With groundbreaking next month and a recent celebration of 25 years of business success, the people who make Dakota Automation are busy but excited about the company’s future.

“What we do is a bit of secret to a lot of people,” said Jason Handke, president of Dakota Automation. Handke is also co-owner of the business that started serving customers in 1999. “In short, we build equipment for other manufacturers. Our bread-and-butter is helping businesses that make building products.”

Thousands of doors, windows and light industry products around North America began as ideas that started in Watertown. Handke and his team of about 40 can help any startup put the machines in place they need to create their own products.

“Our success is rooted in communication,” said Jake Velde, Dakota Auto

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