About us

ABOUT US

Manufacturer & Distributor of Concrete Forming, Construction, & Testing Products

Founded in 1888, Deslauriers, Inc. has spent more than a century supporting the concrete construction industry with innovative products, dependable service, and a deep understanding of the jobsite.

Our story began as a sheet metal shop in Montreal, Canada. Early on, we recognized the need for reusable steel forms for round concrete columns and capitals leading us to develop a proprietary line of steel column forms that were sold and leased across North America. As demand grew, so did we relocating from Montreal to Toronto, then to Detroit, and ultimately to Chicago in 1958. Today, our headquarters is located in La Grange Park, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.

In our early years, Deslauriers not only manufactured steel column forms we installed them. As a contractor, we contributed to major Chicago-area projects including McCormick Place, the Illinois Tollway, Lake Point Tower, and the Grant Park Garage. While we’ve since shifted away from subcontracting, steel column forms remain a cornerstone of our business available for both sale and rent.

Our evolution has always been driven by the needs of the industry. While working in the field, we were frequently asked to produce metal shims an extension of our steel fabrication capabilities. Contractors relied on these shims to level and plumb forms, and demand quickly expanded. By the early 1950s, we were regularly manufacturing metal shims, and in 1968, we pioneered plastic shims introducing products that would go on to become industry standards.

Innovation didn’t stop there. As longtime distributors of fiber tubes, we saw an opportunity to improve another essential product: the concrete test cylinder mold. In the mid-1970s, leveraging our injection molding expertise, Deslauriers became the first company to manufacture plastic test cylinder molds replacing traditional cardboard designs. Today, we are an industry leader, offering a full range of sizes, colors, lids, and custom screen-printing options.

Over the decades, we’ve continued to introduce products that improve safety, efficiency, and performance on the jobsite from neoprene compression pads and rebar impalement safety caps to reusable plastic column forms. Our product offering now spans concrete forming, testing, masonry, safety, and construction accessories supporting contractors, engineers, and construction professionals at every stage of the build.

Today, Deslauriers operates from four U.S. locations, allowing us to serve customers quickly and efficiently. Our products are proudly made in the USA and shipped worldwide.

At our core, we are a family-owned company guided by strong values built on quality, innovation, and long-term relationships. Thank you for choosing Deslauriers!

Highlights from Over 100 Years of History

1888

Deslauriers is founded in Montreal, Canada as a sheet metal shop. Recognizing the need for reusable steel forms for round concrete columns and capitals, Deslauriers develops a proprietary line of forms still sold and leased throughout North America today. Operations later move from Montreal to Toronto before expanding into the United States.

1940

Deslauriers moves from Toronto, Canada to Detroit, Michigan, establishing our roots in the United States.

1958

Deslauriers relocates from Detroit, Michigan to Lake Street in Chicago, Illinois.

1959

Driven by contractor demand, Deslaurier begins manufacturing metal shims used for leveling and plumbing concrete forms – a natural extension of our steel fabrication capabilities.

1966

For decades, Deslauriers serves as a major distributor of fiber tubes. Recognizing an opportunity to improve construction practices, we introduce the concrete test cylinder mold adapting the technology of fiber tubes for the cylinder mold.

1968

Deslauriers expands into plastic shims – pioneering the shims that become industry standards. Today, Deslauriers offers a wide range of shim options, including horseshoe and precast styles.

Mid 1970s

Drawing on our expertise in shim injection molding, we reimagine the test cylinder mold and become the first company to manufacture a test cylinder mold out of plastic instead of cardboard. As pioneers in this field, we now offer a wide variety of sizes, colors, lids, and even custom screen printing.

1980

As the company grows, Deslauriers relocates to larger facilities in the Chicago suburbs – first in Maywood (1980), then Bellwood (1985), and later Broadview (1990). Deslauriers makes its final move, settling in LaGrange Park, Illinois (2007) – a suburb just outside of Chicago.

Early 1980s

With capping compound commonly used in the field, Deslauriers works with ASTM to develop rubber and neoprene pads as a more efficient alternative.

1990s

Working closely with OSHA, Deslauriers develops a rebar safety cap designed to prevent impalement. We later improve the design with steel reinforcement.

1993

After decades of distributing fiber tube forms, we recognize the need for a reusable, spiral-free alternative. We experiment with liners but ultimately introduce the Plastic Column Form – a lightweight, durable, reusable and spiral free alternative to traditional fiber tubes.

2000

Deslauriers expands its operations and opens a warehouse just outside of Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada to better serve West Coast customers.

2005

Deslauriers expands its operations and opens a warehouse in Tampa, Florida to better serve East Coast customers.

2008

Deslauriers acquires its metal fabrication facility in Naperville, Illinois.

2008

Deslauriers introduces the first bio-degradable plastic test cylinder mold, allowing those who do concrete compression strength testing to do so in an eco-friendly manner.