About Us

Established in 1991, DMS Machining & Fabrication is a family-owned business operated by brothers Byron and Charlie Atwood in Barre, Vermont. Initially located in a small stone shed on the North side of town, DMS started with just five employees – three in the shop and two in the office. The shop had a welding machine, bridge port, small lathe, old surface grinder, and no trucks (except Byron’s wife Diane’s old Ford Bronco). The original business plan focused on The
Vermont Unloader, a machine designed for feeding wood waste into boilers. However, market limitations prompted a strategic pivot.

In 1993, DMS seized an opportunity to acquire a bankrupt business a few miles across town, leading to a move to the historic Smith Whitcomb & Cook building. With the space and machines of this new location, the move allowed DMS to diversify its services, expanding into general machining and some fabrication. A few years later, the addition of Mark Green to the roster enabled a much broader range of steel fabrication services. As a result, DMS evolved into a key player in the contract miscellaneous steelwork sector.

In 2005, Charlie Atwood’s addition to the team brought extensive engineering expertise and shop management experience. By 2008, DMS had grown to 45 full-time employees, maintaining an impressive record of never having laid off any staff in its 17-year history. However, The Great Recession hit our industry hard, and DMS was not immune to the economic hardships. Sadly, we lost half of our employees due to lack of work.

Despite the setback, DMS persevered, staying committed to its core principles of delivering quality work on time and at a fair price. In 2023, the company stands in a stronger position than ever before, with fifty skilled employees specializing in steel construction for various sectors, including schools, hospitals, hydrosites, and mining operations. DMS excels in miscellaneous steel projects such as railings, stairs, mezzanines, catwalks, air handling units, and more.

DMS has earned a sterling reputation for successfully completing every project it undertakes, including those abandoned by other companies. This commitment to seeing every job through to completion has been a cornerstone of our company’s success and customer satisfaction. The company’s facility has undergone significant improvements, with substantial investments in people, equipment, vehicles, and a strong emphasis on safety, reflected in its impressive current mod rate of .69.

We express gratitude to our valued customers who have provided us with opportunities to showcase our capabilities and share our unwavering passion for what we do. As DMS marks the conclusion of its initial third of a century in operation, we remain dedicated to delivering excellence in every project we undertake.