The Hendrickson story began in 1913 with the founding of The Hendrickson Motor Truck Company by inventor and businessman Magnus Hendrickson. This small Chicago-based manufacturing company built trucks, often equipped with cranes or dump bodies.
In 1926, Hendrickson introduced the first tandem truck suspension, which mounted the axles on each end of an equalizing beam. This unique "walking beam" design distributed the truck's load evenly between the two rear axles, which improved traction and greatly reduced the effects of bumps and potholes in the road. The walking beam soon gained widespread acceptance among the industry's new 6x4 "six wheeler" trucks, which allowed more payload.
In 1978, The Boler Company, whose holdings included manufacturers of leaf springs and metal bumpers, purchased Hendrickson. In the years that followed, Hendrickson would expand into or acquire additional businesses in related areas—trailer suspension systems, auxiliary axle systems, springs, metal bumpers, and other heavy-duty components.
Today, Hendrickson comprises more than 3,000 people, with 21 facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Spain and Australia, including 14 manufacturing centers, 3 customer excellence centers and 2 product development centers.
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Hendrickson's tandem truck suspension gave rise to new "six wheelers."
Innovations in beam forming and robotic welding at Hendrickson Trailer Suspension Systems have enabled all of Hendrickson's divisions to build lighter, more durable systems.
Today, Hendrickson is the leading North American supplier of truck suspensions, trailer air suspensions, auxiliary axle systems, steel leaf springs, and metal bumpers.
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