Untitled

Headquartered in the Canadian community
whole lot more. While that range of exper-
of Chatham-Kent, Dajcor is Ontario’s “one-
tise has helped spare customers from other-
and-only” company which exists as a single
wise excesses in cost, time and headache, it
source for excellence in aluminum extrusion,
has additionally helped Dajcor rise above
fabrication and anodizing services, all under
the fray of would-be competition and secure
one roof. And indeed, it’s a wide roof which
singular distinction as an emerging leader in
covers more than 190,000 square feet of op-
its industry. And no doubt, the significance
erations that accommodate everything from
of Dajcor’s success isn’t lost on anyone who
cutting, drilling and deburring to tapping,
works there, or anyone, for that matter, in its
tumbling, polishing and punching, plus a
community.
2 | Dajcor Aluminum
Failure is only a short-term condition, and fortunately, it often fosters more sustainable success. As Author Denis Waitley once observed, “Failure is only a temporary change in
direction to set you straight for your next success.” In the
case of one Ontario-based metal engineering operation, such
changes in direction have not only inspired an increased capability to compete, but also greater capacity for claiming
further future success.
Though Dajcor’s corporate identity
Daymond was heavily vested in supplying
was only established some three short years
a particular product line for an automotive
ago, operations at its site actually com-
manufacturer. As fate would have it, the
menced more than seventy years ago under
manufacturer ceased production of the vehi-
the auspices of a company formerly known
cle line and Daymond lost much of its busi-
as Daymond Aluminum. Daymond thrived
ness. As sales dwindled and bills mounted,
throughout many, if not most, of its years,
Daymond ultimately went into receivership
but late in life, failed to endure following
and more than a hundred workers prepared
operational follies which can be likened
to lose their jobs. The situation posed a grim
to putting too many eggs into one basket.
economic blow to the community.
Dajcor Aluminum | 3
Luckily, Chatham was also made home
Kilby arranged to meet with key former
by an entrepreneur named Mike Kilby. Some
management and labour teams to determine
years earlier, Kilby had established a com-
whether there was consensus that operations
pany that specialized in marketing services
could be effectively turned around to restore
for the energy industry. The success of that
the company to vitality. With assurances and
venture caught the attention of other en-
confidence of the respective teams, an agree-
terprises, and later, upon receiving an offer
ment was forged and business plan drafted.
deemed as too good to decline, Kilby sold
his company to a larger firm. While he may
stowed it with a name that pays homage to
not have planned to go into manufactur-
his other, more essential, interests outside of
ing at that point, Kilby heard the dismaying
business. A family man, Kilby is a father of
news of Daymond’s closing and learned that
three daughters respectively named Danielle,
a pending auction would see the facility and
Alyssa and Justine. Borrowing from the first
all its assets liquidated.
letter from each name, Dajcor Aluminum
4 | Dajcor Aluminum
As for the new company, Kilby be-
Carey Leasing Ltd. offers trucking and transportation services throughout Canada and the
United States, and is located in Blenheim, Ontario. Our website is designed to provide both
customers and potential drivers with all the information they need regarding our company
and the services that we offer.
www.careyleasingltd.com
Carey Leasing Ltd. has been in business since 1981
and is a fully authorized ICC carrier licensed to
operate in 48 states, Ontario and Quebec. We
presently have a fleet of late model logistic van
trailers, flat beds and drop-deck trailers to service
your needs. We service the automotive, food,
agriculture and general freight industries but are
always looking into new commodities to expand our
customer base. We can do Full Truck Load or LTL
Shipments with our main corridors being the
Midwest, Great Lakes states, US Eastern seaboard,
and the South-West U.S. as far west as Arizona.
Qualified technicians (Diesel and Propane Endorsed) can perform annual inspections,
safety inspections, repairs and service in our clean and spacious garage facilities.
“We are small enough to personally serve your transportation needs and big enough to get the job done”.
10 Graham Street, P.O Box 1259 Blenheim, Ontario N0P 1A0 | Phone: 519.676.0868 | Toll Free: 1.877.854.2723 | Fax: 519.676.2178
Dajcor Aluminum | 5
emerged as the new company. It opened with
distribution. Production started almost a
a small composite of office staff and only 20
month after Mr. Kilby and two shareholders
hourly workers.
purchased the company... and it was a little
TRANSITIONAL TRIUMPH
difficult at first because there wasn’t a ready
customer base,” explains Young. “We had
Dajcor Vice President of Sales and Marketing
been shut down for seven months and our
Todd Young (one of the former Daymond
challenge was how to recapture old clients
staff ) offers perspective on the corporate
and secure new accounts at the same time.”
