1956EXPANSIONA major product facility opens in Hartwell, Georgia.

1956FIRST NATIONALADVERTISING CAMPAIGNRealizing that the replacement market for shock absorbers was bigger than that of original equipment Monroe initiates its first national ad campaign.

TENNECO®

1920s1910s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

1919THE MONROEAUTOMOBILE EQUIPMENTMANUFACTURING COMPANYBrick Blast Manufacturing Company changes its name.

1927NAME CHANGEReflecting a wider area of interest, the company’s name is shortened to its present form.

1932RESEARCH REVOLUTIONIZESTHE INDUSTRYThe first successful direct-acting shock absorber is created, the forerunner of virtually every design now in use.

1933ORIGINAL EQUIPMENTA major car manufacturer offers Monroe direct-acting shock absorbers as original equipment.

1935SWAY BARThe first successful venture outside of the shock absorber market became a reality with the sway bar, which remains a part of the product line for over 30 years.

1961EXPANSIONTo better serve the market, an additional plant is built in Cozad, Nebraska.

1970EXPANSIONThe third domestic plant opens in Paragould, Arkansas.

1972WORLDWIDELICENSEESLicensees established in Japan, Australia, Mexico Cityand Africa.

1974UNAMUNOACQUISITIONMonroe purchases Unamuno, S.A.a leader in the Spanish shock absorber market, and MAP Auto Peças S.A. in Brazil.

1980MONROEMANUFACTURESSTRUTSStruts become an important product in the ride control industry.

1982MONROE GAS-MATIC™

“The Bump Stops Here” advertising campaign makes the public aware of the new Gas-Matic™ gas-charged shock absorber.

1985EXPANSION INTO AUSTRALIAInternational operations expand with the acquisition of W.H. Wylie Company, which is then renamed Monroe Australia, PTY.

1989SUSPENSIONACQUISITIONMonroe gains increased visibility in Europe with the acquisition of the suspension division of Armstrong Equipment PLC in the United Kingdom.

1993THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSPENSIONThe company unveiled the new training facility at its Monroe Township headquarters. Its role was to teach the technical skills needed to install and service the increasingly complex ride control and suspension products.

2003MONROE QUICK-STRUT®

This revolutionary Monroe Quick-Strut® unit was the first complete, ready-to-install replacement strut assembly available.

2005MONROE INTRODUCES THE REFLEX® MONOTUBE SHOCKSA higher level of shock performance featuring larger bore and piston size for quicker reactions. This shock keeps tires in better contact with the roadfor greater control.

1975EXPANSION INTO CANADAOpening of the first wholly-owned subsidiary in Canada.

1964INTERNATIONAL EXPANSIONMonroe goes international by opening its first European manufacturing facility atSt. Truiden, Belgium.

1929NAPOLEON STAMPINGACQUIREDMAECO takes over Napoleon Stamping Works in Napoleon, Ohio.

1918PARTNERSHIP FORMEDCharles S. McIntyre Sr., a local Dodge dealer, becomes Meyer’s partner and vice president. He knew the auto industry and was a fellow visionary.

1916BRISK BLAST FOUNDEDAugust F. Meyer, a young mechanic and entrepreneur with two acres of prime downtown land and a $500 cash bonus from the Chamber of Commerce, establishes the Brisk Blast Manufacturing Company in Monroe, Michigan. He then purchases the assets of a St. Louis, Missouri business that manufactured tire pumps. Under Meyer’s leadership, Brisk Blast becomes a leading producer of tire pumps, producing over 5,000 tire pumps per week.

1919SINGLE-BARREL TIRE PUMPBrisk Blast perfects the first self-oiled, single-barrel tire pump. Sales climb to over two million per year.

1926MONROE SHOCKELIMINATOR INTRODUCEDMonroe applies the technology of the single-barrel tire pump to a new purpose – smoothing the ride for America’s drivers.

1929INVENTION OF THEDOUBLE-ACTION SHOCKJ.M. Nickelsen, an independent-minded professor who shuttled between the University of Michigan engineering school and Monroe, is credited with help on the improved shock.

