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About Dexter
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  • Our History

Our History

  • Dexter Map with Plants

    Present

    <p style="text-align:left;">Today, Dexter Axle is an industry leader with a comprehensive product line that includes axles, brakes, suspension assemblies, and axle parts as well as vents and doors. With eighteen manufacturing facilities and an international distribution network, Dexter is the premier supplier of running gear and components to the trailer and RV industry. 60 years later, the same principles still drive Dexter: superior quality, continuous improvement, and unparalleled customer service.</p>

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  • black_yellow

    January 13, 2020

    Dexter acquired Silent Drive, located in Orange City, Iowa in January 2020. Since 1953, Silent Drive has served the specialty heavy duty suspension market offering air suspensions for liftable tags and pushers, drive axle suspensions, as well as primary and auxiliary lift axles on trailers. Silent Drive is known as an innovative leader in the specialty heavy duty suspension industry, serving customers in the United States and Canada.

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  • fnmlogo-roundclean

    December 2, 2019

    <p>Rockwell American acquired Fenders N&rsquo; More from C. Wolfe Industries, Inc. located in Santa Fe Springs, CA. &nbsp;Fenders N&rsquo; More, has served utility, horse, cargo, and boat trailer manufacturers for over 30 years with a complete line of quality fenders.</p>

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  • Dexter_186_black_outline

    February 26, 2018

    <p>Dexter launched a long-term brand strategy offering trailer and vehicle components under the trusted brand, Dexter. Dexter&rsquo;s past several years of strong growth and product diversification has lead to an opportunity to expand our brands. Based on customer feedback, Dexter decided to reduce the complexity of our brand portfolio. Products will be manufactured and sold under the umbrella of Dexter, a brand customers know and trust. During the next several months, legacy branded products will transition to Dexter. This includes UFP (Unique Functional Products), Titan brakes &amp; actuators, Tie Down Engineering axles, brakes and actuators, Dexter Door, and Ventline. The new brand structure brings much needed clarity, making it easier to navigate our product offering.</p>

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  • Kodiak

    January 22, 2018

    Dexter acquired Kodiak, based out of Ft. Worth, TX. Kodiak is a manufacturer of light and medium duty axle brakes serving the marine, RV, horse, commercial, industrial, cargo, and select military market segments. Kodiak has built a recognized brand, positioned as a leader of disc brakes. Adding these additional products to the Dexter line up further enhancing our ability to service our customers.&nbsp;

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  • Dexter Agrees to Acquire Henderson

    November 20, 2017

    Dexter agreed to acquire Henderson Wheel and Trailer Supply Inc., based out of Salt Lake City, UT. Henderson is a manufacturer of sprung and torsion axles and fenders as well as a distributor of axles, trailer components and fenders. The addition of Henderson product and manufacturing strengthens Dexter's presence in the Western U.S.

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  • 2017.05.30_KPS CAPITAL PARTNERS TO ACQUIRE DEXKO GLOBAL

    May 30, 2017

    <p style="text-align: left;">KPS Capital Partners, LP ("KPS") announces that, through a newly formed affiliate, it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire DexKo Global Inc. and its affiliates.</p> <p> DexKo Global is the leading global supplier of highly engineered running gear technology, chassis assemblies and related components with over 130 years of trailer and caravan componentry experience. DexKo Global was formed at the end of 2015 through the combination of Dexter and AL-KO Vehicle Technology. The Company is headquartered in Novi, Michigan and employs over 4,500 employees with 39 manufacturing facilities and 25 distribution centers across the globe</p> <p>. </p>

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  • Tie Down Engineering

    February 2017

    <p style="text-align: left;">DexKo Global Inc., the global leader in highly engineered trailer running gear, chassis assemblies, and related components, is pleased to announce that Dexter has acquired the axle, brake and actuation business assets from Tie Down Engineering, Inc. ("Tie Down") located in Atlanta, GA. Tie Down was founded in 1969 by Chuck MacKarvich, serving the construction, utility, industrial and marine markets. Tie Down will continue to operate, providing products and services from their manufactured housing, roofing, marine and industrial laser divisions.</p>

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  • January 2017

    <p style="text-align: left;">DexKo Global Inc., the global leader in highly engineered trailer running gear and chassis assemblies and related components, announced that Dexter has acquired the heavy duty axle and suspension manufacturing assets of Ingersoll Axles, along with the light duty axle manufacturing assets of Standen&rsquo;s from the IMT Group. Ingersoll Axles has been a leading supplier of specialized heavy duty trailer axles and suspensions across North America for over 55 years. Dexter has acquired manufacturing locations in Ingersoll, Ontario; Calgary, Alberta; and Indianapolis, IN</p>

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  • December 2016

    <p style="text-align: left;">DexKo Global Inc., global leader in highly engineered trailer running gear and chassis assemblies and related components, is expanding its Australian operations, announcing it has signed an agreement to acquire Melbourne Trailer and Caravan Supplies (MTCS).<br /> <br /> MTCS is an Australian family-owned business and supplier of caravan and trailer axles, leaf springs and other trailer components, serving multiple market segments across Australia since 1968. It has also been the Australian distributor for the Dexter Axle product range for over 30 years.</p>

