Located close to the airport in Charlotte, N.C. on Performance Road, the original building of 10,000 ft2 has undergone expansion in 1984 and 1998 to three times its former size. Keeping pace with technological progress and business development and the needs of customers, the facility has been constantly upgraded. This includes expanded training area, enlarged engineering and electronic workshops, well equipped training facilities, an efficient spare parts department and a modern demonstration room for weaving evaluations. Modern business and communication systems are employed to secure the link with customers and the parent company alike. The original staff of nine has grown to presently 40 persons. 80 % of these are involved in all forms of customer service including spare part supply, with the remaining 20 % in general administration and marketing.

In keeping with parent company philosophy, American DORNIER is customer oriented and market driven. Hans Geiger, President of American DORNIER, with over 30 years of service in the North American market, attributes the company’s success to:

· dedication to complete customer service and quick response

· continuous development of the DORNIER Weaving System

· ongoing customer contact on a personal basis with intensive connection to the parent company

· recognizing every weaving challenge as an opportunity, not a problem

· commitment of American DORNIER employees to serve customers always "with a smile"

· proactive attention and support of Lindauer DORNIER management and staff

· constant deep personal interest of the owners Mr. Dornier sen. and junior in the US-market.

Customer service priorities include technical support before, during and after installation of machines, and the timely supply of spare parts. This applies equally to earlier model 1968 – rapier weaving machines as well as to the family of rapier and air- jet machines that constitute today’s DORNIER Weaving System. A team of factorytrained instructors and rapier, air- jet and electronic technicians is on call for installation and upgrading of equipment, thus providing customers with valuable technical knowhow. Additional customer service is provided by well equipped workshops for mechanical and electronic repairs. The engineering workshop was recently expanded to include overhauling of tenter clip chains used by North American customers on DORNIER film stretching machines. Regular training seminars are held in 4 class rooms at the Charlotte facility for customers’ personnel. For older machine models a training room exists at the Belmont Vocational School for Applied Textile Technology.

American DORNIER’s spare parts service is considered by the industry to be a benchmark. More than 80 % of the parts are supplied within a week of order receipt, in cases of emergency within 24 hours. American DORNIER receives airfreight shipments of spare parts directly from Germany to Charlotte on a weekly basis. Inventory replacement of standard stock items is computer controlled. Orders are placed automatically on a daily basis by online communication between Charlotte and Lindau. Orders for special items are monitored by an expert, with extensive knowledge and experience, prior to the automatic ordering by computer.

From the outset and still today, regular customer contact by American DORNIER’s sales management, backed up by its technical experts, has significantly contributed to the strong market presence. Personal dialog with customers at all levels is DORNIER’s finger on the pulse of the industry. It gives the management valuable insights on:

· general trends and developments in the mills

· the needs and requirements of individual customers as regards service or upgrading of existing
  equipment

· how DORNIER can continue to improve its weaving machines

· direction and focus for the future.

Whatever the challenge, American DORNIER responds with feasible and practical solutions. Corporate marketing policy is directed toward specialty weavers. While by no means neglecting the requirements of producers of commodity fabrics, the main emphasis is concentrated on companies weaving a wide variety of complex and demanding styles where change is commonplace. This requires weaving equipment that is versatile, easily and quickly adaptable, at the same time providing the highest levels of performance, fabric quality and integrity. Over the years American DORNIER has substantially increased market share, maintaining original customers and consistently adding new ones. Weavers of specialty, decorative and apparel fabrics have long been on top of the impressive list of customers of American DORNIER. Similarly, initial success in the industrial fabric sector in the early 80's in heavy industrial and glass fabric production has been developed to a strong market presence. This includes air bags composites, body armor, sailcloth and geotextiles, utilizing newly developed materials – a determined effort and ongoing process of introduction followed by consolidation. Since the introduction of the air jet weaving machine in the early 90's, American DORNIER has developed a significant market in the production of value added fabrics, including:

· automotive, residential and contract upholstery

· apparel, napery and mattress ticking

· top-of-the-bed products, and

· awning fabrics and terry towel products

Marketing experience and technical knowhow in practical evaluation of customers’ requirements are essential ingredients that have brought success, and will be instrumental in achieving future success.