2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Dexstar Wheel, the North American steel rim and wheel manufacturer for Kenda. Dexstar serves some of the largest original equipment manufacturers and distributors in the trailer and RV industries.
For the last half-century, Elkhart, Ind.-based Dexstar has been committed to “doing the right thing the first time”–a philosophy of continuous improvement delivered by quality people to exceed customers’ expectations, according to the company.
“We are proud to celebrate this significant milestone in Dexstar’s history. For 50 years the company has been known as a premier provider of high-quality wheels, focused on developing products that are geared to industry trends and meet the future needs of their consumers,” said Jeff Pizzola, COO, American Kenda Industrial Rubber. “Dexstar’s dedicated and expert team is the cornerstone of the company’s success, delivering excellence, quality and reliability to customers.”
As part of this milestone celebration, the company has recently unveiled a new logo and website that is easy to navigate and provides comprehensive information about Dexstar’s products. The website will continue to evolve, with the second phase of updates planned for later this year. Some of these later enhancements will include access to a new catalog, career opportunities and video highlights of the company’s first 50 years.
“As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, we must be anticipating the next 50 years. We are continually expanding our resources, refining our services, and evolving to ensure we have the foundation to continually anticipate shifts in the market, technology advancements, and customer preferences,” added Bill Blumka, General Manager, Dexstar Wheel.
Expansion plans
Last October, Dexstar was awarded up to $590,000 in tax credits by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation for an expansion project. This investment helps Dexstar further its commitment to the Elkhart community, Dexstar’s employees and the many customers the company serves, the company noted.
The company has pledged to hire up to 60 new full-time employees in addition to the company’s current employees. This expansion is anticipated to be fully in place by 2023.
In addition, investment in technology and automation has helped increase production output and ensures tighter quality controls throughout the manufacturing process. With its automation and robotics strengths, the company offers customers a wide range and variety of steel wheel designs and configurations, such as 12” to 16.5” wheels, in many popular styles like Mod, Spoke and Directional wheels, Dexstar added.
As Dexstar continues to expand its efficiency and enhancements to its production flow, the company now has the ability to tackle inventory and finished goods as well as product specialization. By leveraging state-of-the-art systems like powder and e-coating, pad printing, and fully automated wheel welders, Dexstar is able to better meet customer needs.