1937INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT STYLEBrouwer D., William D. and Charles S. Jr., sons of Charles S. McIntyre Sr., assume ownership and management of the company. They share equallyin the decision-making process and lead with great effectiveness for over the next three decades.

1953-1957INDY WINNERSBill Vukovich won the Indianapolis 500 on Monroe shocks. In the next 23 years, Monroe-equipped cars won 22 races.

1941SHOCK ABSORBERS FOR THE MILITARYProduction also included 20 mm projectiles and quantities of tank seats, tire pumps and hydraulic valves. The company receives five Navy “E” awards.

1938FIRST SHOCK ABSORBER FOR RAILROAD PASSENGER CARSThe forerunner of the heavy-duty series is introduced.

1951MONRO-MATIC®

The Monro-Matic® becomes the best known shock absorber in the world. It remains the standard of the aftermarket industry and the shock used by most American car makers through the 1950’s.

1958SUPER 500On the heels of the Indianapolis 500 wins, shock absorbers for heavy duty and high performance applications are made available to the consumer market.

1957REAR LOAD-LEVELERAfter many years of research, the company introduced the first rear load-leveler stabilizing unit.

1950sTHE MONRO-MATIC®

YELLOW BARRELService stations feature the famous Yellow Barrels throughout the decade.

1960sMONROE BARRELMonroe Barrels continue to be seenat service stations.

1973REGAL-RIDE®

SALES CARRegal-Ride® shocks are the choice of nearly all the leading stock car drivers on the NASCAR circuit.

1962FRONT LOAD-LEVELERThe Monroe front load-leveler stabilizing units were marketed.

1975MONROE MAX-AIR®

Used on drag strips from coast to coast, the air adjustable shock absorbers’ maximum load-carrying capacity was limited only by the vehicle’s suspension and tires.

1977RADIAL-MATIC®

“You’ll make out like a bandit” advertising campaign makes the public aware of the new Radial-Matic® shock absorber designed specifically for vehicles with radial tires.

1977MONROE BECOMESPART OF TENNECO,INC.Tenneco’s many diversified and multinationalresources allow for new opportunitieson a global scale.

1973NEW CORPORATE OFFICESAfter 56 years at 1426 E. First Street, offices move to a new $9.25 million structure.This was also the presentation site of the President’s “E Star” award for excellence in exports by the Department of Commerce.

1990ACQUISITION OFRANCHO INDUSTRIESExpansion follows as the company purchases Rancho Industries, Inc. a leading supplier of high performance suspension systems and components for the light-truck and sport-utility vehicle aftermarkets.

1988BC ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNMonroe launches its fun and memorable advertising campaign featuring a caveman in search of a “smooth comfortable ride”.

1991SENSA-TRAC®

Monroe introduces Sensa-Trac®

shock absorbers and struts with groove tube technology.

1998EXPERT PLUS®

A membership program designed to help businesses grow within the ride control and exhaust category is created.

1998JOE AMATOMonroe sponsors American dragster driver, who will go on to win the NHRA Top Fuel championship a record five times.

1999MONROE REFLEX®

Monroe introduces the Reflex® shock combining precision handling with a more comfortable ride through use of Impact Sensor™ Technology.

2014MOBILE TOURA 25-foot-long, 10-foot-high Monroe OESpectrum® shock absorber was driven to more than 50 North American cities to spread the word on the importance of inspecting your shocks and struts.

2011OESPECTRUM®

Monroe improves upon itself again, offering shocks and struts that provide added control while reducing harshness experienced with rough, bumpy road conditions.

2013EVERYTHING GETS OLD CAMPAIGNMonroe launches a simple yet effective advertising campaign reminding drivers that everything gets old, even your shocks.

2010SAVING SQUIRRELS CAMPAIGNCampaign launched in hopes of helping consumers become more proactive in maintaining their vehicles ... and saving some wildlife.

2016MONROE CELEBRATES 100 YEARS