Pridgeon & Clay
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Metal stamping, Automotive manufacturing |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Founder | John Pridgeon, Donald V. Clay |
| Headquarters | Grand Rapids, Michigan , United States |
Area served | Global (North America, Europe, China) |
Key people | Robert E. Clay (CEO) |
| Products | Exhaust components for automotive industry, metal stampings for various sectors |
Pridgeon & Clay is a metal stamping and fine-blanking specialist, focusing mainly on manufacturing exhaust components for the automotive industry. The company also caters to sectors such as Class 8 trucking, agriculture, medical devices, battery technology, fuel cells, and alternative energy solutions. With ISO 14001 and TS 16949 certifications, Pridgeon & Clay is able to perform in-house product validation processes.
Their Advanced Engineering Laboratory, accredited by A2LA as an independent testing center, has pioneered patented innovations including selective catalytic reduction (SCR) mixing modules, reverse-extrusion catalytic converter cones, and parts designed for fuel cells and zero-emission vehicles.
History
Established in 1948 by John Pridgeon and Donald V. Clay, the firm remained privately owned until 1976 when Don Clay became the sole proprietor following Pridgeon's retirement. In 1992, ownership transferred to Don Clay’s sons, Donald C. Clay and Robert E. Clay. Donald C. Clay stepped down in 2008, while Robert E. Clay continues to serve as CEO of Pridgeon & Clay.
Global Production
Pridgeon & Clay manages four manufacturing plants worldwide and maintains Sales & Engineering offices across North America, Europe, and China. The company operates more than 95 stamping presses ranging from 40 to 1500 tons and employs equipment supporting various manufacturing processes such as:
- Fine Blanking
- In-die Sensoring combined with Robotic MIG and Resistance Welding
- Progressive Die Stamping, Transfer Presses, and Deep Drawing
United States
The U.S. footprint includes two locations in Michigan and Indiana. The headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan comprises a 350,000 square-foot production facility, a 103,000 square-foot distribution center, and a 32,000 square-foot R&D and Advanced Engineering center. This primary site utilizes over 70 presses with tonnage capacities between 40 and 1500 tons, equipped with custom steel feeding systems capable of processing rolled coils or flat blanks. The Franklin, Indiana plant covers 74,000 square feet and focuses on lighter gauge stamping up to 400 tons along with MIG and resistance welding operations plus tube cutting, sizing, and forming capabilities.
Hungary
The Apostag facility near Budapest was acquired in 2001 and offers more than 107,000 square feet dedicated to manufacturing metal stampings and tooling for automotive applications. It employs progressive and transfer presses with capacities reaching up to 800 tons and maintains TS-16949 certification.
Mexico
Situated in Monterrey, Mexico—just 15 kilometers from Monterrey International Airport and near the Texas border—this plant specializes in progressive metal stamping using presses that can exert forces up to 1,000 tons with press bed dimensions extending to 4.6 meters (180 inches). This location is also certified under TS-16949.
Germany and China
To enhance global market support, Pridgeon & Clay established sales and engineering offices in Germany and Shanghai, China in 2007.