Atwood Vacuum Machine Company was founded in 1909 by brothers James T. and Seth B. Atwood.  The company was located in Madison, Wisconsin and dedicated to the sale of the then new technology of central vacuuming for industrial and commercial applications.  But developing applications for new opportunities was just beginning for Atwood.

A door rattle in an early automobile led James to develop an adjustable door bumper that became the standard in the industry with production in excess of 20 million units by the 1920’s. Buoyed by this early success the Atwood brothers turned their attention to the automotive industry with products that included hinges and telescoping props. By the 1930’s Atwood was the first manufacturer to produce concealed hinges for cars and tongue jacks for a new segment of the industry called ‘towable trailers’. In addition, Atwood manufactured clutches for the military, kick stands for bicycles (the Atwood kick up steel stand) and training wheels (the Atwood stabilizer), as well as parts for the railroad industry.  During the war, Atwood supplied parts for the military and even received the ‘E’ award for production excellence.

Atwood continued to grow not only through product offerings but also through acquisitions.  These included a company who manufactured coin change devices (A.B.T. Manufacturing), as well as the trailer division of H.W. Crane Co., whose manufactured couplers became part of the Atwood family.

In 1964 Atwood acquired Hemco, Inc.  Based in Wixom, Michigan, Hemco manufactured electric and gas heaters for travel trailers and mobile homes.  Thus, a new company, Atwood-Bowen, was created which set the stage for Atwood’s introduction to the production of water heaters for recreation vehicles. 

In the 70’s Atwood reorganized as Atwood Automotive and Atwood Mobile Products.  Company sales rose to $50 million.  By 1985 sales were in excess of $138 million when the Atwood family sold the Mobile Products division to Anderson Industries in Rockford, Illinois.

In 1986 Atwood acquired Wedgewood Industries adding air conditioning for the RV industry to its product line and changed its name from Atwood Vacuum Machine Company to Atwood Industries Inc. In 1988 Atwood acquired Travel Star’s Inc. line of cooking products and one year later in 1989 Atwood acquired the Marvel line of Trailer Couplers.

The 1990’s were a significant decade in terms of growth and change for Atwood Mobile Products.  Hydro Flame, a Salt Lake City manufacturer of furnaces, became part of the Atwood family of products in 1993 and Better Products followed in 1994. That same year, Atwood became ISO 9001 certified.  In 1997 Atwood acquired The Compliance Group.

Atwood Industries itself was acquired by Excel Corporation of Elkhart which relocated the automotive side of the business to Florida in 1997.  Then in 1999 Dura Automotive Systems from Rochester Hills, Michigan acquired Excel.  Dura was a leading supplier of seating control systems, engineered assemblies, and integrated glass systems for the global automotive industry.

In 2003, Atwood Mobile Products acquired the Creation Group – America’s premier designer and manufacturer of windows, doors, and specialty products for a wide range of vehicular and housing applications.

Dura suffered tremendously as the automotive industry struggled with imports, higher labor and rising fuel prices and in August of 2007 sold Atwood Mobile Products to Insight Equity out of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.

Insight Equity LLP is a private equity firm who makes control investments in strategically viable companies and managed businesses with over $4 billion in aggregate revenue since 1998. In June Insight received the Private Equity firm of the Year award from M & A Advisor.  In July Insight received the 2008 Best of Southlake Award in the Venture Capital Companies Category, which recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country.

Today, Atwood Mobile Products designs and manufactures a wide variety of high quality products including furnaces, water heaters, ranges, cooktops, windows, doors, seating systems, gas sensors, chassis components such as jacks, couplers, brakes, and glass applications that serve the agricultural commercial, industrial, marine, mass transit, recreation vehicle, manufactured housing, van conversion and residential markets.

Atwood Mobile Products boasts a proud heritage of quality, integrity and vision that has moved into the 21st century. By concentrating on its core strengths of innovation, aggressive product development and niche marketing, Atwood views the future with unbridled optimism. Atwood’s extensive aftermarket distribution and service network guarantee fast delivery and dependable service throughout North America and around the world. Learn more about Atwood in our Company Profile.

If you have any other comments or questions email us or call us at (574) 264-2131.