Company History and Awards


Reed Switch Developments Corp. Company History and Awards


2023

In January, Reed Switch Developments Corp. achieves a #4 Quality Leadership Ranking from Quality Magazine. In March, the company is again recognized by Quality Magazine as its 2023 Plant of the Year, and receives both a letter of commendation and in-person visit from the Mayor of the City of Racine, Wisconsin, Cory D. Mason. In April, the company is recognized by RAMAC as Manufacturer of the Year.

2022

Reed Switch Developments Corp. celebrates two anniversaries: its 55th year of operation and its 35th anniversary as a Racine, Wisconsin-based manufacturer.  The company celebrates the occasions with its employees and fellow members of the Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce (RAMAC).  At the event, Reed Switch Developments Corp. president Debra Dahlin is presented with a Certificate of Special Recognition from United States Congressman Bryan Steil, who represents Wisconsin’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is also the appointed Chairman of the Committee on House Administration.  The company finishes 2023 with another record sales year, as well as significant number of pre-booked orders for 2023.

2021

For the first time in its nearly 55-year history, as a global manufacturer, Reed Switch Developments Corp. achieves formal certification from the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) as a Woman Business Enterprise (WBE), following an extensive third-party document review process. The WBE certification is valid for three years. Company sales are up 30% over their highest pre-pandemic levels.

2020

Reed Switch Developments Corp. remains open throughout the global pandemic as a designated Phase 2 Essential Business. Its manufacturing operations continue, largely uninterrupted, albeit with new health and safety procedures.

2018

Reed Switch Developments Corp. marks another official milestone, achieving the highest sales numbers in its more than 50-year history, with a 20% increase over the prior year’s historic growth.  The company attributes its continued success to its unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction and its commitment to 100% U.S.-based operations, as well as the success of its strategic growth partnerships and strong supply chain.

2017

Reed Switch Developments Corp. officially becomes a third-generation family operated small business, when Christina Berns, daughter of president, Debra Dahlin, joins the company as its receptionist. The company marks its 50th Anniversary with ongoing in-house celebrations. It is also nominated for Wisconsin Small Business of the Year.

2015

Reed Switch Developments Corp. enters into a major global distribution agreement with Amazon, as facilitated by its longtime global strategic marketing partners, Embassy Global, LLC, for worldwide online sales of its specially developed magnetic reed switch sensor and actuator kits.  The company also launches a brand-new website, further expanding its online product catalog.  The new site triples incoming website traffic and RFQ activity within 90 days of launch.

2014

Reed Switch Developments Corp. begins strategic global technical marketing, PR, business development, and management consulting relationship with the Buffalo, New York, USA based, Embassy Global, LLC, a fellow 100% woman-owned small business and renowned industry experts in strategic growth for the sensors and electronic components industries, vastly increasing the company’s new business, customer acquisition and retention, and leads gen capability.

2012

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Reed Switch Developments Corp. celebrates its 45th year as a privately held, family-owned small business. That year also marked the company’s third consecutive year of continued sales growth, as well as new improvements in manufacturing efficiencies and our capability to add more skilled jobs within the community of Racine, Wisconsin.

Reed Switch Developments Corp. is nominated again for Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year.  The company was hugely humbled and honored to receive this prestigious Wisconsin State awardopens pdf file for the second time, after having previously received it in 1999. Only four companies in the entire state receive this award each year for being leaders in product innovation, customer service and creative strategies to cope with challenges such as Wisconsin’s ongoing labor shortages. Reed Switch Developments Corp. was nominated for the award again because of its continued growth, superb customer service, excellent employee training programs and low employee turnover.

click here to view our state of wisconsin senatorial and opens pdf file Mayoral Recognitions 

2010

During the “Great Recession” in the U.S., Reed Switch Developments Corp. shows great tenacity and endurance by reaching a historic milestone: its highest annual sales in its history to-date.

2007

Reed Switch Developments Corp. celebrates its 40th Anniversary. It is presented with a second Golden Key Award by RAMAC for its longevity, continuous growth and contributions to the community.

2004

Reed Switch Developments Corp. experiences a 28% sales growth year, with the expansion of its magnetic reed switch product lines and markets served. The new corporate headquarters is completed and opened in Racine, Wisconsin, USA, and is designed with a West Coast Silicon Valley high-tech theme. This theme incorporates the two core philosophies of Reed Switch Developments Corp.: Creativity and Innovation. It incorporates lean manufacturing techniques and principles, a full cellular manufacturing floorplan, and new continuous quality improvement process protocols. The new facility also fosters an environment of employee creativity and innovation. In anticipation of the company’s continued success, the building is uniquely designed to facilitate its future expansion, without disruption of the original structural design.

2001

Reed Switch Developments Corp. pioneers its Total Solutions Package, which includes everything from design, development, sourcing, Kanban and just-in-time shipping. Applications engineering and new product development services, to include the design and integration of magnetic reed switch sensors and actuators directly into a customer’s device, brings a personalized service that only Reed Switch Developments Corp. can offer the market. The service is designed to serve the customer with comprehensive custom product development and engineering services, at a competitive price, and with lead times that are typically among the shortest in the industry.

2000

Reed Switch Developments Corp. receives the prestigious 1999 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award. This award recognizes Reed Switch Developments for increasing its production capabilities by over 30% via the implementation of cellular manufacturing, along with a 28% sales increase over the prior two-year period. The sales growth was attributed, in large part, to its consistently strong historical on-time delivery performance.

1999

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Reed Switch Developments Corp. is named Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year! Only four companies in the State of Wisconsin receive the Award each year for their leadership in product innovation, customer service and creative strategies to cope with challenges, such as the Wisconsin labor shortage. Reed Switch Developments Corp. was chosen for the Award due to its strong growth over the past three years, a superb record of on-time shipments, excellence in employee training programs, and zero employee turnover.

Reed Switch Developments Corp. receives the Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce Golden Key Award. The company is recognized for its advancements in production through implementation of cellular manufacturing, the doubling of its production capacity; and its empowerment of the company’s manufacturing team, by allowing for a continuous product improvement process. Such improvements alone allowed Reed Switch Developments Corp. to compete with multi-million dollar companies in their industry and to place the company on a global stage. First-generation company owner, Ms. Rose Dahlin, officially retires from Reed Switch Developments. Her daughter, Debra, assumes the company’s ownership.

1994

Second-generation Dahlin family owner, Debra, is named as Reed Switch Developments Corp.’s first female company president, a position which she holds today. Her mother, first-generation owner Rose Dahlin, is named as vice president. Together, the two women work together to strengthen and solidify their already-growing market position, as a 100% woman-owned manufacturer and a family owned small business in the State of Wisconsin.

1990

Reed Switch Developments Corp. officially breaks into the international market with its first customer account in Seoul, Korea. At this time, their primary core competencies center around the supply of custom magnetic-based reed switches within niche markets, such as appliances and factory automation/robotics. Reed Switch Developments Corp. begins its specialization in highly custom applications designed to customer exacting standards, as more customers take notice of the company’s unique capabilities in these areas.

1987

Reed Switch Developments Corp. moves its global corporate headquarters and manufacturing operations to Racine, Wisconsin, USA, operating as a US-based manufacturer, under the private family ownership of Harold and Rose Dahlin. Their daughter, Debra Dahlin, joins the company as Vice-President and General Manager.