At Tough Tek Metals, we believe that exceptional products are built on exceptional partnerships. Today, we’re proud to spotlight Deco Products, a premier U.S.-based zinc die casting manufacturer that has been instrumental in helping us deliver the quality and reliability our customers expect.
A Legacy of Excellence
Deco Products began its journey as part of a larger automotive company in the upper Midwest. Originally named for the “Decorah Company,” the operation started as an assembly facility before transitioning to become the primary casting facility. Recognizing the exceptional talent and potential of the Deco team, the founders established Deco Products Company as an independent custom die caster in 1984, headquartered in Decorah, Iowa.
Over the past 65 years, Deco has grown into a 150,000 square foot facility producing over 100 million parts annually. Their evolution from a small automotive supplier to a full-service zinc die casting leader demonstrates their commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
What Sets Deco Products Apart
Exclusive Focus on Zinc Excellence
Unlike many competitors who spread their expertise across multiple casting materials, Deco Products focuses exclusively on zinc die casting. This specialization allows them to optimize their systems, operations, and workforce specifically for zinc—resulting in superior quality and efficiency for their customers.
Family-Owned Values with Professional Expertise
Deco occupies a unique position in the industry as a family-owned, professionally managed business. They combine the relationship-oriented culture of a smaller company with the robust engineering support and technical capabilities that strategic customers require. This balance creates partnerships that feel personal while delivering enterprise-level results.
Financial Stability and Long-Term Vision
With a fleet of more than 100 die cast machines maintained without any debt, Deco demonstrates remarkable financial stability. Their long-term outlook drives continuous reinvestment in equipment and capabilities, reducing risk for customers like us and ensuring they can support both stability and growth initiatives.
Engineering Expertise That Creates Value
Deco Products goes beyond simple manufacturing. Their team brings decades of engineering experience in zinc part design, helping customers optimize components across different zinc alloy options. They advise on selecting the alloy best suited for specific end-use environments, and consult on product design, ensuring the final product delivers the optimal balance of performance, durability, and value.
This engineering support has been invaluable to Tough Tek Metals. Rather than simply producing parts to specification, Deco collaborates with us to refine designs for manufacturability while helping us retain our intellectual property and competitive advantages.
Serving Diverse Industries
Deco Products serves a remarkable range of markets where zinc’s strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness provide critical advantages:
- Office Furnishings
- Window and Door Hardware
- Irrigation Systems
- Lighting and Electrical
- Military and Defense
- Power and Hand Tools
- HVAC
- Architectural Products
- Transportation and Material Handling
- Food and Beverage
- And many more
Their zinc die castings help customers reduce costs, improve product longevity, and simplify complex assemblies. Zinc’s natural corrosion resistance and ability to hold tight tolerances enable greater precision with less secondary machining.
The Made in USA Commitment
For Deco Products, “Made in the USA” means more than just a label—it’s a comprehensive commitment that extends throughout their entire supply chain.
Why It Matters
As a small, privately-owned company with a single location, Deco’s support for American manufacturing carries deep personal significance. Every commercial decision ripples through the families and communities of their stakeholders—employees, customers, and neighbors in Decorah, Iowa.
Tangible Benefits
U.S.-based manufacturing provides customers with:
- Predictable quality through consistent standards
- Shorter lead times and responsive service
- Secure supply chains that reduce overseas sourcing risks
- Quick problem resolution with local tooling partners
- Socially responsible sourcing that avoids questionable overseas suppliers
Strategic Tooling Investments
One of Deco’s most significant commitments is maintaining tooling relationships in the United States. While they acknowledge that domestic tooling costs significantly more than overseas alternatives, the investment pays dividends when problems arise. Being able to reach their tooling suppliers in hours rather than days substantially protects customers from significant equipment-related outages.
Quality You Can Trust
Deco Products maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification, demonstrating their commitment to controlled and repeatable business processes. Their quality management approach encompasses:
- Design optimization in collaboration with experienced local tooling shops
- First article inspection for customer approval
- Setup verification to ensure conformance to requirements
- In-process monitoring by operators and quality teams throughout production runs
- Rapid response to address any customer concerns
Why Our Partnership Works
Working with Deco Products has been transformative for Tough Tek Metals. Their commitment to operating as a strategic partner rather than just a supplier aligns perfectly with our values and business approach.
Mutual Trust and Reliability
Deco’s team understands that we care about more than finding the lowest price—we’re building long-term, sustainable solutions. This shared philosophy creates a high-trust environment where both companies can invest confidently in the relationship. We know that Deco will continue to reinvest in their capabilities and maintain their local supplier network rather than chasing short-term cost savings.
Responsive and Adaptive
When unexpected needs arise—and they always do—Deco responds with intelligence and agility. Their excess capacity, direct engineering support, and domestic location enable them to adapt quickly to changes, expedite orders when needed, and provide hands-on problem-solving that would be impossible with offshore suppliers.
Built for the Long Term
Deco delivers consistent quality and on-time parts, but more importantly, they’re there to help quickly when challenges emerge. This resilience is only possible because both companies approach the relationship as a true partnership rather than a transactional buyer-seller dynamic.
Looking to the Future
Zinc castings play an essential role in growing industries and infrastructure development. As markets continue to innovate, Deco Products remains committed to investing in their technical expertise, human capital, and strong network of local suppliers to stay adaptive to new products entering the market.
For Tough Tek Metals, partnering with a supplier that shares our commitment to American manufacturing, quality craftsmanship, and long-term thinking isn’t just good business—it’s essential to our mission.
Learn More About Deco Products
Deco Products has been a trusted leader in precision zinc die casting with over 65 years of experience, processing over 90 million parts yearly.
We’re grateful for our partnership with Deco Products and proud to work with a company that exemplifies the best of American manufacturing. Their dedication to excellence, customer partnership, and Made in USA values makes them more than a supplier—they’re an integral part of the Tough Tek Metals story.
Interested in learning more about our commitment to American-made quality? Contact today to discover how our partnerships with premier suppliers like Deco Products translate into superior products for your business.
