Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence: Continental Diamond Tool Corporation's Remarkable Journey
This October marks a truly momentous milestone in our journey - the celebration of Continental Diamond Tool Corporation's 50th anniversary. For half a century, we've been dedicated to pioneering excellence in superabrasive tool manufacturing, and this journey of growth and innovation has been nothing short of extraordinary.
1973: The Humble Beginnings
Our founder, Ray Viggiano, took the first monumental step in the fall of 1973 when he opened the doors of our first 4,500 sq. ft. building on Hartzell Street in New Haven, Indiana. Little did we know that this was the inception of a legacy that would span decades.
A Half Century of Innovation and Expansion
Over the years, we have accomplished countless milestones:
1973 Continental Diamond Tool Corporation is established.
By 1974, production of Metal Bond Diamond and CBN products and Diamond Stationary Dressers ramps up, setting the foundation of our expertise in superabrasives.
1978 saw the launch of our Resin Bond product line, expanding our product range and capabilities.
Fast forward to 1984-1985, we ventured into the Plated product line, diversifying our offerings to meet evolving industry needs.
In 1988, we attended our first trade show, marking the beginning of our active presence in industry events and networking opportunities.
During the 1990s, we experienced steady growth, fueled by a dedicated team of loyal employees. Many of them have been working at CDT for decades, contributing their expertise and commitment to quality and customer service.
1997 marked a significant expansion with the doubling of our Hartzell Street building's size to 20,000 sq. feet.
In 2012, we underwent our third expansion, doubling the Hartzell Street building again to 40,000 square feet.
2014 was the year we proudly launched our Vitrified product line.
2015 brought another expansion, increasing our Hartzell Street building's size to an impressive 55,000 sq. feet.
In 2016, we acquired Sierra Diamond, a manufacturer of Metal Bond tools in Auburn, California, expanding our reach and welcoming West Coast customers to the CDT family.
The year 2017 was marked by the launch of our Resin Hybrid Bond products after months of dedicated research and development.
In 2018, we solidified our global presence with the acquisition of Consort Precision Diamond Company Ltd., a leading manufacturer of Diamond Rotary Dressers in the United Kingdom. Additionally, we completed construction and moved into our brand-new 130,000 sq. foot manufacturing and office facility on Rose Avenue in New Haven, Indiana, setting the stage for our future.
Another acquisition of diamond grinding products distributor Access Diamond in California in 2019 further increased CDT’s market share.
2019 also brought the first expansion of our Rose Avenue location, adding 15,000 sq. ft. to make room for our state-of-the-art Grinding Lab for research and development that opened in 2020. This space allows us to enhance product performance and spur innovation for customers in specific industry applications.
Also in 2020, we acquired Jalsons International, a manufacturer, and supplier of Diamond Stationary Dressers, further expanding our capabilities and welcoming more customers into our extended family.
The year 2021 witnessed our investment in robotic automation and the addition of a third shift at our primary manufacturing facility in New Haven, Indiana, to meet increasing customer demand.
In 2022, we proudly launched the next generation of Hybrid Bond Technology with the specialized EVO line of custom grinding products for the Cutting Tool industry.
2023 has been a year of remarkable growth as we acquired Alpex Wheel Company in New Jersey, expanding our customer base on the East Coast. In line with this, Consort Precision Diamond changed its name to Continental Diamond Tool Limited, marking its growth as the European subsidiary of Continental Diamond Tool Corporation. We also began production of Diamond Rotary Dressers at the Rose Avenue location.
FROM PAST TO FUTURE
This year, 2023, is indeed a special one as we celebrate half a century of dedication, innovation, and excellence in superabrasive tool manufacturing. We're immensely grateful for the unwavering support of our employees, customers, and partners who have been integral to our journey.
As we commemorate this significant milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in superabrasive tools. Here's to the next 50 years of excellence and innovation! Thank you for being a part of our incredible journey.