastic and excited to begin his career in metal fabrication. He worked at a large distribution center nearby where he drove a forklift all day, and he wanted a job where he could follow his passion for welding and use his training and education from Kishwaukee CC. Conner earned both basic and advanced welding certifications from Kishwaukee Community College in Malta, IL. He was referred to me by Zachary Cachia, the program instructor.

Jarod Swanson
Jarod is the newest member of the Fabrication team and has an extensive work history in welding/fabrication. He was referred to us by a current employee and has been putting his incredible fabrication skills on display since day one.

Jarod is seen here fabricating a screen assembly. The screen on a grinder is a critical part of the system. It controls the particle geometry out of the grinder and ensures that it meets the customer’s strict specifications. Screens are also a commonly ordered service part, and like cutting teeth, need to be replaced on regular cycles as a wear item. Getting these screens out to the customers in a timely manner is one way that Cresswood shines and shows our commitment to customer satisfaction. Jared has really made a big impact from the first day he started, and we are blessed to have him join the team.

Cresswood Shredding Machinery is committed to recycling for a better world and continuous improvement. This means continuing to build and grow our team to ensure success for our customers as well as giving back to our community. If you are looking for American made industrial grinders and shredders built to last or you are looking to work for a family-owned business that lives out its core values, contact us today.