Just weeks after opening a new plant at its Warsaw, Indiana facility, Danco Medical was heavily damaged by a major fire on June 13.
Danco Medical, a metal finishing company in the medical devices industry, says that production continues in Warsaw despite the fire that caused major damage to its equipment and facility. Fire officials say an electrical malfunction caused the incident but have not been specific about its origin.
According to a news release, a Warsaw Police Department Officer noticed heavy smoke coming from Danco Medical just before noon. Emergency crews had the fire under control by 2:27 p.m. and departed the scene around 5 p.m.
Tim Zentz, General Manager of Danco Medical, issues a statement after the fire.
“This was obviously a very unfortunate incident, but we’re very grateful no one was hurt and would like to thank the local emergency services for their prompt and professional response,” Zentz says. “Although our plant did sustain damage – in terms of our heating, ventilation, and aircon systems and production line tanks – our containment pit worked to prevent any escape of chemicals.”
Designed to Supplement Existing Plant
Tim ZentzZentz says the new facility was designed to supplement their existing plant in Warsaw, and production will continue in the original building.
“Our global supply chain remains robust, and our activities in the U.S. are unaffected. Our expansion activities proceed as planned, reflecting our commitment to being a trusted global solution provider for the orthopedic industry,” he says. “We are, of course, in close contact with customers about the impact of the incident, and we would like to thank all of them who have checked in.”
Danco Medical – part of Lincotek Group – had just inaugurated its new plant with an official ceremony on June 6, celebrating a new facility designed to add capacity to aluminum anodizing and the deep image graphics used in orthopedic delivery systems and other environments.
The new facility was opened June 6.At around 25,000 sq. ft. in size, the new building will sit alongside the existing manufacturing facility in Warsaw. Warsaw is known as the ‘Orthopedic Capital of the World,’ located east of Chicago and north of Indianapolis.
The plant features a new automated line for aluminum anodizing, with larger tanks designed for high-volume output. It also supports customers in the case-and-tray market who use Danco Medical’s Deep Image Graphics process.
“We’ve been working on this project for quite a while now, so it is wonderful to see it come to fruition in a state-of-the-art operational facility,” Zentz said on June 6. “Now, with the additional capacity, we’re in a better position than ever to support our customers and help them get to market quickly. Our lead times will continue to be the most competitive around, without any compromise over our high-quality standards.”
Bringing Jobs to Local Community
The company says the opening will bring additional jobs to the local community in Warsaw while reducing overall environmental impact by recycling and reclaiming wastewater into production.
Danco Medical sold a majority stake to Lincotek Group in 2022. The Italian multinational business recognized the shared values of service, reliability, and customer orientation and saw its investment in Danco as an important part of its future strategy.
Andrea Colombo, CEO of Lincotek Group, welcomed the launch of the new Warsaw plant.
“This opening shows just how ambitious we are for the business in the years ahead and how determined we are to provide best-in-class support to OEMs and manufacturers,” Colombo said on June 6. “It’s great to see such a significant expansion in capability in the US market.”
Danco Medical has about 165 employees. Lincotek is headquartered in Rubbiano, Parma, Italy, and is a global solution provider for services in niche markets, including industrial gas turbines, aviation, and medical device applications. It is also a leading manufacturer of industrial coating equipment and one of the most respected producers in the additive manufacturing field.
