History of Dynacast

Beginning with the immigration of Otto Gries in 1912, and later with the Gries Reproducer Corporation, Dynacast's history is rich in innovation, acquisition, and continuing growth. Dynacast International has 21 manufacturing facilities in 16 countries around the world. Yet the passion to discover and excitement of adding new technologies are two ways in which Otto Gries is still molding our company's mission, vision, and values today. Please read below for a more detailed account of our history.

1912

Otto Gries immigrates from Germany and opens a small machine shop.

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1912

Dynacast Technology

Otto Gries immigrates to the United States from Germany. He opens a small machine shop in New York which later becomes Gries Reproducer Corporation.


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1926

Gries Reproducer Corporation opens in New Rochelle, New York. The corporation reproduces sounds for talking movies.


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1934

Louis Morin invents a die casting machine that is developed by Gries Reproducer Corporation.

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1934

Louis Morin invents a die casting machine for the production of die cast zippers. The machine is developed by Gries Reproducer Corporation who builds machines and tooling only.


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1936

Invention of Gries Reproducer Corporation's high speed miniature die casting multi-slide machine.


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1938

GRC begins die casting zinc zipper teeth.   

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1938

GRC begins die casting zinc zipper teeth with their high speed miniature die casting multi-slide machine.


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1939

GRC begins miniature die casting using zinc and plastic.

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1939

Gries Reproducer Corporation develops machines for production of small parts and produces miniature die casting of zinc and plastic.


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1947

Bell Laboratories invents transistors.   

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1947

Bell Laboratories invents the transistor, a small semiconductor device that allows for precise control of the amount and flow of current through circuit boards. These devices are an element piece of electronic devices, including computer and cell phones.


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1953

GRC relocates into a custom built factory in New York.   

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1953

Gries Reproducer Corporation relocates to a new custom built factory in New Rochelle, New York, and is now known as "The World's Largest Producer of the World's Smallest Die Castings."

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1963

Kodak begins production of the Instamatic Cameras.

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1963

From 1964-1988, Kodak produces one of their most popular products, the Instamatic Camera.


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1965

Acquisition of Gries Reproducer Corporation for machines and die casting production by Coats & Clark, Inc.


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1967

Dynacast Canada is acquired by Coats & Clark, Inc.

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1967

Acquisition of Dynacast Canada by Coats & Clark, Inc.


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1968

Formation of Dynamold International in Paris, France. Dynacast Canada moves to a new building and starts zinc die casting production.


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1969

Formation of Dynacast Germany and Dynacast U.K.

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1969

Formation of Dynacast Germany in Braeunlingen as well as Dynacast U.K. in Alcester, Warwickshire.


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1970

Computers begin linking together using telecommunications technology.

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1970

Research institutions around the United States begin to link computers together through telecommunications technology. In time, this becomes a network and ultimately the internet.


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1972

Formation of Dynacast Italy in Milan.


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1973

Dynacast begins designing and building multi-slide plastic machines.

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1973

Dynacast starts to design and build a multi-slide plastics machine. Dynacast and Canada starts plastic production as well as continued zinc production. Coats & Clark decides not to sell machines outside of the organization. Custom die casting is brought to Sao Paulo, Brazil.


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1973

Bic Lighter is launched.

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1973

Bic launches its first lighter.


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1974

New factory opens in Santa Ana, CA.


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1975

New factory opens in Spartanburg, SC. Coats & Clark Inc.'s plastics plant in Seneca, SC is transferred to Dynacast.


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1977

Formation of Dynacast Spain outside of Barcelona.


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1978

New factory opens in Lyon, France.


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1979

Sony Corporation releases the Walkman.

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1979

The first model, TPS-L2, is released in July 1979.


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1979

Acquisition of Lipp in Austria; Singapore plant is opened.

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1979

Austria plant is acquired. Singapore factory opens to service in pacific region.


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1981

New factory opens in Germany; Formation of Dynacast Mexico; and establishment of Japan sales office.

