About Dynatect

80 years of expertise
at your service

Dynatect delivers engineered motion and protection solutions for machines with deep application knowledge, diverse product offering, and a customer-responsive sales philosophy.

Dynatect provides engineering and manufacturing for custom applications that improve human-machine safety and machine uptime.

We focus on extending the lifespan of equipment, enhancing operational safety, and minimizing downtime in industrial environments. Our market leadership is supported by our ability to provide highly durable, customizable solutions, an extensive product portfolio, and a strong reputation for quality in industries such as manufacturing, automation, energy, medical, and transportation. We continue to build our customer experience by improving service differentiation, expanding our product portfolio, and reducing lead times.

Our name comes from the words dynamic and protection because it is the accumulation of over 80 years of experience producing flexible protection for equipment in motion.

 

How it All Started

Over eighty years ago, when founder Gerald “Doc” O’Rourke saw that neighborhood kids needed footballs and basketballs, he started a basement operation to provide them. After introducing a line of sewn leather industrial bellows, Dynatect (formerly A&A) began designing and manufacturing components used in virtually all types of equipment and machinery, becoming a single-source provider for machine protection, cable/hose management, and compartment roll-up doors. (Slip clutches, ball screws, and molded products were added in the last decade).

Today, Dynatect is a market leader in industrial equipment protection with eight production facilities and over 600 employees worldwide. Dynatect provides customer proximity all over the world thanks to its subsidiaries in Europe and Asia.

1945

Gerald O’Rourke founds A&A Manufacturing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Initial offerings include sewn fabric footballs and basketballs in response to a lack of youth athletic equipment by manufacturers who were previously redeployed to wartime production.  Company founder uses his initials “GOR” as prefix-branding on many products including the subsequent umbrella brands of Gortite and Gortrac. (Since 2014, the company’s contemporary name is “Dynatect”)

1945 dynatect history

1949

Dynatect shifts focus to producing flexible fabric bellows providing dynamic protection for industrial applications including machine tools. Over the following 20 years, Dynatect adds fabric roll ups covers and metal roll up covers. These offerings and others evolve into today’s highly recognized line of dependable Gortite protective bellows and covers.

1949 dynatect history

1964

Custom Products Corporation (CPC) is founded in Connecticut, manufacturing slip clutches under the brand Polyclutch.

1967

Dynatect adds telescopic metal cover and wiper capabilities for machine tools under the Gortite brand.  Subsequently adopted by the largest US OEMs as industry standard.

1967 dynatect history

1970

Stabiflex is founded in Indiana, manufacturing steel cable & hose carriers.

1973 Dynatect history

1973

Dynatect adds XY face shield (multi-axis face-shield) capabilities.  Over the next decade, Dynatect also develops aluminum slatted metal roll up doors for machines under the brand Alumaflex.

1973

Leveraging industrial sewing and metalwork capabilities, Dynatect adds articulated bus passageway bellows capabilities for the transportation market. Subsequently expands applications to trains and monorails.

1973 dynatect history bus bellows

1976

Ro-Lab American Rubber (Ro-Lab) is founded in Tracy, California.  Ro-Lab provides custom molding specializing in engineered polymers. This evolves into molded bellows, bus bumpers, and athletic pitching wheels.

1976 history dynatect

1981

Dynatect begins manufacturing busbar bellows for electrical distribution switchgear.  This begins a 50-year journey becoming the preferred US provider of bus bar transitions/flex-connectors, providing protection from the environment in the presence of XYZ-axis misalignments and vibration.

1982

Taking advantage of exposure to the machine tool market, Dynatect acquires Stabiflex, founded in 1970.  Cable carrier offerings are promoted under the Gortrac product line.

1985

Lead Screws International (LSI) is founded in Traverse City, MI.  LSI evolves to design, manufacture, and repair precision ground ball screws for the machine tool industry.

1988

Dynatect opens a new 75,000 square foot manufacturing facility for cable carriers in Valparaiso, IN.  Production includes plastic cable carriers.

1992

Milwaukee Protective Covers (MPC) is founded, manufacturing roll up covers and RF thermically welded bellows (heat sealed bellows).

2000

Utilizing aluminum slatted roll up cover capability, Dynatect develops aluminum slatted roll-up doors (RUD) for fire and emergency vehicles.  This includes establishing an automotive-grade paint line.  Dynatect RUD is subsequently adopted by the largest fire truck OEM as the default offering.  Applications expand to include work trucks and military vehicles.

2002

Capitalizing on machine tool exposure, Dynatect acquires Milwaukee Protective Covers, established in 1992.

2007

Tapping into general industrial exposure, Dynatect adds portable and modular weld curtains capabilities.

2007

Thodacon Machine Tool Accessories is founded in China, manufacturing way wipers, telescopic covers, bellows, aluminum slatted aprons, roll up covers, and pit covers.  Subsequently services Europe, Asia, and North America.

