Inside DCL's Research and Development: A Conversation with Kevin Balch

At DCL, our passion for innovation drives us to constantly push the boundaries and deliver cutting-edge solutions. By prioritizing research and development, we consistently achieve this goal and stay at the forefront of our industry.

Some of our most groundbreaking ideas originate from DCL founder Reinhard Matye's napkin drawings—quickly jotted down ideas that spark creativity. Before the idea is lost, it’s written on a napkin. Sometimes, Reinhard approaches a member of our R&D team with a napkin, a conversation, and an idea, and the wheels of innovation are set in motion. The person typically receiving these initial sketches is Kevin Balch, the head of our R&D department.

Kevin's story is deeply intertwined with the history of DCL. A natural builder with deep roots in Charlevoix, Kevin grew up working at the Chicago Club, a historic summer resort with turn-of-the-century vacation homes. His father oversaw the grounds and renovated the homes, dating back to the mid-1800s, and Kevin honed his handyman skills from a young age. Gradually, he took on more responsibilities, diving into new projects and eventually taking over off-season renovation duties from his father. Today, Kevin brings that same hands-on expertise to DCL, playing a pivotal role in developing new projects and driving our innovative efforts forward.

I sat down with Kevin to learn more about his background, his role at DCL, and the famous company meals he prepares with DCL VP of Operations, Chris Matye.

Can you discuss how your background working at the Chicago Club has helped you excel in your current role?

“I worked side by side with my dad, who managed the property at the Chicago Club. We took care of the grounds and houses, making sure all the equipment ran smoothly. I picked up a lot of skills from working on different pieces of equipment and learned a lot about the different building trades just from being around the houses. My dad was always there for me, backing me up whenever I needed help. I’m a lot of people’s go-to guy, and he was my go-to guy.

He was always ready to lend a hand and walk me through things. If I didn’t know how something fit together, he’d help me fix it and get everything running again. That’s the approach I take with my work and the people I collaborate with today.”

How long have you been with the DCL team, and can you share some insights into your role and responsibilities?

“I’ve been with DCL for seven years and oversee the R&D (research and development) Department here. With R&D, someone comes up with an idea, and it goes to the drawing board. We’ll get the raw parts that need to be put together to either form a piece of equipment or a part of a piece of equipment.

The goal is to improve what we have or make a completely new piece of equipment to improve an existing process. Once it’s assembled, we get to perform rigorous testing and try to break it to make sure that it’s going to stay durable in the field. We run it until it breaks, record the info, and see how it compares to the existing iteration of the piece of equipment. If it proves more durable and effective, it becomes part of our product lineup.”

What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of work?

“I live on a farm and have been slowly figuring out the process since acquiring it from my grandparents three years ago. I also enjoy motorcycle trail riding, fishing, mountain biking, golfing—you name it.”

What is most rewarding about your current role?

“The real reward is seeing an idea take shape. You start with a concept on paper, build it, watch it in action, and see it get integrated into our production line. Then, you see it move through the shop and finally get shipped out to a happy customer. It’s very fulfilling.”

Can you share an experience where collaborating with other departments at DCL led to a particularly successful project?

“A few years back, Reinhard had an idea for a rotary bag fill station. It was one of his napkin sketches. We took it from there and had the mechanical engineer draw up some plans for it, and we got to work—from setting the bolts in the floor to building the entire load-out. This took a lot of work and collaboration with our electrical and mechanical departments. We got the project finished, and then our sales department came through and sold a big load-out system to a client down in Ecuador. We got to go down to Ecuador and install it, and seeing it come to fruition and work in real-time was a great feeling.”

Could you share the tradition you and Chris have of preparing large meals for the company?

“We both love good food, and Chris is an excellent cook. Initially, we started out with burgers for a company cookout. Everyone loved it, but we wanted to outdo ourselves for the next one. So, we got the smoker out, and we cooked 100 pounds of pork. After that, we did brisket, taco parties, and company picnics. Now, we’ve assumed the role of company cooks. Chris likes to add his own twist to things; for the last event, he made a special batch of pickles and radishes to garnish the pulled pork. It’s always fun to try new things and see everyone enjoy them.”

Kevin's leadership, innovative mindset, and collaborative spirit make him a vital part of the DCL team. His knack for turning napkin sketches into cutting-edge solutions is one of the key drivers of our success. Whether he's pushing the boundaries of technology or grilling up an epic brisket, Kevin‘s diverse skills and dedication truly embody the spirit of DCL.