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| GUNITE… A vision for the future
built on 150 years of innovation. |
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| With its roots established on the
banks of the Rock River in Rockford, Illinois, in 1854 Gunite
became the first foundry west of New York to develop a process
for the founding of malleable iron. As our nation grew into
the 19th century and the needs of our citizens became more complex,
Gunite continued to develop innovative processes and products.
From its early days of manufacturing
sled runners, cooking utensils and components for the burgeoning
farm implement market, Gunite has never lost sight of the importance
of developing new technology. |
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| In 1924, Gunite entered into the
newly emerging commercial transportation market with its introduction
of cast iron brake drums followed by the development of cast
iron wheels for heavy-duty trucks in 1932. While these products
may not stir thoughts of technology and innovation today, they
were essential elements in the evolution of the industry. Gunite
brake drums led to safer vehicle operation and Gunite cast spoke
wheels helped early commercial trucks to haul heavier loads
over less than consistent road surfaces. |
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In the 1940’s and 1950’s
Gunite continued to expand its product line to meet the needs of
other commercial vehicles beyond the now flourishing trucking
industry. As new generations of trucks and vehicles were developed
for the more demanding environments of off-highway applications
such as those of the mining, timber and oil industries, Gunite
was a leader in the development of wheel and brake products to meet
the need for increased strength and durability. |
| Throughout the
remainder of the 20th century Gunite grew and solidified its
position as the industry’s number one supplier of wheel-end
components to the commercial transportation industry. It added
disc wheel hubs and disc brake rotors to its product line. Gunite
was instrumental in the evolution of automatic slack adjusters
for the heavy-duty vehicle market through the development of
clearance sensing technology, a technology that provides for
more accurate and consistent brake operation over a broad range
of braking conditions. |
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Along with
its focus on innovative product design, development and manufacture,
Gunite continues to emphasize quality
and performance. An example of this superior level of product
quality and consistency is the fact that Gunite brake drums
have long been the standard drum used in the testing brake linings.
Over the years that same dedication to quality has gained Gunite
industry recognition in the form of Ford Motor Company’s
prestigious Q-1 award, Freightliner’s Masters of Quality
award as well as being approved as standard equipment by every
OEM in the heavy-duty industry. As an ISO 14001:2004/TS-16949 certified company,
Gunite can assure its customers of the highest level of quality
and product consistency in the industry. |
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| Today Gunite
is the largest producer of wheel-end components in North America,
designing, manufacturing and selling more wheel-end components
to the heavy-duty trucking industry than any other single manufacturer.
As the number one producer of wheel-end components, the industry
has come to look to Gunite for innovative solutions to increase vehicle
performance and lower operating costs. As Gunite approaches its 150th year
of operation, it continues to have a rich history of innovation in the art
of manufacturing products for the heavy-duty trucking, off-highway and bus
markets. |
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