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DMM Engineering was founded in 1981 by a small group of engineers and climbers who as end users themselves were inspired to produce Climbing and Mountaineering Equipment of the highest quality.
Since those early days, DMM has expanded and developed dramatically. Now, they employ over 120 people and occupy in excess of 3,000 Sq. M. of factory floor, and use the most advanced equipment and technology in the manufacturing process.
DMM products are designed, manufactured from the finest materials and passed through the most rigorous testing and inspection procedures at every stage of manufacture. They exceed all International Safety Standards e.g., CEN, UIAA, A.N.S.I., O.S.H.A., N.F.P.A. and C.S.A. They have been working with the BS5750 Quality System since 1986 and in 1991, DMM was registered to BS EN ISO 9002 and in 1994 to ISO 9001.
In 1995, DMM developed a system of testing designed to bring real consistency and clarity to what was meant by the " rated strength " of products. The result was the 3 Sigma Rating System and this is now one of the cornerstones of their ISO 9001 registered Quality System.
Development within the industry had been aggressive during the last twenty years, here are a few of the most significant ones:
- 1986: Buys its own freehold factory premises of 25,000 square feet floor area in Llanberis, a small village in Snowdonia, Wales. DMM International was formed to deal with all sales and marketing activities.
- 1990: Achieves registration to NATO (Ministry of Defense) Standard AQAP-4, edition 2 as a first stage in the formalization of its Quality System.
- 1991: Achieves registration to British Standard BS.5750. Part 2: 1987 the first company in the Mountaineering Industry to achieve registration to this important standard.
- 1992: Becomes the first manufacturer in Wales to achieve the "Investors in People" standard. Great emphasis is placed upon improving the performance of all employees through all forms of training and development.
- 1993: Runner up in the prestigious Welsh Development Agency "Boost" Design Innovation Awards with the hot-forged Mamba Karabiner System (the first climbing karabiner of its kind with an integral captive sling).
- 1994: DMM karabiners are approved for CE marking in line with European Union Directive 89/686/EEC for Personal Protective (Safety) Equipment - being the first company in the industry to achieve this.
- 1995: Successfully re-assessed to the "Investors in People" standard
- 1996: Awarded the "Wales Quality Award" for SME's. Also, our Quality System is registered to ISO 9001. 1994 (thereby the Quality System now covers company's Design and Service activities).
- 1997: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) product conformance to CEN standards becomes law.
- 1998: Successfully re assessed to the "Investors in People" standard.
- 1999: Becomes a member of the Wales Environment Council and work begins on the Environmental Management System. The Mamba karabiner is used in space (on the NASA space shuttle).
- 2001: Buys new Sales and Warehouse premises with purpose built Presentation Room for Customer Training etc.
- 2001: Produces the world's first wire gate, wirelock biner. The Wirelock tm is an immediate hit both sides of the Atlantic.