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1981

New factory opens in Germany. Dynacast Mexico is formed in Mexico City. Establishment of Dynacast sales office occurs in Yokohama, Japan.


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1982

Acquisition of Kempka tool room; New factory opens in Schaumburg, IL; Establishment of South Korean sales office.

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1982

New factory opens in Schaumburg, IL. Gries/Dynacast acquires Kempka tool room in Milwaukee, WI. Establishment of Dynacast sales office in Seoul, South Korea.


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1982

Gries Reproducer Corporation now works under the name Gries Dynacast.


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1983

Formation of Dynacast Japan from acquisition of Kyoritsu.

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1983

The acquisition of Kyoritsu leads to the formation of a joint venture production facility known as Dynacast Japan.


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1985

Microsoft invents the Windows program.

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1985

Microsoft invents the Windows program, which eventually becomes the top selling program for computers for the next several decades.


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1985

New factory opens in Tustin, CA.


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1986

Formation of Dynacast International as a group entity with worldwide responsibility.

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1986

Formation of Dynacast International as a group entity with worldwide responsibility. New factory opens in Yorktown Heights, New York. Entry into bonded magnets in Canada and in the U.K. New Italian production facility as Rho/Milan opens. Expansion of Dynacast Japan factory. Incorporation of Dynacast Brazil in Sao Paulo.


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1987

All units trade under the Dynacast name and use the Dynacast logo world wide. New Spanish factory near Barcelona (Santiga) opens for Dynacast Spain.


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1988

Dynacast enters the North American aluminum die casting market.

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1988

Dynacast enters the North American aluminum die casting market from Tustin, California. Expansion of Dynacast Singapore's factory.


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1989

Acquisition of Magnets, Inc. and Flexmg Industries; Formations of Dynacast Argentina, Dynacast Turkey and Dynacast Taiwan.

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1989

Formation of Dynacast Argentina in Buenos Aires. Formation of Dynacast Turkey in Bursa. Formation of Dynacast Taiwan near Taipei. Dynacast acquired Magnets, Inc., Cincinatti, Ohio and Flexmag Industries, Marietta, Ohio to form Dynacast Magnetic Division. Entry into Asia Pacific aluminum die casting market from Dynacast Singapore. Transfer of Dynacast International Corporate office to Alcester, U.K.


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1989

Gillette introduces the Sensor razor.

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1989

Gillette introduces the Sensor razor, the first type of razor with spring-mounted twin blades.


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1990

Acquired Nabco, a magnesium die casting business, and continued growth and expansion.

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1990

Acquisition of the Nabco magnesium die casting business in Canada. Expansion of U.K. factory. Entry into aluminum die casting market in Brazil. New factory in Montreal, Canada.


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1991

Gain entry into European magnesium die casting market.

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1991

Entry into European magnesium die casting market from Alcester, U.K. New factory in Puerto Rico opens that could manufacture zinc and plastics.


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1992

Opening of new joint venture plant in Slovenia. Relocation of Canadian magnesium die casting to Montreal factory.


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1993

Acquisition of Lone Star Diecasting Corporation; Major expansion in the United States; New factories and departments in Europe.

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1993

Expansion of Startanburg Factory to include aluminum die casting. Acquisition of Lone Star Diecasting Corporation in New Braunfels, Texas. Relocation of Lyon, France factory to new custom built factory in Civireux. Dynacast Germany establishes machine building department.


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1994

Dynacast India receives QUEEN'S AWARD; Dynacast continues expanding globally with acquisitions and additions in the United States, France, and Canada.

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1994

Dynacast enters into a joint venture with brakes at India at Madras; wins QUEEN'S AWARD. Dynacast doubles its plastics capacity through the acquisition of Precision Engineering Co. with injection moulding operations in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Texas. The factory from the Kempka Tool acquisition is moved to Germantown, WI and becomes the Dynacast Tooling Division. Dynacast acquires Exportcast in Montreal. Dynacast Singapore expands their factory.


