History

1959

Avco Tool & Die founded by Michael G. Solcz in a 1,200 square foot facility on Shepherd Street East in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Stanley Stepp joins the company as a 50% partner.

Valiant TMS founding partners; from left to right: Michael G. Solcz, Stan Stepp and Santo Piccinato

1963

Company name changed to Valiant Machine & Tool Inc.
Santo Piccinato joined the company as partner.
Valiant relocates to 7470 Tecumseh Road East in Windsor.

Photo: Michael G. Solcz, Stanley Stepp, Santo Piccinato

Valiant TMS - Valco Manufacturing Division manager standing beside large steel fabrication

1965

Valco Manufacturing Inc. is established, adding in-house fabrication capabilities; 7470 Tecumseh Road East expanded by 40,000 square feet to accommodate.

Valiant TMS mold technician working on plastic injection mold in the 1990's

1972

Valiant Tool & Mold Inc. established in Windsor, specializing in the design and manufacturing of plastic injection tooling.

1984

TMS founded in Linz, Austria by ÖIAG (Österreichische Staatsindustrie) from Voest Alpine Maschinenbau – Integrated Systems division.

Former Valiant TMS facility in Troy, Michigan

1987

Valiant International, Inc. established in Troy, Michigan, USA, strengthening the company’s engineering capabilities.

Aerial view of Valiant TMS facility at 6161 Tecumseh Road East in Windsor, Ontario, Canada

1988

Valiant relocated to 6161 Tecumseh Road East in Windsor to accommodate a large Ford door assembly line project.

Valiant TMS Preci-Flex framing system for automotive body in white assembly

1990

Valiant develops first body in white framing system for Chrysler Canada’s new LH Series.
Valiant awarded aerospace contract from The Boeing Company.

Valiant TMS facility in Linz Austria

1994

TMS opens new Headquarters in Linz, Austria

Valiant TMS closure hanging system for decklid

1996

Valiant named Ford global supplier of closure systems.
Developed 18 vehicle framing systems for General Motors.
Partnership formed with Steelweld in the Netherlands to support global Ford programs.
Further global expansion: Valiant International NV in Belgium, Avco Tech in the United Kingdom, Anton Bauer in Germany; Global IEM in Canada; R & R Tool & Mold in Canada

Valiant TMS Uni-Beam Inverted Press Hemmer

1998

Valiant became the first company to be awarded the prestigious ISO9001-QS9000-TE designation.
Valiant acquires 100% of E.R. St. Denis Inc., adding hemming equipment capabilities.
New headquarters built at 9355 Anchor Drive in Windsor to accommodate growing body in white business.

Valiant TMS fabricated undercarriages for Feller Buncher forestry machines

2003

Valco Manufacturing begins production of parts for heavy construction and forestry products.
All Canadian facilities certified ISO-14001.
6 Sigma initiative launched.
Business unit launched to focus on tier-1 automotive customers.
Hydroforming production begins at 6161 Tecumseh Road East.

Valiant TMS Ford World Excellence Award for Social Responsibility

2004

Valiant received Ford World Excellence Award for Social Responsibility.

2006

Valiant acquired 100% of TMS Transport- und Montagesysteme GmbH in Europe to better serve customers globally; forming Valiant TMS.

Valiant TMS leadership pose with Boeing leadership after being awarded Boeing Supplier of the Year Award 2007

2007

Valiant TMS received Boeing Performance Excellence Award and later named Boeing Supplier of the Year 2007.

Valiant TMS facility in Linz, Austria - Southpark

2009

Valiant TMS celebrated 50 years in business.
Valiant TMS Systems Pvt. Ltd. established in Pune, India.
Valiant TMS named 2009 GM Supplier of the Year.
New facility constructed in Linz, Austria to accommodate growth.

2010

Valiant TMS Ro s.r.l. established in Oradea, Romania.
Valiant TMS GmbH established in Cologne, Germany.

Valiant TMS training and development centre students learning from instructor on boring mill

2011

Valiant TMS opened Training and Development Centre in Windsor in response to an industry-wide skilled trades shortage.
Valiant de Mexico established in Queretaro, Mexico.

Valiant TMS General Motors Supplier of the Year Award 2013

2013

Valiant TMS Spanien S.L established in Barcelona, Spain.
Valiant TMS named 2013 GM Supplier of the Year.

2014

Valiant TMS named 2014 GM Supplier of the Year.
Valiant TMS received Volkswagen Group Award 2014.

2015

Valiant TMS received 2015 Ford World Excellence Award for Welding Equipment / Body Construction.
Valiant TMS named GM Supplier of the Year 2015.

2016

Valiant TMS acquired 187,000 square foot facility at 2469 Executive Hills Drive in Auburn Hills, Michigan to expand US operations and add manufacturing space.

2017

Valiant TMS acquired by a Chinese consortium, expanding global scale to deliver total solutions.
St. Clair College took over the Training and Development Center.

2019

Valiant TMS celebrated 60 years in business.
The company has positioned itself as a provider of intelligent automation solutions for the smart factory of the future (Industry 4.0).
A streamlined brand identity is rolled out to better reflect the technology-driven company.

2020

Certain assets of the Tool & Mold division sold to Concours Mold Inc., enabling Valiant TMS to continue concentrating on its core business of designing and integrating intelligent automation systems.