PDQ Manufacturing
| Public | |
| Traded as | NYSE: DOV |
| Industry | Car Wash Systems |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Headquarters | Green Bay, Wisconsin |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products |
LaserWash In-Bay Automatics ProTouch In-Bay Automatics Access Entry Stations Cortex Information Management Systems LaserH2O RO Systems MaxAir Dryers |
| Parent | Dover Corporation |
| Website | www.pdqinc.com |
PDQ Manufacturing, Inc is a car wash manufacturer based in Green Bay, Wisconsin that provides car wash equipment and systems to both the touch free and friction markets. PDQ's brands include LaserWash® Touchless In-Bay Automatics, ProTouch® Friction In-Bay Automatics, Access® entry stations, Cortex® Information Management Systems, LaserH2O® Reverse Osmosis Systems, and MaxAir® Dryers.
In 1984, William "Red" Lewis teamed up with touch-free expert Forrest Burton to produced the Burton Follower Arch. It was the first robotic arch to closely follow the contours and shape of any vehicle.[1][2] By 1985, they developed a line of touch-free car wash equipment under the name of Carefree™ Vehicle Wash Equipment.
Shortly thereafter, Red expanded the manufacturing business, changed the company name to PDQ Manufacturing, reflecting the company’s philosophy in Performance, Dependability, and Quality, and introduced the LaserWash® product line with the LaserWash 4000.
In 1998, PDQ announced the sale of PDQ Manufacturing to Dover Corporation of Chicago, who acquires highly specialized manufacturing companies. PDQ Manufacturing still operates under their corporate name as a Dover Corporation company in the Dover Industrial Products market segment. PDQ also gained ISO 9001 certification that year, one of the highest recognitions for quality of standards in materials, equipment, support services, and product testing.
Product History
| Year | Product Release/Retirement |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Introduction of Carefree Vehicle Wash Equipment under Car Wash Company, Inc |
| 1985 | Company name changed to PDQ Manufacturing, Inc |
| 1989 | Release of the LaserWash 4000 |
| 2000 | PDQ introduces the LaserWash G5, after five years in research and development and seven unique patents |
| 2003 | Release of Access Entry Station product line; Release of the LaserWash® G5 S-Series |
| 2004 | Release of the MaxAir Dryer product line |
| 2005 | Release of the LaserWash M5, the successor to the LaserWash 4000 |
| 2007 | Release of ProTouch Tandem, a uniquely designed overhead 2-bridge, 2-brush friction in-bay automatic vehicle wash |
| 2007 | LaserWash 4000 officially retired from production |
| 2009 | Live webcast releasing the LaserWash 360 |
| 2011 | LaserWash M5 officially retired from production |
| 2012 | Release of the ProTouch ICON, a three-brush gantry-style car wash |
Notes
- ↑ Website: PDQ Manufacturing, 2007
- ↑ Website: US Patents Office, 1985