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the latest technology, including temperature control, which some of our older sites lack.
“ We completed our East building at the Broadway campus in 2024, and in that facility, we installed a vertical powder coating line from SAT in Italy. While we already have four other horizontal powder coating lines; this line allows us to hang products vertically, which is ideal for our long running boards and side steps that now extend wheel well to wheel well on trucks and SUVs. This new technology improves efficiency, increases capacity, and enhances the quality of our powder coating.“ With our Dee Zee 2027 plan and the consolidation of some of our buildings and campuses, we have a lot going on,” Kelli adds,“ including relocating equipment, finishing the last Broadway West building, and aligning our work centers. This improvement will continue throughout the next year as we explore how AI can help us become more efficient and identify opportunities for improvement.
“ We’ ve always used robotic welding, laser cutting, and buffing, and we’ re looking to expand what we can do robotically. Looking ahead five years, I hope to see Dee Zee operating efficiently within our two main campuses, continuing to grow in automotive OEM and aftermarket, while exploring opportunities in other industries. I want us to remain a large employer in the Des Moines area and continue making a positive impact on our community,” she concludes.
“ Another key priority of mine is promoting manufacturing as a career for women. Manufacturing isn’ t always seen as glamorous or a field women pursue, but we have everything from entry-level positions to professional engineers, and bringing women into the workforce adds fresh perspectives. That’ s something I’ m passionate about continuing to promote.” ■
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