Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO) is best known as the ‘Benz Company’ in Sri Lanka. This nomenclature describes well, the spirit of its undertaking, which is a commitment to excellence. DIMO, which was established over seven decades ago, has through its commitment to continuous improvement and customer service, strengthened this commitment and fulfilled its promise as a company that is reputed for its reliability and consistency.
In 1932, Mr. F. K. Heller, a well-known German businessman set up his own business in Sri Lanka with the distributorship of several world renowned German brands such as Mercedes Benz, Bosch, Siemens etc., under the name of Heller & Company. Being a German national, in 1939 when World War 11 broke out, the business of Mr. Heller was acquired by the Government.
The same year, four youth, Messrs Stephen Peries, Pandithage Don Alexander, Cyril Algama and Harold Algama employed at Heller & Company, got together and commenced a workshop at a rented premises off Prince of Wales Avenue with a few mechanics. This was the beginning of DIMO. The founding fathers of DIMO were modest, ethical and pragmatic people with humane values.
The initial business was making gaskets and turning out parts, thus catering to the high demand prevalent for reconditioning, as new part replacements were costly due to the war. As volumes grew, the business diversified into the sale of electrical parts, fittings for motor vehicles and engine parts etc. The four youth began humbly, but had great ambition to excel. Their vision was to achieve the status of a world-class Company in the products and services offered. This vision remains undiluted even today, as the management of the Company remains in the hands of the founding families. The progeny have held true to the vision of the Company’s first owners; of a commitment to excellence and ethical business practices.
In 1945, DIMO was incorporated as a Private Limited Liability Company. With the end of the 2nd World War, Mr. Heller was released and subsequently became a prominent industrialist in Germany.
By 1949, Mr. Heller became an active partner of DIMO via Lohmann & Company Breman Germany. In order to expand its activities, the business was relocated to Jethawana Road, from where it operates to this day. In 1952, a showroom, stores and workshop was opened for business.
The first notable achievement for DIMO came in 1959, when over 200 Mercedes Benz buses were supplied to the then nationalised Bus Company.
The key attribute of DIMO is that as a company with a long history of over 70 years, it has through its expansions, always held true to the spirit of its founders and has spurned compromise. It takes pride in its historical situation as probably one of the oldest distributor’s for Mercedes Benz passenger and commercial vehicles in the Asian region.
In 1960, the Company extended its rear boundaries up to Bloemendhal Road, facilitating the expansion of its workshop.
In 1964, DIMO was converted into a Public Quoted Company by obtaining a listing at the Colombo Brokers’ Association, as it was then known.
In 1966, the Company commenced the manufacturing of radiators, radiator cores, silencer barrels and light engineering products for motor vehicles.
Dimo Industries (Pvt) Ltd., and Dimo (Pvt) Ltd., were incorporated as wholly-owned subsidiaries in the early 1970s. Dimo Industries (Pvt) Ltd., was established to manufacture automobile parts, while Dimo (Pvt) Ltd., was for the sale and service of Power systems, Power Engineering and Medical Equipment.
In 1986, the Hayleys Group acquired a stake in the equity capital, making DIMO one of its associate companies. This association was discontinued in 2008.
The divisional organisational structure was introduced in 1987 to support and nurture the development of the Company and to institutionalise the management process.
As part of its evolving strategy of enhancing local expertise, in 1990, DIMO set up its first automobile training school offering a two-year comprehensive service and maintenance course designed by Mercedes-Benz Germany. It is the only such enterprise of its kind in the corporate sector. The school has expanded, also offering automotive training courses for the UK based City & Guilds programme.
In 1996, the Company relocated its after sales and service activities of commercial vehicles, construction machinery and power systems to Siyambalape, Biyagama which is about 10 kilometres away from the Colombo city limits. The workshop complex is equipped with the necessary state of-the-art machinery and equipment.
In 2008, the Company commenced its logistical operations from Weliweriya, which is in the Gampaha District.
In 2010, DIMO opened its second automobile training school in Jaffna. Youth of the North who were deprived of quality technical training facilities for over 30 years, have now been offered an opportunity of high quality technical education.
DIMO is involved in a number of related fields, but maintains its core expertise representing many prestigious principal automobile and heavy-vehicle manufacturers and their allied services. Its portfolio consists of ‘best in class’ brands such as Daimler, TATA, Bosch, MTU, Komatsu, Siemens, Michelin, Osram and Mahindra & Mahindra to name but a few. Its portfolio reaffirms the prestige and historicity of DIMO as a company committed to providing truly top-end products and services.
The Head office remains conveniently and spaciously located in an area of approximately 10,000 sq. metres in a central commercial area in Colombo. The complex houses the Company’s administrative and sales offices, passenger car and automotive workshops with its showrooms.
In 2011 the state-of-the-art Bosch Service Centre was commissioned. This high-tech workshop can accommodate up to 20 vehicles of all makes. With a majority of working bays being fitted with vehicle lifts and exhaust emission systems, the Bosch Service Centre is equipped with ultra-modern diagnostic and test equipment which is tailor-made for advanced and new generation, electronically controlled vehicles.
The Company continues to serve its expanding customer base by extending its branch network in addition to the Company owned display points.
A key development that highlighted DIMO’s commitment towards transparency in all aspects of its operations was the move to produce an Integrated Annual Report in 2010/11 financial year. From 2010/11 financial year onwards, DIMO’s Annual Reports have been based on its eight strategic imperatives that showcased its strategic sustainability initiatives in the context of its financial performance. In essence, the reporting is a holistic representation of the key drivers of value at DIMO; what we would like to call as DIMO’s financial and intellectual capital.
Since its modest beginnings, the Company has grown in size as well as in scope, and presently has a workforce of over 1,500. With over seven decades of experience in the automobile and engineering industry, the Company over the years has made a significant contribution towards the development of the transportation sector in Sri Lanka.
DIMO will achieve a significant milestone in 2014 when it celebrates 75 years in operation. Such longevity is a testament of DIMO’s commitment to the upholding of its integrity and service excellence at all times.