NEWS & UPDATES
MARCH 2024
Dies Direct is pleased to mark the two-year anniversary of successfully producing craft stencils for businesses in the paper crafting and other craft businesses. From our easy online ordering process, opportunity to approve graphics prior to production, quick delivery of design samples to fast turnaround of full production of inventory orders, Dies Direct is definitely the top choice for businesses looking for a trusted contract manufacturer to produce their designs. Visit Dies Direct’s guide to producing stencils on the web: Stencil Guidelines
november 2023
Ancor Capital Partners’ portfolio company PMA Industries (PMA) recently acquired United Western Enterprises, Inc. (United Western), a company focused on contract manufacturing using photochemical matching technology. Based in Camarillo, California, United Western is a producer of thin photo chemically etched metal parts, with the company offering several value-added services including forming, laser welding, heat treating and metal finishing. Additionally, United Western manufactures wire harnesses and cables assemblies.
The combination of United Western and PMA results in one of North America’s largest photochemical etching contract manufacturers and positions the firm to continue its growth in serving the aerospace, defense, electronics, medical and consumer products industries. The acquisition also provides access to additional value-add services for the benefit of PMA’s existing customers.
“Today marks an important milestone for our company with PMA’s successful acquisition of United Western,” said Jim Everson, President & CEO of PMA, “Our focus now turns to joining and building on United Western’s experience and capabilities with those of PMA to continue producing quality products, focused on value and timeliness for all of our customers.”
“Adding United Western to its portfolio will greatly bolster PMA’s chemical etching capabilities, further enhancing PMA’s presence in the aerospace, defense, electronics and medical parts industries,” said Ray Kingsbury, Chairman of PMA Industries. “PMA continues to have a strong presence in the photochemical etching manufacturing space under Jim Everson’s leadership, and this acquisition is one more example of how the company continues to be a leader in the market for precision metal parts.”
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About Ancor Capital Partners
Ancor Capital Partners, founded in 1994, is a Dallas-based private investment firm that invests in lower-middle-market companies. Ancor is focused on helping companies reach their next level of growth. Ancor’s experienced investment team has the acumen, expertise, and resources to invest wisely in existing successful companies through private equity buyouts. As a seasoned operating partner, Ancor works to operationally optimize businesses, maximize growth opportunities, and instill a lasting culture. With a proven track record of 59 successful acquisitions to date, Ancor targets investments in healthcare, industrial, consumer staples, and emerging industries. For more information, please visit: www.ancorcapital.com.
About PMA Industries
PMA Industries is a leading photo chemical machining contract manufacturer for a variety of markets, including aerospace, medical, electronics and consumer products. PMA was founded in Phoenix, Arizona in 1982.
About United Western Enterprises
United Western Enterprises is a supplier of thin photo chemically etched metal parts to a variety of different markets, including aerospace, medical and commercial electronics. United Western Enterprises was founded in Santa Monica, California in 1969 as a support facility for a publishing company. Shortly thereafter, United Western Enterprises began producing parts for other companies as a custom job shop.
january 2023
PMA Industries is proud to announce the appointment of Jim
Everson, President & CEO of PMA Industries to the Photo Chemical Machining
Institute (“PCMI”) Board of Directors.
The PCMI is an industry organization for firms involved in the photo
chemical machining industry, comprised of members in 19 countries from 6
continents.
PCMI is an industry organization committed to furthering the
education and technological advances within the photo chemical machining
industry, to benefit industrial and consumer customers that utilize products
made from a variety of metals. Regarding
being invited to join the PCMI Board, Everson remarked, “It is an honor to
serve an industry that is committed to producing quality products in an
efficient manner, while utilizing ever-improving technology in an
environmentally-sound manner”.
The PCMI was founded in 1967. www.pcmi.org
PMA Industries was founded in 1982 and is a leading contract
manufacturer utilizing photo chemical machining technology for its customers in
the aerospace and defense, automotive, electronics, medical, general
manufacturing and consumer products industries from its offices and production
facility in Phoenix, Arizona. www.pmaindustriesinc.com
october 2022
The Photo Chemical Machining Institute (“PCMI”) – an industry organization for firms involved in the photo chemical machining industry, comprised of members in 19 countries from 6 continents, recently held its International Technical Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The program featured technical sessions, networking with industry professionals from around the world, presentations on emerging technologies in the industry, and featured a plant tour of PMA Industries by over 55 international experts from the photo chemical machining industry.
PMA Industries, one of the leading photo chemical etching firms in North America, was invited to host the facility tour during the conference and to enlighten attendees on PMA’s operations and industry leading capabilities. Jim Everson, President & CEO noted, “Our entire team at PMA Industries was proud to be selected to host the PCMI conference this Fall and to have an opportunity to welcome an international audience to view the tremendous work we do for our customers utilizing photo chemical machining technology”.
