History
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a member of Knorr-Bremse, designs, develops, and supplies leading-edge active safety technologies, energy management solutions, and air brake charging and control systems and components under the Bendix® brand name for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles throughout North America.
An industry pioneer, employing more than 4,400 people, Bendix is driven to create the best solutions for improved vehicle safety, performance, and overall operating cost.
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems is headquartered in Avon, Ohio, with manufacturing plants in Acuña, Mexico, Bowling Green, KY, Hanover, PA, Huntington, IN, Lebanon, TN, and Wytheville, VA.
The Bendix Vision
We are setting the direction in active safety and vehicle operation efficiency in the global commercial vehicle industry. We are the trusted and preferred partner for mechatronic systems over the entire vehicle life cycle.
History of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
History
| 1869 | Westinghouse Air Brake Company established in Wilmerding, PA, to manufacture air brakes invented by George Westinghouse. |
| 1924 | Westinghouse air brake system including Broussouse compressor applied to International Harvester Coach in Akron, OH. |
| 1927 | Bendix Corporation formed by automotive engineer Vincent Bendix. Company produces "Safety Servo" vacuum brake under the Braggs-Kliesrath name. |
| 1930 | Bendix-Westinghouse Automotive Air Brake Company established following the merger of Bendix Corp. and Westinghouse Automotive Air Brake. Headquarters located in Wilmerding, PA. |
| 1934 | Bendix-Westinghouse takes automotive air brake worldwide by establishing licensing agreements with Westinghouse companies in France, Germany, Italy and England. |
| 1941 | Bendix-Westinghouse establishes new headquarters in Elyria, OH. |
| 1949 | WWII accelerates developments, and air braking becomes standard on all heavy trucks, tractor-trailers, buses, fire trucks and off-highway vehicles. |
| 1960 | Automatic slack adjusters, air dryers, dual brake valves and first generation antilock braking systems are under development. |
| 1969 | Bendix Corporation acquires 100 percent ownership of Bendix-Westinghouse. |
| 1973 | Bendix-Westinghouse becomes Bendix Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, a division of Bendix Corporation. |
| 1975 | Bendix dual air brake system becomes standard for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 121. |
| 1980 | Bendix establishes worldwide parts distribution center and remanufacturing operation in Huntington, IN. |
| 1982 | Bendix Corporation merges with Allied Corporation and the division becomes an operating unit of Allied Automotive, an independent supplier to the worldwide automotive industry under the brand names of Bendix®, Fram®, and Autolite®. |
| 1986 | The Bendix Heavy Vehicle Systems Group of Allied merges with Bendix Limited European truck air brake operation establishing Bendix Heavy Vehicle Systems Group-Europe. Allied Corporation acquires Signal operations establishing AlliedSignal Inc. as the division's parent company. |
| 1989 | Bendix Heavy Vehicle Systems Group-Europe acquires truck air brake operation of Magneti Marelli, strengthening European operations. |
| 1999 | AlliedSignal merges with Honeywell International. The new company continues to offer Bendix® brand name air brake and control systems and components under its Honeywell Commercial Vehicle Systems unit. Honeywell operates Honeywell Commercial Vehicle Systems as a joint venture with Knorr-Bremse AG of Munich, Germany. Honeywell owns 65 percent of the unit. Knorr-Bremse owns 35 percent. |
| 2002 | Knorr-Bremse assumes 100 percent ownership of Honeywell Commercial Vehicle Systems from Honeywell International Inc. The company changes its legal name to Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC. |