Darton International was incorporated in 1978 with a goal of becoming a premier manufacturer of automotive speed equipment parts. In pursuit of this objective lead the founders to establish manufacturing relationships with unique European factories specializing in products and techniques which would harmonize with Darton’s potential customers.

Darton initially selected two groups of products to concentrate on: steel-stampings (such as valve covers) and precision CYLINDER SLEEVES. One of the company’s first customers for both groups of products was Milodon Engineering and Keith Black Racing engines. Together, they pioneered new and innovative ways to manufacture their product, performance cylinder sleeves. Darton became the first supplier of high quality centrifugally cast ductile iron cylinder sleeves to meet SAE and ASTM rigid quality control standards but based on our own unique chemistry and pouring process, including shot peening to remove stress.

In 1990, Darton associated with an international company based in Portugal. Pachancho, a 100-year-old manufacturing firm, located in picturesque northern Portugal, leads a group of manufacturing firms specializing in automotive products such as piston rings, CYLINDER SLEEVES, iron castings and specialty aluminum castings. The Darton affiliate company is world renowned and is a major supplier to the automotive industry in Europe. Much of Darton’s cylinder sleeve material is produced in our Portugal foundry, which is recognized worldwide for excellence in all forms of unique types of centrifugally cast ductile and grey iron. Still today the focus of Darton International’s business is the manufacture and delivery of cylinder sleeves, sometimes referred to as cylinder liners. Darton continues to advance in the performance racing industry market. Darton also sources raw material from other domestic and international sources but all of our product is made to our exacting chemical standards.

Darton is also the prime sleeve supplier for the Ford SVO, Chrysler Hemi, and GM performance LS series engines and most professional racers in NHRA Racing. Darton employs a market strategy aimed at becoming the primary sleeve supplier of choice for small engine shops and OEM’s alike. To accomplish this task, Darton continues its research and development and utilizes state-of-the-art manufacturing technology to continually market with new products such as our latest inventions: MID™ sleeve kits and Seal Tight™ technology.