With great sadness, D&S Car Wash Equipment Company announces the death of Lawrence “Larry” F. Scheiter. Scheiter was the founder of D&S Manufacturing Co., a custom metal fabrication, welding and assembly plant based in High Ridge, Mo.

With his partner, Scheiter began the company in 1972, capitalizing on the need for high quality equipment designed for self-service car washes such as booms, safes and coin meters.

D&S was the first company to introduce an all (welded) stainless steel vacuum to the car wash industry and the first company to incorporate solid state timers in car washing applications. In the mid to late 1980s D&S developed the D&S 5000, which was the car wash industry’s first and only roll-over type touchless automatic car wash system. Today D&S is still known for quality and reliability which is a cornerstone of the company.

Scheiter had a long-standing career in the car wash industry that dated back to the early 1960s when automatic and self-service car washing became the new trend. He was an engineer by trade and an unselfish, giving person who touched many lives. He was also a pilot and collector who loved airplanes, cars and boats. Scheiter retired from the car wash industry in 2004.