2021 marks the 50th Anniversary of Dexstar Wheel. Dexstar is the North American steel rim and wheel manufacturer for Kenda and serves some of the largest original equipment manufacturers and distributors in the trailer and RV industries.
For the last half-century, 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. As a proud U.S. steel trailer wheel manufacturer, Dexstar maintains its reputational and manufacturing excellence, strong engineering and technical capabilities. Based in Elkhart, IN, Dexstar is proud to provide high-quality American Made products and customer service.
“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.”
Committed to the Community
Last October, Dexstar was awarded up to $590,000 in tax credits by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation for an expansion project. This investment allows Dexstar to build upon its position as a premier provider of high quality wheels to the RV industry in Northern Indiana as well as the many other segments the company serves. Additionally, this investment helps Dexstar further its commitment to the Elkhart community, Dexstar’s employees and the many customers the company serves.
Funds from the tax credit program will go to support Dexstar’s growth and continued commitment to the Elkhart community. The company has pledged to hire up to 60 new full-time employees in addition to the company’s current employees. The existing and newly created production and support staff jobs are high-paying.. This expansion is anticipated to be fully in place by 2023, some of the positions Dexstar is looking to add include:
- Shipping and receiving
- Quality Assurance
- Production Managers
- Engineering
Industry Innovator
At the core of Dexstar’s reputational and manufacturing excellence are its engineering and technical capabilities – automation and robotics only strengthen the company’s capabilities and help it produce superior products for the industry.
The 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 all of which are superior in the industry.
As Dexstar continue 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 stay on the cutting edge of innovation in the industry to better meet customer needs.
Quality that’s Certified
Dexstar is distinguished by a long history of quality, unsurpassed service, and high-capacity automated state-of-art operations. For over 15 years, Dexstar has been adhering to ISO 9001 standards. Recently Dexstar participated in a thorough and extensive recertification audit of the business and manufacturing process, which was facilitated by a third party. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the globally recognized quality management standard for companies and organizations of all sizes. ISO 9001:2015, the most updated standard, focuses on quality management systems and performance, which helps companies align their management system with their business strategy.
The ISO 9001:2015 standards are followed throughout Dexstar, from customer service to manufacturing and distribution. It is one of many ways Dexstar’s customers can trust they are consistently receiving high-quality steel wheels to meet their needs.
Refreshed Brand Identity
Dexstar continues to focus on providing the best solutions for its customers – and that includes how they access the company’s information. 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.
