History

1979	D&K Custom Machine Design gets its start with the introduction of the Accu I, the first automated cutter for the two-side thermal lamination process. Automation has finally been brought to the thermal laminating industry. We occupy one small building in Elk Grove Village, IL.
1981	D&K’s most significant contribution completely revolutionized the industry when they introduced the first affordable one-side thermal laminator – the System 27. Prior to its successful introduction, industry professionals said it couldn’t be done because of the curl associated with laminating on only one side of the sheet. D&K’s patented curl device makes it all work.
1982	The first of many patents is issued – this one for the “flying Knife” blade on the Accu III, one-side separator.
1984	First extrusion line installed at D&K. Finding the various film companies’ quality and performance irregular, D&K International was established to expand into the manufacturing of our film, allowing for control of production and significantly increased levels of quality.
1985	300^th one-side laminator installed. We now occupy two buildings in Elk Grove Village, IL.
1985	Not content to dominate the one-side thermal market, D&K carves its niche in the two-side market as well, introducing the Double-Kote® system.
1985	The patent for D&K’s proprietary de-curling mechanism – which allows for successful one-side lamination with no curl – is issued.
1987	Film business grows; second extrusion coating line installed. D&K offers custom film slitting at no extra charge, redefining industry standards. No longer are customers forced to conform to standard size rolls. We now occupy three buildings in Elk Grove Village.
1987	D&K Europe is established in Redditch, England, offering film converting and equipment sales and service to all of Europe and the Middle East.
1989	Our 10th anniversary. 100th D&K cutter sold.
1990	Third extrusion coating line installed; we’re now producing over half a million rolls of film per year.
1993	We open film warehouses in the southeast and southwest, vastly improving product availability and delivery times to coastal customers.
1993	Laminex, Inc. is acquired by D&K. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company continues its presence as an industry leader in the manufacturing of photo/video ID products, card fabrication, and pouch/AV laminators and lamination accessories.
1994	Revolutionary NT Roller introduced – coated with D&K’s DuraKote™ and heated without oil or water, the roller redefines the way the industry laminates.
1995	We’re now producing over a million rolls of film per year. Our film production capabilities increase again; this time by a third. More expansion is expected soon. Due to ongoing growth, we now occupy five buildings in Elk Grove Village.
1995	Laminex acquires Datacode Systems, further enhancing the Laminex ID product line. A major card fabricator, Laminex designs and produces a full range of conventional and computer-compatible ID cards, including proximity, mag stripe, and Wiegand wire.
1997	Opened a film warehouse in Dallas. Our fifth extrusion line is installed. We also introduced the revolutionary System 3215.
1997	Introduced the revolutionary System 3210.
1998	We now occupy six buildings in Elk Grove Village, IL. Producing 1.25 million rolls of film.
1999	Introduction of Venture Coating Technologies – a new pressure sensitive manufacturer. VCT, under the expression™ brand name manufactures pressure sensitive laminates, mounting adhesives, thermal laminates, heat-assist laminates, and specialty films. VCT manufacturing facilities are located in Janesville, Wisconsin. The sales office is located in Elk Grove Village, IL.
1999	Closed our Atlanta warehouse.
2001	Closed our Sparks, Nevada warehouse and opened one in Tustin, California. This location better serves our West Coast customers.
2001	Sold our Photo ID Division, Laminex to ID Shop, Inc., Greenwood, South Carolina.
2002	Introduced SuperStick®, a revolutionary new film designed specifically for the digital/on demand marketplace. SuperStick™ will adhere to and enhance most new printing technologies, including Xerox, Canon, Xeikon, and more.
2003	D&K is celebrating their 25th year this year!
2003	Introduced the System 2760 machine and the Expression® 42” Pro machine. The System 2760 is a one-sided laminating system specifically designed for todays on demand, short-run jobs. The Expression® 42” Pro is a versatile and operator friendly laminator featuring heated, turning rollers which can accommodate a broad range of laminating films – including pressure sensitive.
2004	Venture Coating Technologies announced that it has changed its name to D&K Coating Technologies. A sister company of D&K Group, Inc., Venture Coating Technologies entered the wide format, digital marketplace in 1999 as a custom coater and manufacturer of pressure sensitive over laminates, mounting adhesives and specialty films.
2005	Introduced new line of Wide Format equipment including the EXP 42 Pouch, EXP 42 Plus, EXP 62 Plus, EXP 63 and EXP 83 Roll Laminators.
2007	Launch of a new website in September with new look and feel. D&K Coating Technologies expansion is completed adding an extra 20,000 sqft. to make room for a new coating line that will increase D&K’s capabilities for custom and Toll coating. Introduction of new generation 3 Minikote which is designed for the educational and professional applications.
2008	Introduced the Double Kote Digital, a finishing system designed to tackle the increasing trends in digital applications. The introduction of the EXP 55 Plus, a new wide-format roll laminator designed specifically for wide-format pressure sensitive projects.
2009	D&K Group celebrates its 30th Anniversary.
2010	D&K Group Acquires Bienfang Framing Products, a global manufacturer of framing supplies and accessories.
2011	D&K introduces the Double Kote PVC Card System, a faster and revolutionary new way of manufacturing cards using PVC roll film
2012	D&K launches an e-commerce system to accept wide format film and equipment orders directly through the corporate website
2013	D&K introduces the Brilliance line of value pressure sensitive laminating films and window mounting adhesives

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