DEBOTECH
ADVANCED CARBON FIBER FROM NORTH CAROLINA Powered by Inside America
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DEBOTECH
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I PROFILE
deBotech Inc. provides quality carbon fiber and composite products. Over the last 25 years, the company has designed, engineered, and manufactured everything from sailing spars used in the America’s Cup, to bodywork for various racing syndicates, and the U.S. Olympic bobsleds. Hannah Barnett spoke to President and CEO Hans deBot to learn more.
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many ways, the success of deBotech is thanks to thinking outside of the box.
“I’ve always said that following what other people are doing will never supersede their achievement,” Hans deBot, President and CEO, reflected. “I have to come up with my own unique ideas. I think the best engineers are the ones that have a lot of practical experience, because that is how you learn to move forward from failure and become stronger still. “My wife, Jamye, (Vice President and CFO) and I founded deBotech, Inc in 1998 and we both bring the passion and willingness to work hard. She grew up in facturing business where she learned how to wear many different hats to ensure that all goals were met and that is what we do every day.”
CEO Hans deBot
a family that owned their own manu-
deBotech is certainly known for striving for continuous improvement. Since it was founded, the company has become one of the top composite manufacturers globally. With a focus on growth and volume, deBotech combines
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DEBOTECH I PROFILE
expertise and technology to build parts
wanted to move forward with, but no one
that are consistently better, lighter, and
to work on it because the original hire had
more complex.
let them down.
The company has grown into a 55,000
“I was put in charge of trying to figure out
square foot HQ, which is alongside the
how to manufacture hollow sailboat spars
original 20,000 square foot production
in carbon fiber. Ultimately, I did, and I helped
facility, in Mooresville, North Carolina,
to develop the process to build the only
otherwise known as Race City, USA. The
continuous fiber one-piece hollow sailboat
state-of-the-art production facility, and
spar in the entire world.”
the company’s advanced manufacturing
This experience provided Mr. deBot a solid
techniques, ensure that each part is
foundation of knowledge in the innovative
developed to meet aerospace, automo-
material. Through this experience, he further
tive and international standards.
developed contacts in the NASCAR industry who wanted to move into carbon fiber and
From sailing to sliding
began building race car parts in his garage
Mr. deBot began exploring the properties
during the evenings after work.
of carbon fiber as part of his responsibilities
“It was a tough grind for a while
working for a sailboat mast manufacturing
but ultimately we were able to do it,”
company. When the ownership of the
said Mr. deBot. “The products spoke
company changed, the torch was passed
for themselves. I started with the
on to the young apprentice engineer to
iggest NASCAR teams, and it all went
develop and lead the team.
from there. Before you knew it, we
“I had an enthusiastic attitude and they kind of dumped it in my lap,” Mr. deBot recalled. “The company already had the factory, the means, and the idea that they
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were supplying the majority of products to all the teams.” Not long after this first success, in 2002, the company was asked to design and
Bands, brews & BBQ For deBotech’s 25th anniversary in September 2023, the company hosted a festival in its hometown of Mooresville, NC, with over 16,000 people in attendance. “Our relationship with our town is phenomenal, many of its residents are close friends. We are very proud to be a big industry here,” Hans deBot, President & CEO
build an advanced carbon fiber four-man bobsled for the U.S. Olympic team.
The USA Bobsled and Skeleton teams enjoyed unprecedented results on the
“I had someone come to me out of the
World Cup Tour, taking home a record
blue asking for help,” Mr. deBot explained.
number of medals in every discipline
“My thinking was: ‘I’m a patriot, I love the
at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games!
United States and I love the Olympics.
Since then, the company has worked on
I don’t know anything about bobsleds, but
a complete redesign and development of
let’s do it.’ So, we really had to work hard.
a new full fleet of two-man and four-man
Time is a luxury you never have in this
bobsleds while working closely with his
industry. People are always a day late
local partners like automotive designer
and a dollar short, so you have got to
and close friend Cameron Dempster, as
perform. But sometimes, that’s where
well as world renowned bobsled engineer
the best work comes from.”
and technician Marc van den Berg,
This led to a partnership with racing
a fellow Dutchman.
legend Geoff Bodine and the U.S.A Bobsled and skeleton federation to design and
Continued innovation
build the four-man BoDyn Bobsled at the
deBotech’s advanced manufacturing
Olympics. At the same time, US Bobsled
techniques means its carbon fiber and
formed a strategic alliance with BMW
composite products are capable of 100%
North America and deBotech to build
repeatability with a quick turnaround and
a fleet of two-man carbon fiber sleds
just in time delivery thanks to its experi-
for the men and women’s U.S. Teams.
ence in the field. The company is proud
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DEBOTECH
I PROFILE
to be certified to the Automotive (IATF),
“We take three legged dogs and put
Aerospace (AS:9100) and International
them back on four legs,” he explained.
(ISO:9001) Quality Standards.
“It’s special to see the dog’s excitement
As the premier supplier to General
and the smile of the owner. It’s not
Motors, deBotech has introduced many
a huge product, and it doesn’t cost
materials into the OEM automotive
a lot to do, but the rewards are greater
market. The company has also taken
than you could put a price on.”
on projects for the military, commercial aircraft, sports, and medical sectors,
The value of relationships
as well as the marine industry.
For a company like deBotech to continue
“We have brought a lot of integral tech-
to innovate across such a wide breadth of
nology into the market, to develop things
sectors, strong trustworthy partnerships
to be lighter and stronger, bringing alter-
founded on a loyal supply chain are a must.
native ways to build in high temperature
“Since the beginning, in the sailboat
resin systems,” Mr. deBot explained.
mast business, I had to find suppliers for
“Planes, trains, or automobiles, I don’t
what I was building,” said Mr. deBot. “And
really care what it is, I like to take on
I’ve developed strong relationships along
a challenge.”
the way. One of my best friends is Jon
Indeed, deBotech has been involved in some fairly niche projects, including manufacturing prosthetic legs for dogs,
Grigson, a material engineer who worked for the carbon fiber material supplier. “He didn’t particularly like me at first,
another project that Mr. deBot responded
because I was a loose cannon and
to after being pitched unexpectedly.
always wanting to deviate from the
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industry standard. He thought I was
market. Our employees, and our com-
a bit crazy. But he loves me for it today
pany, are a part of that. It’s the collective
because he realized that is what sets our
hard work and innovation that makes
business apart. So, we’ve developed a lot
deBotech great.”
n
of materials together.” Alongside Jamye, Mr. deBot intends to continue to grow the company. He also hopes to carry the message of deBotech’s excellence to all its current, and future employees. “Hard work pays off, you don’t have to be mediocre or work at a job you’re not passionate about,” he concluded. “It’s okay for some people to be great at something and others something else, we don’t all have to be the same. I’m looking for the ones that want to be better than mediocre. “We’re talking about being present, being positive and building influential products. Like the components we have developed for the Chevrolet Corvette and New Cadillac Celestiq, helping dogs to run again, serving our military and helping US Athletes successfully compete by providing the best products in the
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