Design Components, Inc. (DCI) has been a leader in the design, engineering, as well as distribution of metal building accessories since 1978. DCI can actually trace its beginnings to the early 1970s with Jay Woods, who had a knack for sales, and John Fox, whose background was in engineering. The two started as manufacturer’s representatives, marketing gutters, downspouts, gravity ventilators, specialty flashings and sealants to metal building manufacturers and contractors.  This original team started as Woods & Fox Associates and later adopted the name Design Components as their role developed beyond mere sales and into the actual design of products.  In the mid 1970s, there was a growing need for more sophisticated roof systems and DCI became an integral part of the engineering, design, testing and marketing of one of the first Standing Seam Roof Systems to use an automatic seaming machine.  

In the early ’80s, metal buildings became more specialized and less ‘pre-engineered’. As building owners began to put more mechanical equipment on the roofs, a need arose for roof penetration products. To fill this need, DCI found a market for die-formed plastic roof jacks for pipe penetrations and die-formed plastic roof curbs with a galvanized steel sub-frame to support fans and vents.  In the middle ‘80s, DCI became one of the first companies to market custom fabricated metal roof curbs, as well as flexible EPDM rubber pipe flashings. Later in the decade and into the ‘90s, DCI helped introduce a Roof Top Walkway System to provide roof protection and personal safety while walking on roofs. Today, DCI sells its trademarked METALWALK® System available with an optional safety handrail.  John Fox served as president of DCI from 1978 to 1996, and was later succeeded by his son, James Fox. Jay Woods was vice president from 1978 until 1989 and that position is now filled by Mark Sparrow.