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Note: The following is an excerpt from an historical account by Carl Nielsen who was co-founder and President of DCI, Inc. from 1955 until his retirement in 1987.

COMPANY HISTORY
1955-1987

 DCI began on a cold winter day in 1955 when Carl Nielsen, who was then equipment sales manager for Owatonna Creamery Supplies Co., was visiting with Fred and Richard Konsor, who owned Konsor Brothers’ Welding and Machine Shop in Holdingford, MN. The three discussed orders which Carl had placed with the Konsors for producing stainless steel storage tanks.

During the conversation, Carl suggested that it might be worthwhile to investigate the possibilities of forming a new corporation for the manufacture of stainless steel equipment for the dairy industry. Fred and Richard were receptive to the idea, so Carl resigned his position at Owatonna Creamery Supplies Co.; borrowed money from friends to invest in the new company and brought in investors along with Fred and Richard who agreed to invest their equipment and talent in the company.


Carl Nielsen
1918-1998

Dairy Craft, Inc., started operations on May 1, 1955, in a vacant farm implement building in Holdingford purchased on a contract-for-deed basis. In the ensuing years, two major additions were attached to the building.

In 1969, having outgrown in the Holdingford plant, DCI moved to its present location in St. Cloud through arrangement made with St. Cloud Opportunities, Inc., and local banks. An addition was built onto the plant in 1974.

The quality stainless steel equipment being made by DCI, Inc., was being purchased by a wide range of industries. In 1978, it became apparent that the Dairy Craft corporate name was not symbolic of the products and industries being served by the company and the name was changed to DCI, Inc.

Today DCI supplies steel and stainless steel alloy equipment to many industries requiring the metal’s long-lasting, corrosion-resistant advantages in processing and storage equipment.



Richard and Fred Konsor
1914-1995 * 1914-1990

Industries served by DCI includes dairies processing milk, cream, ice cream, butter, cheese, yogurt and whey products; breweries; the beverage industry for processing its products; including storage of sucrose and fructose; and the pharmaceutical industry for processing and storing blood plasma and sterile water, as well as in manufacturing drugs like insulin and interferon. Biotechnology is a relatively new growth industry and DCI’s ability to produce fermenters of extremely high quality will place DCI in the forefront as an equipment supplier.

DCI’s ability to customize its equipment to suit customers’ needs has also opened up a wide range of opportunities for the company.

Quality control and customer satisfaction have been bywords at DCI since its inception. Dedicated performance by DCI employees has played an important role in the company’s growth. Quality at DCI is Home to Stay!

Thanks for letting us share this bit of DCI history with you.