transition. “We spent the first several weeks
planning our approach, making a business
two fundamental principles that proved to
plan and identifying markets we would tar-
dramatically affect the shape of things to
get. We determined we were going to target
come. Young says first and foremost was “re-
a diversified value added extrusion customer
newed focus on customer service.” To attract
base, targeting markets such as transporta-
and retain customers, Young says Dajcor cre-
tion, automotive, medical, construction and
ated what they call “a corporate manifesto on
6 | Dajcor Aluminum
The Dajcor strategy relied heavily on
customer service.” In the extrusion of alumi-
Young. Dajcor’s service efficiencies often led
num, metal may be malleable, but the man-
them to under promise, but over deliver. For
dates of the manifesto were unalterable. The
example, orders that needed to be fulfilled
directives called for unwavering attention to
within four weeks were often completed in
detail in understanding exactly what custom-
only two. And today, when the demands on
ers want, and need, when seeking solutions
their business are drastically different than
from Dajcor. Service guidelines also dictated
what existed when Kilby took over, Dajcor’s
absolute and consistent quality in produc-
delivery performance rates (just shy of 100
tion, and delivering on every assurance pro-
percent) are among the best of any industry
vided to a client, but not in a way that merely
in North America.
satisfies orders, no, Dajcor set out to exceed
expectations. “A lot of companies may say
ALL-IN-ONE ACCESS
they focus on customer service, but this is
Yet, to more fully account of Dajcor’s tran-
how we live and breathe here. Customer ser-
sition requires explanation of the second
vice is what propels everything we do,” says
principle in their strategy – diversification.
Dajcor Aluminum | 7
Intent to not repeat the mistakes of the for-
production machining projects. Dajcor’s
mer company, Dajcor sought new markets
fabrication services accommodate special
for their products. But to more effectively
tolerance specifications as well as the pleth-
penetrate new markets, company principals
ora of cutting, mitring, notching, piercing,
recognized they would also have to expand
forming, bending, mechanical assembly and
on their capabilities by offering valued-add-
welding of aluminum components.
ed services. As an ISO 9001-certified suppli-
er of aluminum extrusions, Dajcor produces
services, offering not only standard anodized
more than 30,000 custom aluminum profiles
aluminum finishes such as bright and satin
for various markets and applications today,
clear, gold, bronze, brown, and black, but
but the fact remains this is only a portion of
other popular custom finishes such as satin
the services performed by the company. Daj-
or brushed nickel, stainless steel, titanium,
cor’s composite of computer-controlled ma-
as well as electrolytic color anodizing (for
chining centers equip them with exceeding
lengths up to 28’) of antique bronze, copper
capability in an extensive range of precision
and polished brass. Dajcor also has mechani-
8 | Dajcor Aluminum
Dajcor is equally efficient in anodizing
Mike Kilby, President/Owner
cal finishing capabilities such as brushing
er has been able to reduce the lead time to 4
and polishing.
weeks from purchase order to delivery.
Young said by bringing this diversity
“An oft-quoted comment we hear
of services under one roof, Dajcor quickly
from prospective customers is that they can’t
gained distinction as unique in its indus-
believe how simple our ‘all under one roof ’
try. For clients, the ability to source such a
service makes their lives” states Young. More
range of services from one supplier connotes
and more customers are realizing the hidden
to huge savings in cost but also quicker turn
added costs in delays and quality issues as-
around on order fulfillment. In a recent case
sociated with using multiple contractors to
study involving an electronic packaging com-
produce their components, and see the value
pany, Young says the customer’s constant cy-
in our efficiency”. Dajcor’s speed of delivery,
cling of goods from extruder to the anodizer
along with its drive for quality in production
led to wait times of 13 to 14 weeks. In bring-
and customer service, all complemented by
ing that business to Dajcor now, the custom-
its expertise in a range of design and manuDajcor Aluminum | 9
facturing of engineered metal services, has ul-
Dajcor anticipates increased business in the
timately allowed the company to achieve di-
medical goods industry. Dajcor currently
versification in market penetration. Though
provides various fixture components, such
Dajcor has regained position as a supplier of
as the aluminum consoles that complement
parts vital to the automotive industry (par-
standard hospital beds. As they further pen-
ticularly roof racks), it additionally produces
etrate in that market, Young also says Da-
components essential in the marine industry
jcor is increasingly taking on more work in
and medical industry, as well as certain mili-
the marine industry for which they already
tary goods needed in the defense industry.
provide rails, track components and goods
to which other hardware is affixed, such as
While budget cuts in defense may
see some of their business slow, Young says
10 | Dajcor Aluminum
holding equipment.
The company will also invest in addi-
Success, of course, has a way of attract-
tions to its fabrication and machining capa-
ing more success. When Michael Kilby de-
bilities, as Young says, to further capture op-
termined to restore vitality to the company,
portunities in the market.
there were many prognostications that should
And while its customer base has grown,
he be successful, that business achievement
so too has Dajcor. Today, the company is em-
might one day help in attracting new busi-
ploying a little more than a hundred people
ness to the community of Chatham-Kent in
and is contributing to the overall economic
Ontario. Dajcor’s efforts to date have laid a
stability of the community in which it oper-
solid foundation for future success stories in
ates. In his perspective, Young describes Daj-
Chatham-Kent.
cor as a “feel-good story of success.”
Dajcor Aluminum | 11