10 Waterview Drive
Shelton, CT 06484
203-693-8226
info@mdiwipers.com
www.mdiwipers.com


Mercantile Development, Inc. (MDI) is a third-generation, family-owned and operated manufacturer of professional-grade industrial wiping products. Founded in 1947, the company’s early activities centered on the export of industrial chemical intermediates. In the 1970’s, MDI turned its focus to the developing field of nonwoven wipers. Two decades later, with an established base of domestic and international customers, MDI constructed a state-of-the-art production facility and corporate headquarters in Shelton, CT. Today the third generation is building on this heritage with continued reinvestment in the latest technologies to ensure a sustainable business for the future.

Leading-edge systems and equipment are the backbone of MDI’s ultra-efficient operation. Modern, high-speed converting lines designed for changeover flexibility enable production of always-in-stock items while seamlessly accommodating custom runs, accurate order fulfillment and industry-leading turnaround. “Our strategy is simple: maintain the core infrastructure, continually acquire state-of-the-art equipment, adhere to exceptional quality and safety programs, hire and nurture top-level talent, maintain strong financial positioning and deliver the best customer service in the business,” states Lucia Furman, president.

Known as “The Wiper Specialists,” MDI markets a wide variety of nonwoven materials in its proprietary Pro-Series brand wipers that are sold worldwide. Its best-selling Pristine line is used in a wide variety of clean manufacturing environments to keep work processes free from impurities. In addition to stocked Pro-Series brand wipers, MDI can provide tailored solutions for most wiping scenarios thanks to a range of in-house converting capabilities including slitting, creping, perforating/rewinding, sheeting, saturating, interfolding, folding and on-line printing.

The product development team at MDI prides itself on continually innovating to meet changing market demands by partnering with mills to engineer substrates in a complete range of performance levels and then designing products to accomplish specific tasks with increased efficiency and minimal waste at the lowest cost-in-use. As with many industries, online commerce is having a disruptive effect on the traditional distribution model for industrial wipes. However, the leadership at MDI believes overall demand for their specialty products and services will continue to grow and the company is making investments in resources and development to position for advancement in that area.

“In such a traditional category, it’s exciting to introduce innovative solutions that deliver value to our customers,” says Furman. “We are committed to continuous improvement and always looking for a way to do it differently, to do it better. For example, our new capability to print inner packages on-line allows for unit-level inventory control and custom branding opportunities.”
Other recent investments in packaging lines have allowed MDI to replace corrugated boxes with recyclable shrink-wrap bundles across several product lines, drastically reducing waste and conserving resources.

In keeping with its commitment to total customer satisfaction, MDI’s Quality Management System is ISO 9001:2015 certified for the design, manufacture and sale of nonwoven wiping products – one of the first in the industry. “MDI was founded on a dedication to operational excellence so pursuing the latest ISO certification was a simple decision,” continues Furman. “We are also pleased that our status as a WBENC-certified Women’s Business Enterprise helps MDI’s customers deliver on their commitment to a diverse supply chain.”