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 DuBach
Tool Company
DuBach
Tool Company is a small manufacturing business located in Englewood
with customers all over the country. They specialize in producing
unique machine parts, stampings, prototyping and general machining --
all typically in small batches. “What that means is that we
make itty-bitty, finicky parts that go in big, complicated
machines. The biggest, most complicated ‘machine’ that we
supported is the C-130 transport,” comments John Morse,
owner. Most of the parts DuBach makes are no bigger than an inch
or two, and may have as many as six precision bends. The usual
sequence is to stamp out a blank on a punch press and then bend, drill,
polish, coat, or all of the above to produce the finished
product. They may make only one part for a particular product or
company, or dozens.
In March of 2008, a fire in its facility forced DuBach to
move. They jumped at the opportunity to take over a larger space
across the alley and still keep the business in the same area. The
year prior to the fire had been a good year, leaving DuBach with a
healthy surplus to invest in the new location. Then the economy
crashed. Despite having a long-term bank relationship, their line
of credit was canceled. As John puts it, “The loan from Colorado
Enterprise Fund got us over our immediate cash flow problem and we hope
it will get us ‘over the hump’ to better times.”
DuBach’s products are used in a broad range of technologies. For
example, two long-time customers represent opposite ends of the textile
industry -- hand looms and spinning wheels versus robotic embroidery
machines. They also make parts for medical devices, battery
contacts, bicycles, floor washers, lawn mowers and even an ambulatory
robot. In addition to producing parts from engineers’ drawings,
they design and create parts for inventors’ prototypes.
John worked for the previous owners of DuBach Tool Company for about 15
years before he bought them out about 10 years ago. “Becoming the
owner of this business had a much bigger effect on me than I had
anticipated. Owning is much different than managing,” said
Morse. DuBach is one of the oldest businesses in Englewood and
goes back to the early 1970’s. “My employees are tinkerers in
their own right and the continued well-being of DuBach Tool Company is
not merely a paycheck, but also a resource for their own projects,” he
said.
With a little help and some patient capital, this 40 year old company
will be making itty-bitty widgets for a long time to come!
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