Deep Roots, Deeply Committed

Universal Engineering was founded originally in 1926, located in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The first product manufactured was a “Toy Aluminum Airplane”. This was soon discontinued in favor of manufacturing bushings. The bushings were standard drill bushings and progressed into precision machine tool accessories including the originally patented “Kwik-Switch” tooling which was in demand for numerically controlled machine tools. Contributing to the company’s success has been a policy of continually broadening the product line. Even during the depression, the company introduced a line of collet chucks.

The war years at Universal are a story in themselves for the company and its employees made exceptional efforts for the defense program and brought national fame to their small community of Frankenmuth by presenting a P-51 Mustang Fighter Plane to the U S Air Force on May 2, 1943. The $50,000 used to purchase this plane was from the patriotic campaign launched by the employees who made pledges and contributions, while representatives and associates of the company also gave generously. The plane was christened “The Spirit of Universal”.

In 1967, Universal Engineering was acquired by Houdaille Industries, Inc. and continued to operate at the Frankenmuth, Michigan facility. 

In 1988, Universal Engineering and DeVlieg Microbore were acquired by Stanwich Partners and were merged at the Universal Engineering site on Main Street in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The name of the company was changed to Tooling Systems Division (TSD), a division of DeVlieg Bullard Inc.

In 2005, Universal / DeVlieg LLC was formed in order to continue supplying these long respected product lines to the machine tool industry and was relocated to Saginaw, Michigan.

In 2014, the company became incorporated as Universal / DeVlieg Inc. and moved to a newer larger facility in Saginaw, Michigan.

DeVlieg Microbore was founded in 1935 and was part of DeVlieg Machine Company located on Fair Avenue in Ferndale, Michigan. The company eventually moved in 1960 to Fair Street in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Inability to secure tooling which he considered sufficiently accurate to fulfill the capabilities of the DeVlieg Jigmil led Charles B. DeVlieg to develop an adjustable boring tool which provided exceptional rigidity, easy, quick adjustment, and at the same time held to precise limits of accuracy. It was named “Microbore” and was fully patented in 1946. As manufacturing facilities expanded, Microbore added more and more types of tooling designed for faster metal removal. The Microbore unit became the basis of a complete tooling system for precision boring, turning and facing operations.

Charles B. DeVlieg (1892-1973), the founder of DeVlieg Machine Company / DeVlieg Microbore, is one of the members of the "Machine Tool Hall of Fame” sponsored by the American Precision Museum (Windsor, Vermont USA). Members of the Hall of Fame are judged for their inventions and innovative contributions. One of the original DeVlieg Jigmils is proudly exhibited at Greenfield Village in Dearborn Michigan, which is tooled up with DeVlieg Microbore Flash Change Tooling.

In 1988, Universal Engineering and DeVlieg Microbore were acquired by Stanwich Partners and were merged at the Universal Engineering site on Main Street in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The name of the company was changed to Tooling Systems Division (TSD), a division of DeVlieg Bullard Inc.

In 2005, Universal / DeVlieg LLC was formed in order to continue supplying these long respected product lines to the machine tool industry and was relocated to Saginaw, Michigan.

In 2014, the company became incorporated as Universal / DeVlieg Inc. and moved to a newer larger facility in Saginaw, Michigan.