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History 

Historical Highlights
 

2008 ArvinMeritor starts production at new facility in Salonta, Romania.

ArvinMeritor opens new tech center in Shanghai, China.

ArvinMeritor acquires Trucktechnic, a major remanufacturer in Liege, Belgium.

ArvinMeritor opens cutting edge facility in Monterrey, Mexico

 
2007 ArvinMeritor acquires Mascot Truck Parts Ltd., a major remanufacturer of transmissions, drive axle carriers, steering gears and drivelines, based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. 

The Light Vehicle Aftermarket (LVA) European exhaust operations are sold to Klarius Group Limited, located in the United Kingdom.

The Emissions Technologies (ET) business is sold for $310 million on May 17 to One Equity Partners (OEP), an equity firm based in New York.

ArvinMeritor and Wal-Mart Transportation agree to develop a dual-mode, diesel-electric drivetrain for a Class 8 tractor, believed to be the first of its kind in North America.

 

2006   ArvinMeritor’s Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket (CVA) business celebrates two significant milestones at its Plainfield, Ind. facility, with the remanufacture of the 10-millionth brake shoe and 50,000th axle differential carrier since 2000 and 1999, respectively.

The Light Vehicle Aftermarket (LVA) Purolator filters business in North America will be sold to Bosch and MANN+HUMMEL as part of ArvinMeritor’s strategy to divest its LVA businesses individually.

 

2005 The Detroit Regional Chamber honors ArvinMeritor Chairman, CEO and President Charles “Chip” McClure as World Trader of the Year for promoting free trade as the best way to help propel continued economic growth worldwide.

 

2004 Roll Coater, a wholly owned subsidiary and leader in the coil coating industry, is sold to an affiliate of Willis Stein & Partners.

ArvinMeritor dedicates the new $40 million Detroit Technology Center, its new technology center for Light Vehicle Systems (LVS) operations in North America, located in southwest Detroit, Mich., USA.

 

2002   ArvinMeritor acquires the remaining 51-percent interest its German joint venture Zeuna Stärker GmbH & Co. KG, a premier exhaust and emissions solutions company.

 

2000 ArvinMeritor, Inc., a leading global automotive supplier, is created by the merger of Meritor Automotive Inc., and Arvin Industries Inc. on July 7.
 
1999   Meritor completes acquisition of LucasVarity's Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems business; enters into a joint venture with ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a leading independent manufacturer of transmission products.

Arvin acquires Purolator (a leading manufacturer of automotive oil, air and fuel filters, and filter housings), WorldSource (a leading supplier of pre-painted coil coating), and Camloc Gas Springs (a leading designer and manufacturer of gas spring products).

 

1998   Arvin adds Midas International as a new customer for Arvin replacement products and acquires 49-percent interest in Zeuna Starker, a premier German manufacturer of OE exhaust systems.

Meritor acquires Volvo's heavy vehicle axle manufacturing operations in Lindesberg, Sweden, and Euclid Industries, a leading replacement parts manufacturer for heavy-duty trucks, trailers, tractors, school buses and specialty vehicles.

 

1997   Meritor is created as an independent publicly traded entity (through a spinoff of Rockwell International's automotive business); listed on the New York Stock Exchange in October.

Arvin acquires 100-percent ownership of TESH, the company's joint venture in the European replacement exhaust market; begins production of advanced mechanical power steering pumps at the new plant in Pamplona, Spain, in joint venture with Kayaba.

 

1996   Arvin announces new or expanded joint ventures with partners to supply global OEM markets in China, Thailand, Taiwan, India and Malaysia.

Rockwell Automotive introduces the revolutionary Engine Synchro Shift (ESS) transmission system, designed to reduce driver shift effort and add operational efficiencies; enters into joint venture in China.

 

1995   Rockwell Automotive acquires window regulator business from Dura Automotive Systems.

 

1993   Rockwell Automotive acquires former automotive components plant, Skoda Miada Boleslav in Liberec, in the Czech Republic.

Arvin moves into the Italian market with 50-50 joint venture involving Sogefi S.p.A., one of the leading Italian exhaust systems manufacturers.

 

1992   Arvin forms Schmitz & Brill GmbH with a German partner to serve the European exhaust systems market.

 

1991   Arvin begins assembly of catalytic converters in a new plant in Holland; completes a research and development center for exhaust systems in Warton, England.

 

1990   Rockwell WABCO begins supplying anti-lock braking systems (ABS) for tractors and trailers.

 

1989   Rockwell Automotive introduces family of nine- and 13-speed on-highway transmissions.

Arvin adds to European expansion efforts by purchasing AP Amortiguadores, S.A., Spain's leading shock absorber manufacturer.

 

1987   Arvin announces a license agreement with the Toyota Central Research and Development Laboratories of Japan for the use of the thermal diffusion process in the U.S.

 

1986   Arvin forms a joint venture with Sango Company Ltd. to make automotive exhaust systems; acquires Schrader Automotive, the world's largest producer of valves for tires and inner tubes; purchases Maremont Corporation, a major producer of automotive replacement and original equipment shock absorbers, exhaust systems and related parts; purchases Gabriel, a maker of shock absorbers and related products.

Rockwell Automotive introduces new family of single-speed and two-speed drive axles.

 

1984   Arvin forms COFAP-Arvin Auto Pecas LTDA, a joint venture with a major Brazilian automotive parts supplier; purchases a Mexican manufacturer of exhaust systems.

 

1978   The acquisition of Calspan Corporation leads Arvin into government research, aeronautical wind tunnel testing, automotive accident research and evaluation of tires and vehicle crash-worthiness.

 

1974 Arvin receives its first orders for catalytic converters.

 

1973 Rockwell Automotive acquires Fumagalli steel wheel business.

 

1966 Arvin acquires Roll Coater.

 

1953   Willard Rockwell merges Wisconsin Parts, Standard Steel and Spring, and Timken Detroit to form Rockwell Spring and Axle Company.

 

1950 Noblitt-Sparks changes its name to Arvin Industries, Inc.

 

1927   Indianapolis Air Pump Company, operating under the new name of Noblitt-Sparks, begins producing mufflers.

 

1921 The Indianapolis Air Pump Company begins producing Arvin car heaters.

 

1920 Richard Arvin applies for patent for a car heater.

 

1919 Q.G. Noblitt starts the Indianapolis Air Pump Company.

Willard Rockwell buys Wisconsin Parts Company to produce an improved axle based on his own design.

 

1909 Timken Detroit Axle Co. is formed; later becomes part of Wisconsin Parts Company.