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Since 1968, Bob McKinnon has become a major pioneer in the creation and design of plastic water meter and valve boxes. These innovative products were steadily replacing the industry standard of cast iron and or concrete products. By 1977, Bob had developed product lines for 3 different companies; Intercontinental Plastics, Polyfoam Industries, and D&D Sales. In 1978 the D&D Sales manufacturing facility burned to the ground in 17 minutes. The only product salvaged was the 12” rectangle meter box lid mold and the 6” round valve box mold.
Armed with those two molds, Bob and his wife, Carroll, agreed to form their own company and continue in the plastic market . DFW Plastics, Inc. was formed in April 1978. Bob contacted his largest competitor, Brooks Products, and asked to purchase products until he could build new molds. Brooks partnered with DFW, and provided product untill Bob was able to begin manufacturing the new DFW product line.
Deciding not to go back into actual manufacturing at that time, Bob partnered with Bob Hefner and Hefner Plastics. Hefner would manufacture the new line of DFW meter box products. Building off of the 2 salvaged molds from the D&D fire, DFW began the fast pace building of meter box molds. By 1988, DFW had created a quality line of meter & valve boxes ranging in size from 6” round to 24“round. With innovative products, DFW became known as an industry leader providing quality products which solved the industries' problems.
As competitors began copying the DFW line of meter & valve boxes, like the 6” round valve box and the overlapping lid style known as the “T” lid, Bob was constantly looking to improve the products that DFW had to offer. As oil prices began to soar in the 1980s and the price of plastic was being impacted, DFW began using recycled materials. The recycled materials gave DFW an advantage in pricing, while maintaining quality and industry test standards, and were environmentally responsible. A solution that helped clean up our environment and set the standard for what type of plastics are used today in producing meter and valve boxes.
In 1985, Bob stepped off into a new product venture and built the DFW line of flexible couplings & connectors. The DFW line was quickly accepted as an industry leader. Adding to the line, Bob introduced the flexible saddle in 1989. A patented product, this product took the sewer pipe tapping saddle market by storm and was specified by engineers throughout the world.
In 1990, DFW opened a Rotational Molding facility in Fort Worth Texas. This facility was for the new line of Meter Boxes and Pits. Bob had tried for years to create plastic meter boxes using the structural foam and Injection molding process to replace round galvanized meter pits and concrete boxes & lids. With the rotational molding process, Bob was able to build that meter box. With patented features and unique designs, DFW again provided products that were producing solutions for the industry.
In 1997, DFW sold to Hefco Plastics the injection line of products known as DFW/HPI. Bob had decided to focus his attention on the rotationally molded product line and continue to build DFW’s lead in the water meter & valve box market. In 1998 DFW introduced the patented “E” Lids. These lids were designed to allow AMR (Automatic Meter Reading) transponders to be attached to the lid. With the original slide mount feature, DFW again produced solutions for this new and fast growing market.
In 2002, DFW introduced an all plastic box and lid, the C Series, that would replace concrete or cast iron boxes and lids and be able to obtain the H20 load requirement. This product provides structural strength with AMR technology. Enabling municipalities to install their new AMR system in a meter box or pit that will give them the strength of concrete or cast iron products while at the same time enhance the AMR signal strength that is required for reading. This product solved the problems that Bob had been searching for since 1968. “How can I provide an economical plastic meter box that will replace a concrete meter box?”. The key to that question was economical. There are plastics that will provide the strength of concrete but at outrageous prices. This product had to be economical to enable the municipality to be able to merit the change.
Today, DFW and the McKinnon family offer meter boxes, meter pits, valve boxes, surface drainage, and more in an effort to fulfill the goal established in 1978 by Bob & Carroll McKinnon. Producing solutions for our friends, supporters and customers worldwide.
As technology continues to change and automate, DFW will strive to meet the growing needs of the markets it services, with quality products for the evolving needs of the water industry.
DFW… Producing Solutions…Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow! |
