About Us

 The Portaband Pro portable band saw jig was originally invented and designed by Jeff Ruggeri, an inventor and handyman in southern California, around 2013.  He had a need to have a portable saw that could make repeatable cuts to take to job sites where he did repair jobs, fencing, gates and other projects. When onsite Jeff was frequently asked where he got the jig and friends and customers started to ask him to build them one like it.  Out of this need was born the product which started out as the EZ-Cut Jig and is now Portaband Pro as we know it.

 

Jeff and his wife Jacqueline worked tirelessly together out of their home and garage to assemble, promote and ship the product while relying on local manufacturers to build components.  They attended trade shows such as the SEMA show and went to events like King of the Hammers where they won product design awards and received validation that people love the product and how it helps them.  During the pandemic in 2020, after years of fighting the daily challenges of manufacturing, supply chain, distribution, marketing and business ownership, Jeff and Jacqui decided to sell the product line to their largest customer Van Sant Distributing of Pella, IA.  Van Sant was having good success with the tool through their popular metal fabrication website Trick-Tools.com and decided to take on the challenge of manufacturing, increasing volumes in order to keep prices down, and selling through new channels and dealers.

 

Portaband Pro continues to be a product line proudly made in the USA and is continuously improved and developed by Van Sant Distributing, Inc., a U.S. Woman-Owned Certified Small Business located in Pella, IA.