Sellars

About Sellars

Sellars Absorbent Materials is a Milwaukee-based manufacturer specializing in shop towels, disposable wipers, and sorbents produced from recycled fibers. Founded in 1985 by John Sellars in his garage, the company began with the goal of creating a superior absorbent product to replace messy traditional materials used for oil and fluid clean-ups. The first product was the Hardliner Mat, followed by the Super Soaker Sock.

The family-run business grew with John's brother, Bill Sellars, joining in 1986 to lead technology and manufacturing, his sister, Kathy Huntsinger, joining to head Human Resources in 2002, and his brother, Tom Sellars, becoming CEO in 1999. Tom brought experience from his career as a managing director at Piper Jaffray to help expand the company. The company holds numerous U.S. and international patents for its product innovations. John Sellars retired from his daily role in 2023 but remains on the board of directors.

The company's business model is centered on sustainable manufacturing, using proprietary technology to reprocess post-consumer waste like cardboard and office paper into high-performance products. Sellars is one of only two manufacturers in the world with Double Re-Creped (DRC) technology, which it uses to create its sustainable product lines. Its products, including the TOOLBOX® and Mayfair® brands, are sold through major retailers like Home Depot, Lowes, and Walmart, as well as industrial, safety, and janitorial distributors across North America and Europe. The company serves the industrial, automotive, and janitorial sectors, among others. Its offerings include wipers, spill kits, sorbent pads, paper towels, and other cleaning solutions designed for both professional and consumer use.