2007 Report: Employees: 140DETEX CORPORATION has its origins in a predecessor company established in the 1870's by A.A. Newman to manufacture and sell stationary watchclocks. Thus, DETEX has observed over 120 years of involvement in the Watchclock industry through the Detex Newman Watchclock, still an integral part of the product line.
In 1923 the Newman Clock Company was consolidated with Watchman's Clock and Supply Company, Eco Clock Company, and the Watch Clock Division of Hardinge Brothers, Inc. and adopted the name NEWMAN WATCHCLOCK CORPORATION. A few months later the name was changed to DETEX WATCHCLOCK CORPORATION to emphasize to existing Hardinge and Eco users that the company wasn't the old Newman Clock Company.
Through a series of product improvements over the years, the company modernized its mechanical watchclock line. Now there are 4 models: The GUARDSMAN tape model, with the capability of continuous registration up to 96 hours; the NEWMAN Watchclock, a 24 hour dial model; the SAF-T-CHEK, a stationary clock with a 7 day dial registration, and the NEWMAN Quartz, a 24 hour dial model with quartz movement.
Detex remained principally a manufacturer and distributor of Watchman's Clock Systems until 1963, when it first introduced a new line of security hardware products and entered the builders hardware field. These products are designed primarily for use in the control of exits and entries in industrial, commercial, institutional and educational buildings. As a result of this broadening of interests the word 'WATCHCLOCK' was removed from the company name in 1964, and DETEX CORPORATION became the official corporate designation.
In addition to distributing our complete range of products throughout the United States, DETEX is actively involved in international markets through a network of distributors and representatives in 48 different countries. In February 1991, Detex made a commitment to Total Quality Management. The Board of Directors and every employee in the company completed an educational and action program to ensure that each and every process within the company is quality and customer oriented. This culminated in the company achieving ISO9002 certification in 1998.
Detex acquired F Systems Incorporated in October 1993. This eleven year old company, located in Bastrop, Texas, offered access control alarms, annunciator panels and optically controlled turnstiles. This acquisition expanded the ability of both companies to offer integrated security solutions to the safety and security requirements in the markets we serve. On March 11, 1994, the company's name was officially changed to Designed Security, Inc. (DSI).
1999 was an important milestone in the company's development with the introduction of the ADVANTEX line of architectural hardware products. These products opened new market opportunities for Detex Corporation as we enter the new millennium.
Today, we proudly acknowledge the contribution of enthusiastic and loyal personnel, in the research, development, engineering, manufacturing and service areas, as well as in sales and general management. It is significant that many employees have been with the company 18 years or more, thus forming a continuity of effort over the years which has elevated DETEX CORPORATION to a position of leadership in the security industry today.