Longtime Crookston manufacturer DEE, Inc. is not your typical foundry and machine shop. Since 1971, DEE has been serving a variety of industries, including automotive, agriculture, off-road, industrial and recreational. Their experienced staff and unique facility enable them to accurately manufacture products, help to improve customers’
margins, serve as a single source, contact and set of standards for products, and provide skilled designers to work with company engineers to satisfactory production.
Jim Ellinger started DEE in 1971 in his garage, and it’s been a longtime presence in Crookston’s Industrial Park, with two separate buildings home to the foundry and machine shop (96,000 square-feet.) The current workforce is around 120 and the company’s primary markets are the automotive/engine (56 %), industrial (21%), off-road/engine (16%) and recreational (7%). DEE is currently owned and run by three longtime employees: Nick Nicholas, Paul Cwikla, and Charles Henre.
DEE uses the latest technology to create small to large aluminum castings with a wide variety of complexity. Utilizing a shell core process, they are able to create internal passages and openings in the castings which can reduce machining and weight. They also offer CNC machining, robotic finishing and onsite heat treatment to eliminate the need to ship materials to another facility. They build their own hydraulic fixtures, special gauges and pressure testing fixtures in house, and also design and manufacture around 25% of their sand casting tools.
DEE recognizes the potential for a great idea in every employee, encouraging input from their team when it comes to problem-solving, and rewarding those that find solutions that can benefit their customers. A tour of DEE is scheduled for Wednesday, October 3 at 9:00 a.m. DEE currently utilizes Doherty Staffing Solutions as a partner in hiring, so interested applicants should contact Doherty for job opportunities and applications. However, a Doherty Staffing Solutions company representative will be also present to speak to potential applicants about current job openings on Wednesday morning. DEE Inc. is located at 1302 Foskett Street in Crookston’s industrial park.
Dee Incorporated Is the Crookston Manufacturer of the Day
