Dillmeier Glass Going Strong

Van Buren Business

March 26, 2011

David Dillmeier Dillmeier Glass Co. is in a hiring mode thanks to a recent business and plant expansion that promises major national sales gains, the company's president confirmed this week.

David Dillmeier, who co-owns the Van Buren glass factory with his father, said the company already has doubled its staff of around 50 by adding 50 temporary workers to meet demand for its new product line - modular glass walls for office buildings.

"We hire everyone as a temporary," said Dillmeier, who was in the area on a monthly visit from his corporate and sales office in New York.

New employees earn a wage in the range of $10 per hour, and no particular training or experience is necessary.

"We're looking for people ... who are serious, alert and receptive to learning. We cross-train our employees on all machines, so we can keep about 40 machines running at all times," he said.

Even though everyone starts as a temp, Dillmeier said many employees have long tenure, including his plant manager and several others who have 30 years or more with the company.

"When Dillmeier Glass has a good year, it is felt across the board. Even temporary employees get a bonus. ... Our philosophy is that we want to hire the right people, and we will find the right position for them," Dillmeier said.

He said the plant has been running three shifts, seven days a week, but will probably soon cut back to two shifts as an early spring demand eases toward the summer - but he stressed, he does not like to let go of people.

The glassmaking business dates to 1933, when it originated in Fort Smith. The Dillmeier family has had sales ties to the business since the 1960s.

Dillmeier's father, a salesman out of New York, had been using the facility at 2617 Midland Blvd. as his main glass supplier and decided to buy the manufacturing end of the business in 1980. He named it Dillmeier Enterprises.

Despite a plant expansion in 1990, the company outgrew its 70,000-square-foot space by 2006 and moved its fabricating operation to 2903 Industrial Park Road in Van Buren. The Fort Smith facility serves as an assembly plant now.

Dillmeier said the company enjoyed record years in 2007 and was well-financed during a "down" 2009, then - largely because of a rainy-day saving habit - made hay in 2010.

"We like to keep money in the company, so in tough times we don't have to rely on outside sources who might pull a line of credit or otherwise force our hand," Dillmeier said.

As business picked up in 2010, the company went on an aggressive buying spree, acquiring distressed assets of 15 to 20 competing glassmakers that lost their lines of credit and went into bankruptcy or receivership during the national economic downturn.

Dillmeier said over the past 18 months, his company has purchased late-model used equipment at drastically reduced prices - sometimes 15 cents on the dollar.

Ultimately, Dillmeier Glass acquired equipment that had a face value of $2 million, but it spent only $500,000 to purchase and relocate it.

"It has enabled us to become more efficient, to run better products ... and to add a second tempering line with what would ordinarily be a very expensive new oven," Dillmeier said.

The new equipment led to the doubling of Dillmeier Glass Co.'s floor staff, an expansion of the Van Buren plant to 125,000 square feet, a new product line and a new customer base.

View Original Publication
by Wanda Freeman
Posted in Business on Saturday, March 26, 2011 9:00 am. Updated: 10:46 am.