Bridon Cordage is the agricultural industry’s leading marketer and manufacturer of polypropylene baler twine. It is a name long-trusted and recognized by hay producers for its exceptional quality. Bridon Cordage produces twine for virtually every type of baling operation in the U.S., Canada and many foreign countries.
Baler twine is not the only product that Bridon Cordage manufactures. We also produce a wide variety of industrial products — including cement fillers and a full line of tying twines.
Since the advent of the mechanical baler, Bridon Cordage has been pioneering, developing and perfecting polypropylene twine. For more than 30 years in the United Kingdom, and since 1975 in the United States and Canada, Bridon Cordage has made what is considered the best twine available on the market. This commitment to excellence has earned it a reputation as the industry's leading manufacturer of polypropylene baler twine.
U.S. production of Bridon Cordage twine originally began in a new, modern manufacturing facility in Albert Lea, Minn. Since then, numerous capital improvements have been made in state-of-the-art equipment designed to enhance twine quality. Increased demand for Bridon Cordage twine necessitated construction of a second ultra-modern manufacturing plant in 1988 at Jerome, Idaho. Then in early 1997, a manufacturing facility was added in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in Canada.
One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the orange color of Bridon Cordage twine. It is the original orange twine. While many companies have copied its color, none have consistently matched the solid-state controlled manufacturing process that helps ensure the highest quality twine year after year. Bridon Cordage has expanded their product line-up to include other UV stabilized colors.
This excellence in product quality is tied directly to the company's emphasis on research and testing. In 1977, for example, Bridon Cordage identified a need for a superior baler twine that would outperform wire being used to bale large hay bales in the western United States. California producers were also using a competitive polypropylene twine (black in color), but the twine stretched, creating loose hay bales. After extensive research and development, Bridon Cordage became the first company to introduce a wire replacement twine that equaled wire in strength, and yet, cost less. The product was SR 240 and it is still the product of choice among hay producers in that market. Today, over 80% of the original wire market use polypropylene twine.
In recent years Bridon Cordage has adapted the use of polypropylene (the main ingredient in Bridon Cordage twine) to non-agricultural market opportunities. It’s now used for industrial applications such as cement fibers and tying twines.
So, when you do business with Bridon Cordage, you're buying far more than product. You’re buying the knowledge, resources and technical skills of a highly successful U.S. company. Bridon Cordage is so advanced, that they were the first twine manufacturer in the United States to earn ISO 9001 certification. This certification was received at the Albert Lea, Jerome and Saskatoon facilities. This means that all of the products you receive from Bridon Cordage undergo many tests to ensure that it is the highest quality and most consistent product on the market. Today, all three of Bridon’s facilities are ISO 9001:2000 certified.
To further enhance Bridon Cordage’s commitment to product excellence and distribution, Bridon Cordage is owned by Minnesota-based Universal Cooperatives, Inc., an inter-regional farm supply cooperative owned and operated by members throughout North America. Universal manufactures and distributes a wide variety of products mainly dedicated to the agricultural market. In addition to polypropylene manufactured by Bridon Cordage, Universal also distributes sisal twine, tires, lubricants, and animal health and feed products.
This venture allows Bridon Cordage to substantially increase production capabilities and to expand market reach both geographically and across a broader range of agricultural and non-agricultural products. Universal Cooperatives, Inc. also owns the only ISO 9001:2000 certified sisal mill in Brazil. With direct access to both sisal and polypropylene twine mills, Bridon Cordage is able to fulfill a wide range of customer needs.