PCMI will hold its next International Technical Conference in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
march 2022
Dies Direct announces private label mylar stencils are now available, all produced from our manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Now Dies Direct customers can source their stencils directly from the leader in paper crafting dies. Our team can produce mylar stencils from 7mil, 10mil, or 14mil material on a private label basis for your papercrafting brand. Working with our growing in-house graphics team, your design can be produced and packaged retail-ready – all within a quick turnaround and at competitive pricing.
january 2022
Dies Direct begins the production of custom paper packs! Customers can now design and order custom paper packs, featuring high-quality, four-color printing on 80# uncoated cardstock and using paper sourced from US paper mills. The paper packs are available in a variety of sizes, and with the help of our in-house graphics team, customers can create designs unique to their own brands or labels.
Paper packs are available in both double and single sided printing, and feature easy tear-away binding. Minimum quantities are competitively low, but discounted pricing is available for bulk orders.
jULY 2021
Dies Direct is pleased to announce the launch of its new offering of Hot Foil Stamps. The new offering features an attractive heat-resistant copper finish, is made from a different grade of steel than our classic offering – which now makes it compatible with nearly all hot foil platforms, and still carries small minimum order quantities. For those that have not offered Hot Foil stamps to their customers in the past, the versatility of this new offering may be particularly attractive – as now your customers can use your designs manufactured by Dies Direct on any of the popular Hot Foil machines in the market.
Dies Direct originally began producing Hot Foil stamps in 2019. The original offering is made from a thicker grade of steel and features a navy finish. This original design of Hot Foil stamps from Dies Direct will continue to be produced for those customers that prefer the classic look, feel and usability of this classic design.
january 2021
Recent environmental regulation updates in the United States require many industries to migrate to a low-volatile organic compound (or “low VOC”) content paint. Craft dies require a tremendously rugged paint to withstand the pressures created at the cut line – a demand that required a significant amount of research on Dies Direct’s part during 2020 to ensure the dies would achieve the same (or better) end-product using a low-VOC paint formula.
After significant cost, time, and effort, Dies Direct is happy to announce die production is moving to a low-VOC paint for all newly produced dies by the second quarter of 2021. Customers may notice a modest color change from the existing die color – the new low-VOC content dies exhibit a slightly brighter silver. In addition to the attractive color change, the exhaustive testing has concluded the new paint formula ultimately provides improved durability as well. Dies Direct is proud to bring these product enhancements to our customers without an impact to price.
With PMA’s commitment to low-VOC paint and already producing product from a state of the art facility, PMA Industries once again demonstrates its commitment to responsible manufacturing practices for the benefit of our customers, our employees, our investors, and our world.
october 2020
PMA Industries announced the installation of Jim Everson as President and Chief Executive Officer. Jim joined PMA as its Chief Financial Officer in May 2020 after serving over fifteen years in similar financial and operational leadership roles at a middle market service and manufacturing firm in Phoenix and a private equity firm in Scottsdale, Arizona. Previously, Jim was a Controller and Regional Controller for publicly traded companies including Capital Title Group (acquired by LandAmerica) in Scottsdale and Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa. A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Jim began his career as a CPA with Ernst & Young in Des Moines.
PMA also announced the promotion of Kelsy Fee to Controller. Kelsy joined PMA in September 2019 as a Staff Accountant and has managed the accounting and financial reporting function for the Company since joining. As part of her new role as Controller, Kelsy will also manage the Human Resources function including payroll, employee benefits, recruitment, onboarding and employee relations. Kelsy is a graduate of the University of Phoenix, where she obtained a degree in Accounting and a MBA.
aPRIL 2020
PMA Industries is happy to announce its move into a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility providing over 65,000 square feet of manufacturing space and corporate offices in Phoenix, Arizona. After growing and expanding in its original location near downtown Phoenix since 1982, our new location and facility will allow for more efficient production and provide room for future growth. The new facility provides a climate-controlled production area, significantly improved work flow, improved access to freeways, and an improved working climate for all of our team members.
january 2017
PMA Industries, through an acquisition led by Ancor Capital Partners (“Ancor”) embarked on its next chapter as a manufacturer that remains customer focused. Ancor is a lower middle market private investment firm based in Dallas, Texas. With Ancor’s assistance, the management team of PMA Industries looks forward to continued success and growth in the markets it serves. Ancor’s support of PMA’s team members, investment in equipment and facilities, and access to industry experts provides the right measure of support to help the company fulfill its promise to customers on its commitment to Quality, Integrity, and products Made in the USA.
PMA Industries
18008 N Black Canyon Highway
Phoenix, Arizona 85053
USA
Local: 602-278-7800
Toll Free: 877-897-7575
Monday – Friday
8:00AM – 4PM