Local Industry Overcomes Manufacturing Challenges in NYC by Going Green

DFB Sales, a Long Island City manufacturer of interior products including interior finishing and window shades has learned to overcome the increasing challenges that manufactures endure each day in New York City. These struggles include the lack of parking for employees as street parking is either illegal or taken over by construction workers; the constant fear of re-zoning; and watching the real estate market increase. “If we did not own this building, there is no way we could still be here,” Ken Hohl, Vice President of Sales says.

Started in 1946, the company now known as DFB Sales moved from a smaller location in Manhattan to Long Island City in 1981 to house its entire operation of manufacturing, project managers, estimators, sales representatives, production staff and shop floor personnel. DFB is keeping jobs in the city by employing around 100 residents from the immediate area who are mostly minorities (approximately 75%). All employees are offered a 401K plan and full health care benefits.

Understanding the needs of architects and designers, DFB began to see the need for green. The process to create and manufacture sustainable products began about three years ago. These products are appropriate for specification in LEED building projects as well as construction developments driven by environmental concerns. DFB partnered with Rochester Institute of Technology’s Sustainable Systems Research Center who performed a sustainability assessment that highlighted which product features are sustainable and identified areas that needed improvement. Through this partnership, DFB now manufactures an environmentally friendly family of Durable Applied Surfaces and strives to select materials that have sustainable attributes.

Just as consumers are more conscious to purchase local produce, designers are increasingly specifying locally manufactured products. Specifying locally promotes local business development and reduces pollution linked with shipping materials long distance. A commitment to quality and service has been DFB’s promise for decades and now included is a commitment to sustainability.

DFB Sales
21-07 Borden Avenue
Long Island City, NY. 11101
Marissa Gawloski
Director, Business Development
718.475.4511
mgawloski@dfbsales.com

DFB was founded in 1946 by Mac Fein and has grown from an organization with less that 10 employees to the 100 outstanding staff members we employ today. DFB currently holds four patents and offers a family of proprietary interior finish products such as Sol R Shade™, Track Tex™, Vitrūv™ and VASARI™.

Understanding the needs of architects and designers led the company to develop comprehensive material sampling programs that enabled DFB to introduce new and innovative products to the A&D community. Our membership to four labor unions and our International Labor agreement enables DFB to install our products throughout the world. We pride ourselves on our professional team of project managers, estimators and installers that enable us to enjoy strong relationships with General Contracting organizations such as StructureTone, Turner, Tishman, Americon and Sciame to name a few.

The Studio @ DFB has developed Durable Applied Surfaces; wall products that are sustainable, as well as durable and aesthetically pleasing. We are partnering with the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Sustainable Systems Research Center as an objective third party that has agreed to review our sustainable product development.

Today, DFB points to the Hearst Building, the Bloomberg Building and Time Warner AOL as projects that were awarded and installed based on state-of-the-art production and excellent service. We could not have achieved this without a professional and proactive staff and we commend them on their fine work. A commitment to quality and service has been DFB’s promise for decades, and now included is a commitement to sustainability.

This release was published on openPR.