Stemco
| File:Stemco logo.svg | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing Transportation |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Headquarters | Longview, Texas, United States |
Key people | Eric Vaillancourt(President) |
| Products | wheel end products suspension products brake products intelligent transportation systems |
Number of employees | 826 |
| Parent | EnPro Industries (NYSE: NPO) |
| Website | www |
Stemco—an acronym for "Specialized Truck Equipment Manufacturing Company"—is a manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Longview, Texas that serves the worldwide commercial vehicle sector. Its primary product categories encompass wheel end components, brake systems, intelligent transportation systems, and suspension parts.
History
Established on March 1, 1951, by founders Ben Cook and Tom Davidson in St. Charles, Missouri, Stemco originally specialized in producing mufflers and oil reservoirs tailored for commercial trucks. In 1958, the company shifted its base to Longview, Texas to facilitate operational expansion and broaden its range with items such as dual wheel adapters, hub hose carriers, drum check gauges, and exhaust accessories—resulting in increased manufacturing capacity and workforce growth. In 1964, Stemco became part of Garlock Inc, a firm specializing in industrial sealing solutions.
Throughout the following decades, Stemco advanced its portfolio of commercial trucking components by introducing hub oil seals, hubodometers, and other OEM-grade products that bolstered its position in the industry.
Beginning in 2007, the company embarked on a strategic expansion through acquisitions: the 2008 purchase of V.W. Kaiser Engineering led to the creation of Stemco Kaiser; acquiring Rome Tool and Die Co. in 2011 established Stemco Rome; and the 2012 acquisition of Motor Wheel Commercial Vehicle Systems resulted in Stemco Motor Wheel. Notable collaborations include partnerships with Duroline, BatRF, GAFF International, and Crewson.
In July 2015, EnPro Industries (NYSE:NPO), Stemco’s parent corporation, acquired Continental AG’s Veyance North American air springs division—adding roughly 530 employees and broadening Stemco’s presence in the suspension market. This division manufactures Goodyear air springs utilized in commercial vehicle suspensions, cabs, and seating systems.
In August 2020, Stemco streamlined its product offerings by selling the Stemco Motor Wheel brake drum and Crewson brake adjuster lines to Hendrickson International.
Innovations
Stemco focuses on developing trucking solutions aimed at improving safety and reducing maintenance demands. Its intelligent systems portfolio includes Aeris by Stemco, an automatic tire inflation technology. Collaborating with Crewson, Stemco produces and distributes automatic brake adjusters to enhance its range of braking solutions.
Additional technological advancements feature BatRF, a radio frequency identification system designed to monitor truck routes, tire pressure levels, maintenance schedules, and other fleet management metrics. The company also provides DataTrac, a hub-mounted odometer system that records mileage for fleet tracking purposes.
Brands
- Aeris – A tire inflation system that automatically regulates pressure, helps minimize tread deterioration, and notifies operators when maintenance is required.
- BatRF – A fleet management data platform that tracks mileage, tire pressure, fuel consumption, costs, and overall vehicle status.
- Stemco Brake Products – Produces heavy-duty brake lining components, including Duroline, and previously managed Crewson (divested in 2020). Their principal products feature Stemco Motor Wheel brake drums (sold in 2020) and Stemco Rome New Steel Shoes.
- Stemco Gaff – Provides bushings, mounts, engine supports, torque rods, and related parts essential for truck suspension assemblies.
- Stemco Kaiser – Engages in the testing and manufacturing of pins and bushings for kingpin assemblies, suspension kits, and no-ream repair kits.