Doran Manufacturing, a business founded in 1953 as a manufacturer of terminal boards for small appliances, has come a long way – today, the company supplies its innovative products and technology, designed to keep commercial vehicles in service while improving safety and reducing operational costs, to fleets and major vehicle OEMs in global markets.
The company’s President Jim Samocki explains that the company currently focuses on two primary product categories: tire monitoring systems for truck/trailer fleets, off-the-road vehicles and agricultural equipment and safety products for school buses, for which Doran supplies light monitors and Sleeping Child Check® monitors.
“The two key benefits of our monitoring systems are safety and cost-efficiency,” said Mr Samocki, adding that the company pursues a highly customised approach. “We treat our customers’ problems as if they’re our own. Using our core technology to create tailored solutions that match the specific needs of an organisation is one of our strengths.”
He emphasised that trust is a core value of the company. “Our team creates solutions that can be trusted in rugged environments. Our products, like our people, are reliable and do as they promise, which is critically important for the applications our monitoring systems are used for, and much appreciated by our customers. We also focus on building long-term partner relationships with like-minded service providers and suppliers.”
Seven decades of development
This customer-centric approach has been part of the company’s mentality and culture throughout its history. The business, founded by Edward Bauer and Robert Mayer who named the company after their wives, Dorothy, and Ann, was sold in the mid-1950s to the Stegman family and remained in family hands for three generations until 2022.
Mr Samocki explained that Doran entered the commercial vehicle and transportation market in the 1970s, making customised fuse panels for truck, bus, RV and golf cart manufacturers, and a decade later expanded into school bus safety products by designing and manufacturing exterior light monitors, followed by the Sleeping Child Check® monitor.
In 2001, the company expanded its portfolio yet again, entering tire monitoring systems for trucks and RVs. Seven years later, they launched the proprietary Doran 360™ tire monitoring systems which have been continuously innovated, enhanced and hold a number of patents. The products have also received wide-ranging recognition, including being named amongst the Top 20 Products Awards by Heavy Duty Trucking magazine with the YardCheck 360™ wireless gate reader tire monitoring system, a web-based dashboard that allows fleet managers and tire service providers to easily access current and historical tire pressure and temperature data and TPMS alarms for all tires in the fleet.
Mr Samocki summarised the key benefits of Doran Manufacturing products: “Our tire monitoring systems help to reduce tire-related repair and maintenance costs, by reducing labour costs for tire checks, extending tread life, protecting casings and minimizing roadside tire replacements. They can be integrated with any telematics provider, and are available for all types of equipment, with simple and fast installation and minimal maintenance.”
“As they also help extend the life of tires and improve fuel economy, they promote sustainability, an increasingly important aspect now required by global OEMs and customers around the world,” he affirmed, pointing out that the company is a proud holder of certifications for ISO Quality Management and Environmental Management Systems. In 2022, Doran also earned an EcoVadis silver rating for its commitment to sustainability processes and procedures, just one point from gold.
New shape and form
Last year, the company reached a significant milestone, as the members of the third generation of the owners, Jeff, and Todd Stegman, decided to step back after many years of ownership, and sell the business to the company management, Mr Samocki and two of his peer managers, Lee Demis, Vice President of Business Development and Dave Robinson, Controller.
“The Stegman brothers wished to transfer the business to people they trusted, to keep the legacy of the company going. Even under their ownership, they allowed us to run the business and expand and grow. Together we achieved a successful transition which has been a key part of the success and celebration of the company’s 70th anniversary.”
Since then, the business has achieved new heights. The facility was moved to new, flex-space premises (operational within just two days!), a new ERP was implemented, and the business hit several record months in orders and shipments, with more new customer opportunities than ever before, says Mr Samocki.
In this context, he highlighted the key factor – the people. “Our team has been amazing, and our people are the real core of the business, without whom no success would be possible. We foster a spirit of continuous improvement. As an example, every one of our team members is LEAN yellow belt certified.”
“We continuously seek ways how to improve the business, the products, as well as ourselves. Through a proper life-work balance, we empower individuals to actively contribute and grow by investing in their careers while serving our customers. The company mentality and culture are reflected in our tagline – ‘Our drive keeps you moving!’, and each of us has a personal drive to succeed.”
Positive outlook
He reflected that Doran has not experienced issues with recruiting the right team members and considers the company as a talent magnet. “Our average tenure is more than 10 years, which is quite telling and remarkable. The next challenge will be to continue on this path during a period of growth; we want to continue to make Doran an extraordinary place to work and have a career, a place where people can learn and develop, to become the best versions of themselves. Because if that happens, then the company can be the best version of itself.”
In the right premises and with the right people, Doran Manufacturing is now looking ahead with ambition. The company today supplies its monitoring systems to 46 countries around the world, with a customer base that includes international OEMs and fleets of all shapes and sizes.
“We bought the business with a growth mindset,” acknowledged Jim Samocki. “The intention is to double the business in the next three years, which we believe is realistic. To this end, we plan to increase the size of our team. We will focus on further enhancing our current technology, and work on related technology in the safety and maintenance monitoring space for commercial vehicles. To summarise, we have a long-term outlook that is very positive.”
