News/Press Releases
View our recent news and press releases highlighting our achievements and advancements in the coatings industry. We have completed projects relating to fuel cell coatings and thermal barrier coatings for corporate clients and unique challenges.
- DECC Co. has been selected for the 2008 Best of Grand Rapids Award in the Metal Finishers category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) (PDF)
- DECC Co. has been recognized by Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of their Top 50 Automotive Related Manufacturers!
- DECC Co. voted Best in Class by Caterpillar.
- DECC Co. breaks ground with John Deere.
- DECC Co. running trials for heat resistant/heat deflective coatings.
- Fuel Cells are the wave of the future. Fuel cell coatings by DECC.
- Survival of the Innovative (PDF)
- Find out how DECC Company is keeping employees fit and controlling Health Care costs, 5/01/06.
- On DECC G.R. manufacturer dons a coat of innovation. Western Michigan Business Review, 7/26/07. (PDF)
- DECC Company becomes one of the fastest growing private companies per the Inc.com 5000 list., 8/20/07. (PDF)
- DECC Company does it again! Second year in a row, the only coating applicator to be listed on the INC. 5000 for 2008 (PDF)
- DECC Company receives honors from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation as one of 147 Michigan companies on the Inc.com 5000 list, 9/24/07. (PDF)
Click here to find out more about our environmental impact.
Just 6 years ago, DECC Company’s product mix was over 90 percent Automotive, but in these ever changing times we have spent a great deal of effort diversifying our company and our product mix in an effort to sustain our company for the decades to come. “There will always be automotive manufacturing, just reduced volumes and players” says DECC’s Sales Manager Victor Stacey. “You need to find the right mix of business for your company so that a glitch in the manufacturing world doesn’t spell the end of your income stream”.
In 2008, with a little less than 40 percent of our business mix remaining in the Automotive realm, DECC was recognized by Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of their Top 50 Automotive Related Manufacturers.
During a nationwide search (based on capabilities and systems), several coating applicators were researched and visited by a team of engineers from Caterpillar. DECC was the coating applicator selected for developing a new process needed to solve a current design issue, for the upcoming product launch.
DECC’s on-site Engineering staff worked hand in hand with Caterpillar and Holley’s engineering teams to fast track and implement a solution to a corrosive byproduct of the new EPA regulations for On Road diesel engines.
This fast paced challenge saw a room at DECC converted to handle visiting engineers, allowing them to stay in touch with their plants via wireless access and on line meetings during all the stages of the development process.
DECC use of Continuous Improvement methods, allow us to work closely with Caterpillar to improve the coating process, and even find and implement a better coating option.
DECC was able to switch to a new interim coating process with this new coating option in a 2 month time frame.
DECC specified and purchased a highly automated coating application line for the CGI project to continue the improvement process (5 months from spec to launch).
Through rigorous testing performed at CAT the coating has proved to perform better than any metals tested including 300 series stainless and titanium. The success of the coating has allowed much more economical materials to be used in building the CGI components (aluminum), resulting in cost savings for Caterpillar (Estimated to be $10,000,000 over the 3 year production period).
DECC uses Continuous Improvement methods to meet customer objectives on quality and cost reductions.
DECC has an on-site R&D team that can take a project from the first customer meeting to successful launch in the shortest time frame possible.
It is these traits that helped DECC to be selected as Best in Class by Caterpillar.
As our engineering efforts (programs, procedures, quality, and production) continue to grow, other major manufactures are starting to take notice, and challenging DECC to help solve their production issues.
DECC’s Engineering and R&D staff where able to step up to the challenge thrown our way by John Deere, regarding a unique corrosion issue. This is the first opportunity that we have had from John Deere, and we were going to do whatever it took to make this program successful.
There was a field failure on a current program, due to a supplier’s negligence, and John Deere wanted to restore customer confidence. This fast paced challenge not only allowed a new opportunity to one of John Deere’s suppliers; it also allowed DECC a chance to break ground with a major target account. We understood the sense of urgency to solve the issue and to get quality parts into production, so DECC pulled out all the stops and had the problem solved, and production parts ready in one week’s time frame.
Once again, DECC’s on-site Engineering and R&D team were able to take a project from the first customer meeting to successful launch in the shortest time frame possible.
DECC Co. begins trials to resolve these issues.
DECC has begun developing a new process needed to solve current and future design issues, caused by high temperature environments common in such industries as diesel engines.
DECC’s engineering and R&D teams are fast tracking test in an effort to implement a thermal barrier coatings solution to high heat applications with thermal barrier coatings for environments up to 2000°F. We are also experimenting with temperature reductive coatings that can reduce surface temperatures by as much as 50% depending on part geometry and application.
DECC Co. has been working with alternative energy manufacturers to try to resolve issues that are part of the process of generating and regenerating electricity.
DECC has been asked to help develop fuel cell coatings that will help protect materials from the corrosive byproducts of this environment as well as the high temperatures generated during this process.
Presently DECC is working with two types of fuel cell coatings systems, hydrogen and methanol with much success shielding the base materials from corrosion and heat, allowing extended life of the units.
DECC would be happy to work with your team to help develop a coating application that is right for your challenge. Contact us about our achievements with fuel cell coatings, thermal barrier coatings and other specialized coatings.