125 Years and Still Going Strong
Established in the tiny town of Dexter, Iowa, in 1894, Dexter Laundry and its founding community both drew their name from the same unusual source — a championship race horse. Known for his unparalleled performance and noble appearance, the equine Dexter was a national sensation, serving as the perfect symbol for American power and speed. Like the thoroughbred, Dexter washing machines were fast and efficient. Their inventor, Mr. W.H. George, designed them that way. He wanted a washer that could be run hard and always stay a step ahead of the competition.
Dexter didn’t outsource work either. Every step in the fabrication of Dexter washers, from the casting of the gray iron to the finished product itself, was done in the Fairfield facilities. This allowed for complete control of the quality and craftsmanship of every Dexter product — something the company still prides itself on today.
“Every product sold under the Dexter name is built by skilled craftsmen in our facility in Fairfield, Iowa and every product built in Fairfield bears the Dexter name. Controlling the production process gives us the ability to build quality into every design. I’m proud that my efforts go to building great products for Dexter Laundry and only Dexter Laundry.” — Doug Kuehl, Director of Manufacturing and Supply Chain
This commitment to quality kept the company running strong, even in the toughest of times. The economic downturn of the Great Depression rocked the United States and the world throughout the 1930s, but Dexter fought back with custom payment plans and new low-priced models. Dexter’s management knew that, more than ever, people needed performance that they could depend on.
A decade later, during World War II, Dexter’s performance was called on again to help American troops at home and oversees. The U.S. government used the facilities in Fairfield to produce important defense equipment and washers for soldiers in American camps.
“Dexter has always been built in the heart of America by proud men and women. As a veteran, I’m personally proud of the actions the company took during WWII. Not only did we stop production of our core business, but our community and employees rallied around the troops to support the war effort.” — Craig Kirchner, President of Dexter Laundry
In the years after the war, Dexter doubled down on its emphasis on innovation, with the release of the Dexter 20 lb. automatic washing machine. This innovative design led the industry and had customers across the commercial laundry market raving about its performance. In fact, the machine was so successful that Dexter permanently reoriented its focus to serve customers in commercial settings all over the world.
Since that first 20 lb. machine, employees in Fairfield have dedicated themselves to building an ever-evolving collection of products to carry on the Dexter name. The washers and dryers that customers enjoy today are a direct result of that dedication. From the T-300 20 lb. washer to the T-1450 Express, Dexter now produces a range of elite products for both vended and on-premise laundry. These products offer traditional Dexter craftsmanship paired with a new generation of technology and control.
That next generation is highlighted by DexterLive — the industry’s first cloud-based store management service. DexterLive enables owners to manage their business by tracking machine usage and revenue, setting promotions, programming machines and running state-of-the-art reports that enable owners to make smart business decisions. Plus, Dexter is committed to continuing to invest in DexterLive, meaning the system today will only get better and better.
“The founders of our company were committed to one thing — helping people process laundry faster and more efficiently by building the best quality laundry equipment in the world. DexterLive is a just another evolution of that commitment. With access to excellent information, easy programming and state-of-the art reporting, DexterLive can help owners build better businesses.” — Craig Kirchner, President, Dexter Laundry
Though technology has changed over the past century, the company’s commitment to quality has remained the same. Dexter still builds a wide range of the finest washers and dryers in the business, right here in Fairfield, Iowa. And each machine is still made with the customer in mind. That’s why every Dexter product is backed with an industry-leading warranty and an offer of lifetime technical support. From the day a washer is purchased, highly skilled technical support professionals are available to help everyone from new investors to existing owners keep their machines running as smoothly as the racehorse that the company was named after.
For over a century, Dexter Laundry has been helping people and companies around the world process laundry faster and more efficiently. And that’s not going to stop any time soon. As an employee-owned operation, Dexter is committed to helping customers achieve long-term success by providing them with laundry solutions they can depend on.
“Today, it isn’t just about a quality product, it’s also about quality service. That’s why we continue to offer lifetime technical support and the industry’s best warranty, and we are doing this from the heart of America. I’m proud to say that after 125 years, Dexter Laundry is still going strong.” Craig Kirchner, President, Dexter Laundry