From DC Coaters to BTD Tipton, Growth Fueled by Family & a People-First Mission
DC Coaters, now operating as BTD Tipton, has evolved from a small, family-run e-coating shop into a key player in the automotive supply chain.
Founded in 1993 by Dennis Cook, the company began coating metal parts for local manufacturers. In 2018, they partnered with Batesville Tool & Die, a move that transformed their operations. Today, BTD Tipton ships directly to major automotive assembly plants, offering services such as welding, minor assembly and packaging, expanding far beyond their original e-coating roots.
Linda Gill, the daughter of founder Cook, stresses that though the company has grown, their core values have remained the same. Gill grew up in Tipton, surrounded by her family’s business. By the time she was 19, she was part of it.
“I thought I’d go back to school, but I feel like I’m still working on the heart — just in a different way,” she says. “We work with people, helping them do the next right thing.”
DC Coaters stayed family-owned until 2018, when it partnered with Batesville Tool & Die. Over five years, Batesville acquired the company fully, but the culture remained the same.
Batesville Tool & Die is already a thriving automotive supplier working with major manufacturers such as Honda and Polaris. The company has multiple locations, including Batesville, Indiana; Aiken, South Carolina; Tipton (previously DC Coaters), and a long-standing plant in Mexico. With a strong, growing business, Batesville delivers high-quality components across the automotive supply chain while supporting local communities and fostering lasting partnerships.
“We’re still us, we’re still here and we’re still a people-based business,” Gill says. “With manufacturing, it’s easy to feel like just a number. That’s not how we operate.”
The company moved from being a third-tier supplier to tier one, shipping directly to automotive assembly plants. The facility expanded from 40,000 square feet to 75,000, creating new jobs, leadership opportunities and processes including welding, minor assembly and packing.
She emphasizes that the company’s growth and acquisition wouldn’t have been possible without key leaders. Steve Gill was CEO when he retired in 2018, and Max McNeill, the CFO at the time, was instrumental in guiding the business through the acquisition. Her father was founder and president at the time of acquisition.
“Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” she says. “They laid the foundation that made this transition smooth and successful.”
Gill points out that no employees were displaced during the acquisition.
“We grew together with Batesville,” she says. “They’re family-run, we’re family-run. We’ve known them since 1996, so it felt right.”
Employees now have access to benefits such as health, dental, vision, 401(k) and more PTO, alongside company traditions such as picnics and holiday events.
Her own role has changed as well. Now executive liaison, Gill works across operations, mentorship, marketing and community projects.
“I help our leadership focus on what matters and not get caught up in the day-to-day,” she says. “We try to find the good in every day.”
The community remains central to BTD Tipton’s mission. The company sponsors Tipton Blue Devil football, My Closet at Tipton Middle School, Lions Club events and is developing co-op programs with local high schools to provide students trade opportunities close to home. They also donate to the Boys & Girls Club Gala for Tipton County as well as the Jubilee Christmas of Tipton County.
Looking ahead, Gill’s son, Nick Sottong, now operations manager, is preparing to continue the family legacy.
“We want to add jobs, refine processes and offer a place where local talent can grow,” she says.
With Batesville Tool & Die’s support and a focus on people, Gill is keeping her father’s vision alive while guiding a growing, community-focused business into the future.
BTD Tipton is located at 550 Industrial Drive in Tipton. For more information, call 812-934-5616 or visit btdinc.com.
