Outdoor Leisure
DESA was formed in 1969 by Robert H. Elman, three other individuals, and a Venture Capital Group for the purpose of acquiring the Remington Arms' chainsaw and powdered actuated tool business located in Chicago, Illinois. In 1975, AMCA International, LTD. acquired DESA. AMCA acquired the Koehring Corporation in 1981, which included a Portable Outdoor Kerosene Forced Air Heater Operation located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 1982, DESA's electric chainsaw and powder actuated tool line was moved from Chicago to Bowling Green, Kentucky and merged with the Forced Air Heater business forming the Consumer Products Division. The division entered into the indoor room heating market in 1982 with the importation of Infrared Plaque Heaters from England for the liquid propane distributor and natural gas utility channels of distribution. To expand in the outdoor market, the company introduced Portable Outdoor Propane Forced Air Heaters in 1983.
In 1985, a management group led by Mr. Elman purchased the assets and business activities of AMCA's Consumer Products Division with AMCA.
In 1989, DESA Company made its first product line acquisition by purchasing the assets of the Swingline Hardware Products segment of American Brands. The Swingline Products acquisition included Manual and Electric staples/nail guns, Rivet Tools, Glue Guns, and Accessories. A facility in Manchester, Tennessee was established in 1989 for the production and distribution of Electric Chainsaws, Powder Actuated Tools, and Swingline Products.
The next acquisition occurred in 1990 when DESA purchased Jennen B.V., a Dutch Distributor located in Rotterdam, Holland, (subsequently renamed DESA Europe B.V.). This gave the company a base of operation in central Europe.
Two additional product line acquisitions were completed in 1991. The company acquired the Vented Heater Product Line from Suburban Manufacturing Company in Dayton, Tennessee in order to offer its customers a complete line of vent-free and vented indoor room heaters. Generators were added to the Specialty Tool product line with the purchase of assets from Pincor Power Corporation.
DESA entered the Hearth Products market in 1992 with the introduction of realistic heater efficient vent-free gas logs with operate with the fireplace damper closed.
The 1998 purchase of Heath/Zenith, solidified DESA’s position in the specialty electrical market.