Welcome
Dies Direct™ is owned and operated as a division of PMA Photometals, Inc, an Arizona Corporation founded in 1982.
The founder is Michael Dywan and is assisted by his lovely wife, BJ.
Mr. Dywan has an advanced degree in education, having taught high school for seven years before moving on to a brief career in professional hockey. His wife, BJ, has a background in marketing, real estate and dentistry. Her love is horses. She has over 30 years experience in training horses as well being a superb riding instructor, having owned and operated two highly successful training academies.
PMA has a long history of manufacturing specialty metal products for several industries. Besides making parts for aerospace, PMA manufactures industrial nameplates as well as distinctive architectural products, including ADA signs for the visually challenged.
In 1996, PMA was chosen by the Atlanta Olympic Committee as the only American company that could provide the components for the Olympic Wall listing the winning athletes of the world during the 1996 Olympic Games. This 56 foot wall is still viewable in Atlanta, Georgia . PMA has produced signage for notable organizations such as the Holocaust Museum, the National Football League, and several hundred buildings and schools throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.
In 2004, PMA Photometals manufactured between 3 and 4 million dies for Quickutz™ before they established their own manufacturing facility. The plant subsequently failed and Quickutz™ went to China for its products.
In the following year, PMA financed the inception of Spellbinder Paper Arts Company of Arizona, providing Spellbinders™ with etched metal die technology, as well as financial and management support. This infusion of technology and business experience contributed greatly to Spellbinders™ current operations.
Since then, PMA disassociated itself from Spellbinders™ who in turn,went to China for its products.
In 2009, PMA created Dies Direct™ as the only company in the USA that manufactures etched metal scrapbooking and card-making dies.
The concept of purchasing product directly from the factory brings with it over 27 years of design and manufacturing experience.
Having seen so many manufacturing jobs being lost in the US to cheaper Chinese manufacturing, Dies Direct™ is committed to supporting retail markets with American-made products while providing better value. With its design/manufacturing experience, Dies Direct™ is dedicated to promoting fresh and creatively-engineered products for paper crafting. We hope that our products bring together parents and children alike in learning how to be creative, an asset that is so important to our future.
Dies Direct™ has chosen the National Institute for the Blind as it's primary charity. We are developing learning tools for both children and adults in developing their tactile skills.