2008

Leveraging general industrial exposure and the demand for mini-clutches, Dynatect acquires Custom Products Corporation, founded in 1964.

2008

Utilizing experience with metal cable carrier for Aerial Work Platforms (AWP) in construction, Dynatect introduces Gortrac SX series AWP metal cable carrier for longer-reach applications featuring fewer components, lighter weight, and lower cost.  Subsequently adopted by the largest AWP OEMs as global industry standard.

2011

Drawing upon global demand for metal cable carrier by multi-national construction OEMs, Dynatect establishes importer presence in China.

2011

Leveraging expertise in roll up doors for work trucks, Dynatect introduces bed covers that can protect service bodies either horizontally or horizontally and vertically.  This offering is subsequently refined to include water mitigation options.

2012

Leveraging experience in transportation and construction, Dynatect acquires Ro-Lab, established in 1976.

Yellow plastic components are arranged against a white background. On the left, there are two flat parts with small protruding pegs and screws. On the right, there are two C-shaped pieces, each with a groove along the inside—perfect examples of Dynatect innovation in design.

2012

Tapping into increasing global exposure in machine tool, Dynatect acquires Halltech GmbH a machine tool distributor in Germany servicing Europe.

2013

Leveraging exposure to machine tool market, Dynatect acquires Lead Screws International, Inc (LSI), established in 1985.

2013

Taking advantage of distribution in Europe, machine tool protection, and transportation protection, Dynatect acquires MFB Technik Schillig GmbH (MFB).  MFB manufactures machine tool and transportation protection products in Germany for Europe. Dip-molded bellows were added to the portfolio.

2013

Thodacon Werkzeugmaschinenschutz GmbH (Thodacon GmbH) is founded in Kolbermoor, Germany as the sales office of Thodacon Wuxi to service the European machine tool market.

2014

With a portfolio that changes and expands over 70 years, now focused on DYNAmic proTECTion, company rebrands under one unified trade name and brand mark: “Dynatect”.

2014

Drawing upon construction market and custom molding experience, Dynatect adds capability to manufacture pipe guides and rod wipers for horizontal directional drilling equipment.

2015

Employing large format fabric manufacturing like bus bellows, Dynatect adds capability to manufacture large format machine roof covers to service both machine tool and robotics & automation markets.

2015

Steinbock GmbH is founded in Germany as a distributor for machine tool accessories.  Thodacon GmbH acquires Steinbock in 2018.

2016

Leveraging transportation passageway bellows, Dynatect adds capability to manufacture mobile building bellows for connecting cargo containers which are retrofit into hospitals/offices.

2017

Applying decades of roll-up machine door experience and automation, Dynatect adds capability to manufacture high-speed automated machine safety doors for work cells to service robotics & automation markets.

2018

Tapping into robotics & automation and cable carrier experience, Dynatect adds two additional long travel cable carrier solutions ideal for 7th axis robots and other applications.

2018

Revisiting the company’s beginning with athletic equipment, and further diversifying, Dynatect adds capability to manufacture dual-durometer urethane spin-cast pitching wheels for pitching simulators. Subsequently adopted by the largest US athletic pitching simulator OEMs as industry standard.

2019

Dynatect acquires Thodacon Machine Tool Accessories in China (established 2007) and Thodacon GmbH in Germany (established 2013).  All Dynatect European entities enter 2-year journey to consolidate sales and manufacturing organization/operations becoming Dynatect Europe.

2020

Leveraging US manufacturing of cable carrier, Dynatect establishes stamping and assembly of Gortrac cable carrier in China for Asia AWP industry. Subsequently adopted by the largest China AWP OEMs as industry standard.

2020

Applying robotics & automation market experience, adds capability to manufacture high-speed metal roll up doors for robotic laser welding work cells.

2021

Employing transportation roll up door and automotive paint capabilities, Dynatect adds capability to manufacture delivery vehicle roll up doors for last mile delivery vehicles and work trucks.

2023

In response to increasing OEM demand for vehicle roll up doors and door handles, Dynatect opens an 85,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Leon, Mexico.

2024

Leveraging expertise in both bed covers and powered roll up doors, Dynatect combines those technologies into motorized bed covers that can be used in vehicle or industrial applications.

2025

Having built custom modular pre-framed roll up door assemblies for a decade, Dynatect formalizes a standard offering for faster quoting and delivery.  The door being pre-framed reduces installation time, errors, and service issues for vehicle applications.

Why Choose Dynatect?