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1995

Dynacast adds aluminum production capacity and plastic manufacturing units in the United States and expands in Europe.

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1995

Dynacast moves the Schaumburg factory into a new, large, custom built factory in Elgin, IL. This adds aluminum production capacity. SPM joins Dynacast and adds plastic manufacturing units in Anaheim and Fremont, CA, Portland, OR, Denver, CO, Houston, TX, and Calgary. Dynacast Austria expands. Alberta in Canada, a SPM subsidiary, brings Micro Power Electronics with locations in Portland, OR and Scottsdale, AZ.


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1995

DVD (Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is invented.


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1997

New factory opens in Lake Forest

New factory opens in Lake Forest, CA with capabilities to die cast both zinc and aluminum alloys.


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1999

Dynacast International is purchased by Cinven; Dynacast Germany establishes magnesium production.

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1999

Dynacast International is purchased by the U.K.'s leading Private Equity Company, Cinven. Dynacast Germany establishes magnesium production.


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2002

Dynacast Shanghai is formed.


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2005

Apple launches the iPod with video.

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2005

Apple launches their fifth-generation iPod that plays music, photos, and video.


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2007

September 7th acquisition of QZD based in Quebec. September 28th acquisition of Techmire, Montreal.


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2007

Domo, the first robot who can recognize people, is invented.

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2007

Domo, created at MIT, is the first robot to recognize people and sense and respond to surroundings.


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2008

New plant opens in Canada and new plant designs begin for China; Acquisitions of FisherCast Global Corporation and FisherCast Welshpool.

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2008

Approval in January to construct a new plant in Dongguan. Relocation of Techmire to Pointe Claire in March to improve Techmire's effectiveness, efficiency, and profitability, acquisition of FisherCast Global Corporation, headquartered in Peterborough, Ontario. Acquisition of the assets of FisherCast Welshpool, Wales, U.K.


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2009

Opening of Dynacast Dongguan, China.


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2011

GoPro launches their Hero2.

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2011

GroPro refreshes their cameras with the launch of the Hero2.


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2012

Opening of Dynacast Suzhou, China as a satellite of Dynacast Shanghai.


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2012

Nike launches the Nike FuelBand.   

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2012

The Nike FueldBand is released. Nike sees an 18% growth in their equipment division because of this product.


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2015

December 9th, 2015 aquistion of Tek-Cast Inc./MH Machining Group in Bensenville, Illinois USA. This aquistion further expands Dynacast’s multi-slide zinc, aluminum capacity and CNC machining depth in North America.


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2016

New manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico.

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2016

Opened a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico on April 4, 2016. The Tijuana plant will be an extension of the Lake Forest, California plant. This new facility will house all secondary operations including CNC machining to the Tijuana plant. 


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2016

Acquisition of Schlieper Druckguss in Vösendorf, Austria.

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2016

Acquisition of Schliepler

Dynacast is proud to announce the acquisition of Schlieper Druckguss in Vösendorf, Austria. Dynacast took over operations on July 1, 2016. This acquisition will enhance Dynacast’s strong foothold in zinc die casting in the region, as well as open our aluminum offerings to an expanded network of new customers.


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2016

Acquisition of Taurus '80, a precision zinc die casting company.   

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2016

Dynacast is excited to announce that as of December 30th, 2016 we have completed the acquisition of Taurus ’80, a precision zinc die casting company. Taurus ’80 is headquartered in Grosso, Italy with additional locations in Rockford, Illinois, USA and Bizerte, Tunisia.


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2018

On Tuesday, January 9th, 2018, Dynacast International Inc., became a family of brands under a newly formed entity, Form Technologies.

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2018

Form Technologies

Dynacast International Inc. is pleased to announce that on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, Dynacast and its partnering divisions became a family of brands under a newly formed entity, Form Technologies, led by Dynacast’s current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Simon Newman.


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Last updated 03.25.2024