Dienamic Tooling Systems Named 2010 Roane Industry of the Year
Wednesday May 05, 2010
Harriman, TN -- The Roane County Industrial Development Board has named tool-and-die-maker Dienamic Tooling Systems (DTS) as the Industry of the Year for Roane County for 2010. The award was announced at the Board's Annual Industry Appreciation Breakfast on Wednesday, May 5 at Roane State Community College in Harriman.
A home-grown tool-and-die-making operation, DTS has been in operation for 12 years, having begun its operations in leased space in the old K-25 plant in the Oak Ridge part of Roane County. It is now a multi-million dollar operation at Roane Regional Business and Technology Park.
According to Leslie Henderson, President/CEO of The Roane Alliance, who announced the award at the breakfast:
DTS was started in May, 1997 by Mike Walker, who learned his trade working for a manufacturing plant in a neighboring county. Walker went into business with only three employees and a very small customer base. By the end of that first year, though, Walker had built that business up to 30 employees. After joining up with a larger group of companies headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dienamic Tooling Systems, Inc. (DTS) became the only southern operation of that larger group, which then had an estimated total annual sales of $45 million and a customer base that was 85% automotive.
In 2005, Walker built and moved into a brand new facility at Roane County's newest industrial park, Roane Regional Business and Technology Park, when the process of demolishing the old K-25 building began in earnest. DTS's present facility houses one of the largest presses in the Southeast, runs three shifts, and employs more than 50 people. The company also operates a full apprenticeship program, recruiting from area schools and Roane State.
As a manufacturer of sheet metal stamping dies for the automotive, appliance, furniture and farm equipment industries, DTS also aggressively sought out new business and most recently, landed six contracts with companies who will be major suppliers of the new VW operation in Chattanooga. Over the past ten years - despite the recent hard times - only two employees have been laid off and those were only temporary.
"We are pleased to honor Dienamic Tooling Systems today," Roane Industrial Board Chairman David Webb said during the well-attended annual industry appreciation event. "We appreciate Mike's commitment to our county to grow his business here and to be such a good employer. We hope that DTS will continue to grow and become even more successful in the coming years."
Also honored at the appreciation event were Drs Sam and Carol Weaver for their beautification efforts in restoring the Old Smith House at Roane Regional for the corporate headquarters for their several business ventures.
Henderson said in announcing the award that the Weavers were honored for "the investment they have made in our community, as well as the respect they have shown for our history as they lovingly restored this truly beautiful and unique structure."
The annual beautification awards were implemented five years ago by the Roane County Industrial Board in an effort to recognize those businesses that "go above and beyond" to exhibit a clean, aesthetically-pleasing appearance, Henderson said as she announced the award.
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