Our Legacy

The Precision Automation Experts

In 1973, Dennis Fritz had a vision of creating a company of problem solvers. With his background in machine design and mechanical engineering, he founded DWFritz Automation. The company is now a leader in high-speed, high-precision automation. Dennis’ core values of honesty, integrity, continuous improvement, collaboration, and “wowing” clients, plus some good humor, continue to serve as the foundation for the company today.

In the mid-1980s…

DWFritz Automation had the opportunity to partner with Hewlett Packard on their innovative ink jet technologies. This relationship was so successful that eventually HP began outsourcing multiple projects to DWFritz as their own business grew. Around that same time, Susan Fritz joined her husband Dennis to help grow the business. She was instrumental in getting the non-technical side of the business operational.

By the late 1990s…

Dennis and Susan’s son, Mike, joined the company to work on business development, operations, and strategy. Together, they focused their attention on building the highly precise automated systems that we produce today — trademarking the concept Microns and Milliseconds, and developing the culture that would help propel the company’s growth in the 2000s. The company soon entered the consumer electronics market, leading to tremendous growth in 2012 and beyond.

From 2007 to 2024…

Mike took over as CEO, strengthening DWFritz’s unique capabilities of delivering high-speed, high-volume precision automation solutions for advanced manufacturing. DWFritz’s team focused on client relationship building, while promoting an environment where strategic thinkers can solve the toughest precision automation challenges.

In October 2024, DWFritz Automation became a Balmoral Funds portfolio company with new investments in Artificial Intelligence, Engineer-to-Order, Advanced Manufacturing Solutions and Automation Performance Products. The company is charting a course to grow the firm into a global automation powerhouse.

1973

Founded as Dennis W. Fritz PE Consulting Engineer in the West Hills of Portland, OR. Business focused primarily on the lumber industry.

1983

Relocated to Lake Oswego, OR. Transitioned away from wood products, and landed major projects with Boeing and Intel.

1988

Completed first design/build project.

1989

Landed Hewlett Packard inkjet business and revenue exceeded $1 million for the first time.

1992

Renamed to DWFritz Automation, Inc.

1998

Relocated to 20,000-square-foot facility in Durham, OR and established precision automation focus.

2010

Landed a major new strategic account and opened up DWFritz China in Shanghai.

2012

Expanded to a 60,000-square-foot facility in Tualatin, OR. Annual revenue exceeds $25 million.

2013

Moved to a 70,000-square-foot facility in Wilsonville, OR (HQ).

2015

Partnered with two new large Fortune 500 medical device companies and shipped volume deployments of precision automation systems.

2016

Added 35,000-square-foot facility in Wilsonville, OR.

2017

Partnered with Clean Energy Manufacturer to produce stationary energy storage modules. Annual revenue exceeds $125 million.

2018

Built a 180,000-square-foot facility in Wilsonville, OR, including 100,000-square-feet of dedicated manufacturing space to support Smart Factories of the Future.