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  • ROCKWELL-American

    August 2016

    <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Dexter Acquires Rockwell American:</strong> DexKo Global Inc., a global leader in highly engineered trailer running gear and chassis assemblies and related components announced that Dexter has acquired Rockwell American, based in Azle, Texas, from American Industrial Partners. Rockwell has been a leading supplier of trailer axles, leaf springs, fenders and other trailer components serving multiple market segments across North America for over 35 years. Rockwell has 5 manufacturing locations and operates 16 distribution branches across the United States. Rockwell American will operate as a division of Dexter.</p>

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  • Titan Brakes and Acutators By Dexter

    November 2015

    <p style="text-align: left;">Dexter Acquires Titan International's Brake and Actuator Business. Titan has a rich heritage in the hydraulic brake and actuator industry and manufactures an extensive line of brakes, actuators, couplers, and hubs designed to serve a wide variety of trailer applications.</p>

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  • DexKo Global Footprint

    October 2015

    <p>At the end October, Dexter Axle announced the agreement to acquire AL-KO Vehicle Technology from AL-KO Kober SE. Headquartered in K&ouml;tz, Germany, AL-KO VT is the leading European designer and manufacturer of trailer axles, trailer and caravan components, chassis and motorized chassis. The company operates from 20+ locations around the world, including in Europe, Australia, South Africa, China and South America.</p> The transaction closed on December 31, 2015. As a result of combining Dexter and AL-KO VT, DexKo Global Inc. was formed as the parent company. DexKo Global Inc. is majority owned by funds managed by The Sterling Group, Dexter&rsquo;s current majority owners.&nbsp;

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  • AL-KO

    October 2014

    <p style="text-align: left;">Dexter Axle Acquires the North American assets of AL-KO Axis, Inc. AL-KO Axis is a manufacturer of axles and other components for trailers and towable equipment in the utility, recreational vehicle, heavy-duty, manufactured housing, agricultural, marine, and specialty markets.</p>

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  • Dexter Winchester TN Plant Enlargement

    December 2013

    <p style="text-align: left;">At the end of 2013, Dexter Axle acquired UFP (Unique Functional Products), a leading innovator and provider of trailer axles, brake systems and components to the recreational boating trailer market. Leveraging UFP's product designs offered a more diverse and comprehensive product line to a broader customer base. UFP has manufacturing facilities in Winchester, TN and San Marcos, CA.</p>

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  • Dexter Axle Achieves ISO Certification

    November 2013

    Dexter Axle successfully completed the ISO 9001:2008 certification process, confirming Dexter&rsquo;s commitment to quality and their customers. While Dexter has used the ISO 9001 Quality System Standard as a framework for their quality system for over 15 years, passing the audit verifies that they meet or exceed the worldwide standard for repeatable quality.

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  • Sterling Group Logo

    2012

    <p style="text-align: left;">Tomkins sold the Dexter Axle, Ventline, and Dexter Door portion of the Tomkins business to the Sterling Group, L.P. Under Sterling&rsquo;s ownership Dexter continued the company&rsquo;s long-standing success through market share gains, implementation of lean operating practices, and introduction of new products.</p>

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  • Plant 39 aerial_vs1

    2009

    <p style="text-align: left;">Dexter acquired Ventline and entrance door business, which supplied vent and door products to the RV, utility trailer, livestock trailer, and housing industries from Philips.</p>

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  • 2008

    <p style="text-align: justify;">Adam Dexter, grandson of founder Leonard Dexter, assumes the role of President and CEO of Dexter Axle. Adam previously served as President of Dexter Chassis Group from 2005 - 2008 and held various manufacturing positions with Dexter from 1998 - 2005.</p>

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  • Tomkins logo

    1990

    <p style="text-align: left;">Tomkins acquires Philips Industries, Dexter&rsquo;s parent company, and Dexter joined the Tomkins platform. During the Tomkins ownership, Dexter continued to expand the company&rsquo;s manufacturing capacity through plant acquisitions.</p>

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  • 1984

    <p style="text-align: left;">Introduced Torflex rubber torsion suspension axles, the first product branded by Dexter and one of the most successful new products engineered and launched. In later years, Dexter introduces additional brands - &nbsp;E-Z Lube axle spindles, Nev-R-Lube sealed cartridge bearing system, E-Z Flex<sup> </sup>suspension system, Nev-R-Adjust trailer brakes, and Airflex air ride suspension - all commonly recognized in the trailer running gear and RV industry today.</p>

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  • 1979

    <p style="text-align: left;">Developed key nationwide distributor partnership leading to the most comprehensive network with over 390 distribution points in North America as well as internationally.</p>

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  • Albion

    1968

    <p style="text-align: left;">Opened a plant in Albion, IN, which began with just 28,000 square feet, growing to 580,000 square feet today with some of the industry&rsquo;s most advanced technologies - stamping, automated welding, and robotic material handling.</p>

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  • Philips Products

    1966

    <p style="text-align: left;">Philips Industries, a publicly traded company with headquarters in Dayton, Ohio, acquired Dexter Axle. During Philip&rsquo;s ownership, Dexter Axle continued to grow through product development, expansion, and acquisitions.</p>

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  • Dexter Axle - Leonard Dexter

    1960

    <p style="text-align: left;">Dexter Axle was founded in Elkhart, IN by Leonard Dexter. The initial product offering was limited to manufactured housing and recreational vehicle axles but the company's growth strategy was to expand the line and provide the highest level of customer service possible.</p>

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