In 1987, Illinois Tool Works (ITW), opened an injection molding/plastics assembly satellite plant in Maquoketa, Iowa. For over 10 years, the facility partnered extensively with a local non-profit organization, DAC, Inc. Through DAC, ITW Fastex provided contract assembly work for up to 100 individuals with disabilities from a 5 county area in eastern Iowa. In 1996, the ITW Fastex management team elected to move the operation to Des Plaines, IL. DAC Inc. then purchased the operation to protect and create job opportunities for the individuals. You may learn more about DAC by visiting the website at dacincorp.com.
The purchase included all of the assets at the Maquoketa plant, including plastic injection molding machines, tool room capabilities, secondary equipment, select product lines and their accompanying customer bases. A-DAC Plastics Corp. was formed. The name was later changed to A-DAC Industries, Inc. in 2008 to reflect the various industries it serves. This purchase enabled DAC to continue the sheltered workshop for a distinct group of people operating together as an “enclave” of workers to become part of a competitive work force.
A-DAC Industries operates as one of Iowa’s most unique industries. As a modern, for-profit plastic injection molding facility, A-DAC Industries continues to participate in the mission of its parent organization by providing jobs and revenue in support of Jackson County’s developmentally challenged citizens.
Today, ITW Fastex remains one of A-DAC’s largest customers and continue’s to support the DAC/A-DAC mission by providing a variety of plastic injection molding and downstream assembly projects. Their participation and understanding have been vital to both DAC and A-DAC’s success. A-DAC’s skilled workforce, combined with the small town overhead, result in high quality workmanship at competitive prices.
A-DAC manufactured products, whether produced entirely by A-DAC’s skilled work employees or assembled with a blend of DAC’s workforce of employees with disabilities, are shipped to some of the country’ s largest OEM’s (original equipment manufacturer) in the fenestration industry, lawn and turf care, road construction components, and sports/leisure. A-DAC continues to grow and strengthen its market share by becoming a partner in business as a preferred supplier.