A Windsor-based mold-making and die-casting distribution company, established in 1971, has been bought by one of its original founding partners, returning it to local ownership for the first time in over 20 years.
Dave Belleperche, who founded DMS Components in 1971 with two partners, has purchased controlling interest in the company from Dihurst Holding Ltd. of Exmouth, U.K., its former parent company, which acquired DMS in 1986.
Belleperche, who retired from DMS three years ago, will be reunited with DMS president Frank Iatonna and Mike Hicks, the company's North American sales manager both of whom have been with DMS for abiout 30 years.
"It's good news whenever you can bring a company back to local ownership," said Iatonna. "This will mean decisions will be local nor corporate and it will allow us to react to market conditions rather in a more timely fashion."
Belleperche, who retained a minority share of DMS North America during his retirement, wasn't immediately available for comment.
Belleperche, who has 33 years of experience in the mold-making industry, was recently inducted into the Canadian Moldmakers Hall of Fame as a founding member and brings a wealth of experience back to DMS.
Belleperche's acqusiition of the remaining outstanding shares closed Monday and employees were informed of the acquisition this morning.
"We will retain our same customer base and look forward to Dave's more active role in the future of our company," said Iatonna, who joined DMS in 1979.
DMS distributes precision standardized components for use in the injection molding and die casting industries.
It has 11 employees in Windsor, seven in the U.S. and a network of a dozen commercial agents across North America.
DMS has a product range of over 12,000 items including mold bases, ejector pins, core pins, sleeve ejectors, blade ejectors, bushings, tapered interlocks and locating rings.