DSL Systems Ltd - History
1979 - Design Software Ltd (later DSL Systems
Ltd) founded by Paul Girdham and Vic Middleton. The first jobs were
developing software for the Chronos Richardson SOW 400 batching
controller based on a DEC LSI-11 running RT-11.
1985 - DSL moves into new offices on Highfields
Science Park, next to The University of Nottingham.
1982 - Chronos Richardson commissionned DSL to
develop the first fully configurable system for Rubber Mills.
Called SOW900, it was based on a DEC LSI-11 mini-computer running a
form of BASIC called SWEPSPEED.
1986 - DSL appointed by W. & T. Avery to be
its external software house developing systems in the 'C'
language.
1987 - DSL acted as process control consultants
for the John Thompsons and Sons Animal Feed Mill in Belfast.
1989 - DSL awarded a government SMART (Small
firms Merit Awart for Research and Technology) grant for OBT
(Optimised Batching Technology).
1990 - DSL launches its LBC25 animal feed batch
control system. This was based on DEC VAX hardware and the VMS
operating system. The first system is commissioned at BOCM Silcock
Blandford Forum then a month later at BOCM Silcock Exeter and the
following year at BOCM Silcock Bury St. Edmunds.
1992 - DSL launches SBC4 animal feed batch
control system for smaller plants. This was based on Windows for
Workgroups and Pentium PCs.
1994 - Company name changed to DSL Systems
Ltd.
1995 - SBC4 installed at the new Castlemahon
animal feed mill in Ireland.
1996 - DSL launch Press Master NT system. This
was a comprehensive animal feed pellet press controller. The first
installation was at BOCM PAULS Burstwick.
1997 - LBC25 and Press Master NT installed at
the new W & J Pye Animal Feed mill in Lancaster.
1997 - DSL launch Batch Master NT. This was a
re-design of the best of LBC25 and SBC4 batch controllers running
on PCs with Windows NT.
2000 - Batch Master NT and Press Master NT
installed at the new Dove Valley mill in Ashbourne.
2001 - DSL open an office in Kansas, USA
2001 - Press Master NT and Batch Master NT were
combined in to a single complete control system for animal feed
mills called AutoPilot4Feed. This also included driver operated
modules for intake and outloading.
2001 - AutoPilot4Feed is installed at John
Thompson and Sons in Belfast - the most complex feed mill in the
world. Control covered the entire mill from raw material delivery
to finished product collection.
2001 - AutoPilot4Feed is installed at Caste
Aliments in France with French translations.
2003 - DSL introduced AutoPilot4Flour for
comprehensive flour mill control.
2003 - DSL establish partnership with Comco to
provide availability of AutoPilot4Feed throughout North
America.
2003 - AutoPilot4Feed implemented to control
new Sietsema feed mill in USA.
2004 - DSL win Victam innovation award for Hand
Held wireless control PDA.
2005 - Management Buy-Out led by Matthew
Swallow took over control of DSL Systems and protected its
long-term future.
2006 - DSL move to larger new offices in West
Bridgford, Nottingham.
2008 - Upgrade of all 11 BOCM PAULS compound
mills to AutoPilot4Feed completed.
2010 - AutoPilot4Feed was ported to the .net
platform for true compatibility with the latest Microsoft operating
system to ensure maintainability and continuity of the product.
2010 - PT Kaliber, Indonesia appointed as agent
for DSL.
2010 - AutoPilot4Feed is installed at the new
£18 million Fane Valley animal feed mill in Omagh.
2011 - DSL launched their wireless Warehouse
Stock Tracking system which fully integrates with
AutoPilot4Feed.