By Jeffrey Burton, Truth Staff
ELKHART -- In his 16 years as a partner with Dicor Corp., Gregg Fore's seen the company expand and its product line evolve again and again.
"Sometimes it evolves and comes back to where it was," Fore said.
Based on the city's north side, Dicor is a diversified company with products and innovations aimed at the recreational vehicle market.
Dicor, the company's primary business, supplies roofing materials and decorative wheel trim for RVs. Another business, JPC, focuses on custom sewing.
"We sew carpet, vinyl, leather. We monogram it. It's all custom work," Fore said.
The company also recently began a seal-design business to streamline RV detailing. Two other units, Alta Resources and United Shade, also are focused on research and design.
Acquired three years ago, Dicor had high hopes for United Shade.
"We set about to transform it into a very active product development company in window coverings," Fore said. "We're now into a new lower-priced pleated shade product. We've also gotten into sunblock roller shades. It has a material that blocks the intensity of the sun's rays."
Demand for that product has forced the company to diversify its offerings. It's been manufacturing the sun-blocking shade for many schools and businesses.
"We're still focused on RVs -- that will always be our target. But there are a lot of product crossovers. It may be a variation, but it's the same product."
Alta manufactures window wiper and remote control systems. Fore said the wiper business has expanded from RVs to boats and construction equipment, while programming certain RV functions via remote is proving very popular.
"Basically it looks like any key fob, but it's programmed to do a certain function using a certain frequency," Fore said. "They can be programmed to use on any electric motor."
Fore, who was raised in Dunlap, spent 18 years with Coachmen before beginning work for Dicor. He said being located in Elkhart County helps not just the individual businesses, but the industry as a whole.
"No one would be as efficient in product development and product distribution if they weren't here," Fore said.
His company, with about 120 employees in the five divisions, has grown because of what he sees as simple economics.
"It doesn't really make a difference what the product is if there's a viable market and an opportunity to develop a product that's better or less expensive," Fore said. "You look for the holes in the market."
Devoting time, energy and resources to being a player in the ever-evolving market is important to his and any company's success, Fore said.
"You have to stay ahead of the curve, regardless of the product. The vehicles our products go in become better because of it."