We listen and deliver practical and cost-effective solutions

We are ready to meet your needs, from standard offerings to custom-engineered products configured around your application

Contact Our Team

  • We listen and deliver practical and cost-effective solutions, offering upfront design assistance with our client solutions engineers
  • We meet your needs, from standard to custom-engineered products configured around your application
  • A broad network of 50+ local factory-trained representatives offers onsite support, technical advice, and recommendations
  • Integrated engineering and manufacturing—delivering turnkey assemblies with precision and flexibility, including one-time projects
  • Access to new solutions for your industry, driven by active product research and development
  • Choose from a broad range of materials including metal, engineered plastics, elastomers, and over 120 specialty textiles
  • With the largest portfolio of protective covers, Dynatect is also the only North American manufacturer of both plastic and metal cable carriers
  • Regular repeat orders? Count on reliable delivery backed by efficient inventory management

Our Brands

Dynatect is North America’s largest protective cover and bellows manufacturer. We offer Gortite® covers for diverse industries, from manufacturing to transportation. Our Gortrac® cable and hose carriers suit applications from light-duty tools to heavy-duty steel mills. Dynatect LSI specializes in custom precision ground ball screws, including repair and reverse engineering of various screw types. Polyclutch® slip clutches support torque control and soft starts, while Ro-Lab® designs and manufactures high-quality rubber and polyurethane products. We provide reliable solutions across industries with an emphasis on custom engineering and total production control.

View All Our Brands

Manufacturing & Design Capabilities

Globally, Dynatect has over 75 different manufacturing capabilities to produce the exact right product in the most efficient way. Consider what any of these capabilities can do to help achieve application success.

Capabilities Overview (PDF)

Automation

  • Electrical, Pneumatic, Hydraulic

Elastomer Processing

  • Mixing/compounding of specialty rubber formulations, fabric coating, cold feed extrusion

Elastomer Molding

  • Injection, compression, transfer, spin-cast, dip, insert, open pour, reaction injection, dual-durometer, flange, hose

3D Printing

  • Multi-jet fusion, fused deposition modeling

Metal Cutting

  • Saw, shear, punch, plasma (manual), waterjet, laser

Elastomer/Plastic/Fabric Cutting

  • Manual cutting/sawing, CNC blade cutting, waterjet cutting, hot blade cutting, CNC router

Precision Machining

  • Horizontal, vertical, turning

Precision Manipulation

  • Forming/bending, punching, drilling, CNC router, thread cutting/grinding, deburring, whirling, spring winding, calibration, burn-in

Metal Welding

  • MIG, TIG, spot-weld

Thermoplastics Welding

  • UF/high frequency, thermal, impulse, hot air, hot wedge

Heat Processing

  • Oven, autoclave, press vulcanizing

Major Assembly

  • Pleating, shaping, sewing, adhesive bonding, crimping, metal staking, folding, riveting, elastomer heat sealing, automation assisted

Finishing

  • Tumbling, sandblasting, metal graining, buffing, wet painting, automotive-grade painting

Major Testing

  • Cycle – multi-axis, electrical, thermal, chemical, pressure, vacuum, air/water tightness, outdoor, 200’ travel

Repair/Refurbishment

  • Metal way cover, rollup cover, ball screws

Design & Engineering

  • 2D and 3D design from engineering, to approval, to manufacturing; Automated CAD-to-CAM processes; R&D, design, and reverse engineering; Leading-edge testing capabilities

Repair Service & Replacement Solutions

Dynatect’s products are designed for high repetition, high speed, and durable performance in harsh applications.  Some environments are so extreme that motion/protective devices need to be repaired or replaced as a part of a Maintenance – Repair – Operations (MRO) process.  Dynatect offers reliable repair of ANY BRAND ball screw, telescopic covers, and roll up covers.  Dynatect also provides replacement of consumable goods like wipers and bellows.  Dynatect can make and repair the most extreme ball screws including units 67 feet long and 6 inches in diameter.  Dynatect can make and repair the most extreme telescopic covers including unit 64 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 17 continuous sections.  Dynatect is the global leader in way wipers providing stock way wiper sticks, telescopic wipers and parts, and custom way wipers.  Dynatect has the broadest portfolio of bellows with 15 different construction capabilities and hundreds of high performance materials meeting the needs of diverse industries from machine tool, to space exploration, to medical.  Rely on Dynatect to keep you machines and applications dynamically protected.

Replacement & Rebuild Options

Dynatect also provides custom engineering for repair, reverse-engineered, or entirely-new precision ground ball screws and telescopic way covers representing the most options to balance price, up-time and performance. Using repair services will help companies reduce the impact of steel tariffs. There’s no surcharge for repaired telescopic way covers and precision ball screws.  For facilities with a fleet of machine tools, Dynatect can provide a plant audit including change-out and refurbishment programs. Since Dynatect is also a leader ball screws, telescopic covers, way wipers, and bellows, this plant audit can pro-actively address many common machine-tool safety, service, and up-time needs. Any of these offerings can be augmented by a rotating inventory program to reduce outage duration by 70%.

Repair Service

Dynatect offers repair through its Michigan and Wisconsin facilities. All brands of telescopic covers and precision ball screws (even acme or lead screws) can be restored, tested, and quickly returned. Evaluations are thorough and free, and replacements are always quoted as an option.

Way Cover Repair Service

Ball Screw Repair Service

Our Locations