In May, we wrote that Keystone quality starts with the bristle. It’s the part of the broom that actually touches the road, and it’s where over 80 years of manufacturing shows up most.
That bristle now has a name: Keystone ProFlex poly bristle.
Here’s why we named it, and what the name tells you about the broom on your sweeper.
“Poly” Isn’t a Spec
Put two replacement brooms side by side, and they can look nearly identical. Same color, same trim length, same “poly” on the label. The difference is inside the filament: how it’s formulated, how consistent the diameter is, how it flexes, and how well it recovers. These differences are more difficult to see on the shelves.
That can be a problem for people buying brooms. If every poly bristle is just “poly,” there’s no way to ask for the one that lasts. Bids get written to the lowest common denominator, and you don’t find out what you bought until it’s on the street.
We gave our bristle a name so you can ask for it. Keystone ProFlex poly bristle is something you can put on a purchase order, write into a bid spec, or ask your distributor about by name. When you see it, you know what you’re getting.
What’s Behind the Name: We Make It Ourselves
Many brush manufacturers buy their bristle from a third-party supplier. We extrude ours, right here in the USA.
Controlling extrusion means we control what matters, from raw material selection on through:
- Custom formulation for the right balance of strength and flexibility
- Engineered shape to optimize surface contact
- Precision crimping to improve flicking action and recovery
- Consistent diameter from strand to strand and broom to broom
The ProFlex name is our commitment that every broom carrying it was built on bristle we engineered for street sweeping, not bought off a spec sheet.
What ProFlex Does on the Road
The name says what the bristle does: it flexes, and it comes back. That comes down to three things.
Flex and recover. Sweeping works because the bristle bends to engage debris, then snaps back to keep sweeping force on the surface. We call that flicking action, and it’s what actually moves material off the road. ProFlex keeps that action strong pass after pass, so the job gets done faster.
Wear and durability. ProFlex holds its structure under constant abrasion from pavement, debris, and changing conditions. It’s also resistant to most solvents, oils, chemicals, acids, and bases. That means longer broom life and fewer changeovers.
Consistent performance over time. Lower-quality bristle loses stiffness and stops sweeping well long before it’s worn down. ProFlex holds its shape and its memory, so the last pass sweeps like the first.
Why It Matters to Your Operation
The price of a broom is only the start. Every changeover takes a sweeper off the street, and every extra pass costs time and fuel. A bristle that lasts longer and sweeps cleaner lowers your cost per job.
- For OEM equipment builders, bristle performance is part of your equipment’s reputation.
- For contractors, it’s productivity and margin on every job.
- For municipalities, it’s cleaner streets and fewer brooms on the budget.
Ask for It by Name
Next time you order, look for Keystone ProFlex Poly Bristle, or ask your distributor for it by name.
Learn more in our three-part video series: