How Dalsin Industries embraces automation to drive growth
As Dalsin Industries (Dalsin) nears its 80th anniversary, VP of Operations Nicole Blanco-Goff, provides a brief history of the company: “We’re a metal manufacturing business based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The three Dalsin brothers, who each specialized in a different aspect of the metal industry, founded the company out of their garage. We focus on providing metal processing solutions for our customers, involving anything that can be punched, bent, welded, and painted. We combine automation with the art of manufacturing. As an engineer myself, I always say manufacturing is a science but there’s still a bit of an art to it. There’s passion involved with making a product. With eight decades in the industry, we’ve been able to grow with automation, but also have that extra magic when we build our products.”
Nicole then delves into the specifics of Dalsin’s products and services: “We operate a cradle-to-grave production line, partnering with our clients to deliver
automated solutions. In metal cutting, we utilize two primary methods. Partnering with Mitsubishi, our Bloomington site houses state-of-the-art laser cutters, including a cutting-edge 10,000-watt machine that boosts our productivity and cutting precision. Additionally, we leverage Trumpf punching machines, Cincinnati press brakes, and Salvagnini equipment across our facilities, facilitating a shift from manual to automated manufacturing and enhancing our output capacity. In response to growing customer demands, we expanded our welding cell capacity last year. Moreover, we possess the expertise and capability to provide full product assembly services for clients seeking a comprehensive solution.”
Nicole elaborates on the company’s strategy for integrating automation into its manufacturing workflows: “Remaining at the forefront of automation is crucial for us. Often, it involves working smarter rather than harder. For instance, we have dedicated resources, enhancing our welding automation to minimize manual intervention in product assembly. Additionally, we are actively pursuing the integration of automated processes within our enterprise resource management (ERP) software to ensure real-time and precise monitoring of our shop floor inventory.”
Automation has played a crucial role in the success of Dalsin’s newly established facility in Lakeville, which opened last year, as Nicole expands: “It started out as a dream. Leaders in the company believed we could enhance our output and further embrace the use of automated equipment. This push enabled us to open our new 42,000-square-foot factory. The integration of more automated machinery has minimized any manual manipulation of the product until it comes off the production line. This advancement has not only bolstered our capacity even further, but it has also reduced our reliance on manpower. Leveraging automated technology enables us to focus on the artistry and more hands-on processes. Another key advantage to increasing automation is safety. Safety is our number one value. Automation not only aids in guaranteeing that all employees return home safely each night but also helps alleviate the physical strains and injuries that manual labor can entail.”
Female perspective
As the only woman of color in the operations leadership team, Nicole takes a moment to reflect on what it means to be a female leader in a male dominated industry: “I was born and raised in Puerto-Rico. Growing up, I never wanted to be with my mother in the kitchen; I wanted to be with my dad in the garage. As the first engineer in my family, I not only wanted to show myself that I could do it but also to show the world what’s possible. It’s been a very empowering journey for me, to take a dream of over 30 years and turn it into a reality.
“The impact is two-fold; I have two daughters so I want them to see that they can be whatever they want to be in life. But I also know there are other women out there that want to be farmers, or welders. The perception might be that these are not safe roles being surrounded by men. Now though, there are women in these industries, and we help each other to achieve the dream.
“That’s not to say that it comes without challenges. Most of the time, I am the only female in the room, so you must be assertive and make sure you put your best self forward. You must work extra hard to demonstrate that you have the knowledge to back up your position. It’s something that is changing though, for example, I had a woman interviewing for a manufacturing position today, and we have four women on our welding team. There’s still a long way to go but now it’s my turn to show that it’s not only possible for women to come into a male dominated industry but to be leaders.”
Looking to the future, Nicole concludes by outlining the company’s ambitions for the coming year and beyond: “2025 is a year to think about everything the company has accomplished in its 80 years; going from a garage to a big company, able to provide our customers with manufacturing solutions. Moving forward we are very focused on learning and setting up a strong foundation for the next 80 years with our strategic plan.”