GRAND HAVEN (AP) -- Local marketer Orville Crain took one look at the Klever Kutter and "went nuts," inventor Jeff Kempker said. When Crain showed Kempker's revolutionary new box cutter to Matt Jacobs, founder of Advanced Molding Solutions, Jacobs offered to plunk down $20,000 of his own money to put it into production. Kempker's design for a safer box cutter is generating more than passing interest in the post-September 11 world. The finished product is a small razor blade embedded in a fiberglass-filled nylon handle with advanced additives. It's practically impossible to cut yourself, or anyone else, with Kempker's disposable Klever Kutter. "Everyone wants to invest in it," he said. "I think it's going to be huge." The Klever Kutter has piqued the interest of a number of national chains, Crain said. Crain said he is talking to representatives from Lowe's, The Home Depot, Meijer, D&W Food Centers and U-Haul and that all five companies are "very interested" in the Klever Kutter. Crain said Meijer is planning a month-long test of the tool at two of its West Michigan stores with the highest rate of box cutter injuries. Glen Milner, President of Sassy Sam's Inc., a distribution company based in Montreal, Canada, wants the exclusive Canadian rights to the Klever Kutter. "It's a product which should fly off the shelves," Milner said. "It should do well in the big-box stores." Milner said he has a Canadian chain with 350 stores interested in the tool. Milner said the Klever Kutter is more durable than cheaper box cutters and just as effective as more expensive models. "It's something these days to get a product that's cheap and quality is there," Milner said. Crain figures the wholesale cost per unit at $2 or less. The three local men may have realized every backyard tinkerer's dream and built a better mousetrap. "We believe this could replace many of the open-blade box cutters in the whole United States," Crain said. Kempker's design is breathtakingly simple and dirt cheap to manufacture. The Klever Kutter is safe, easy to use and opens most packages without damaging the contents, said Crain, singing its praises. It's bad news for savvy shoppers used to cut-rate prices on merchandise damaged by traditional box cutters. The Klever Kutter could turn into a classic American success story for all three men: the little guy strikes it rich after years of hard work. Jacobs said the trio's investment so far is in the neighborhood of $25,000. The partners are awaiting delivery of new production equipment and said their two dozen employees could churn out up to 10,000 Klever Kutters a day to satisfy the expected flood of orders. Crain is shepherding the trio's patent application through the approval process. Despite hitting dead ends with earlier inventions, the three men believe they've hit the jackpot this time around. SOURCE: This article originally appeared in the Health section of the Detroit News online at http://www.detnews.com/2005/health/0507/31/B06-261396.htm - 07/28/05
But has since been removed from the site.
Credits: Cory Morse / Associated Press | 
