Explore how TRW grew from a small bolt manufacturer into a global automotive and aerospace leader before its acquisition.
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TRW's origins trace back to 1901 when it was founded as the Cleveland Cap Screw Company, specializing in bolts.
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Under Charles E. Thompson, the company shifted to making engine valves, becoming the largest in America by 1915.
Image source: By Dunbar Rowland - The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi, Volume 4 (1917), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org
TRW’s sodium-cooled valves played a role in Charles Lindbergh’s historic transatlantic flight in 1927.
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Engineers Ramo and Wooldridge left Hughes Aircraft to form a new aerospace company, merging with Thompson Products.
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The 1960s saw TRW’s entry into the automotive sector, pioneering anti-lock braking systems (ABS).
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TRW developed airbags, power steering, and electronic stability control, revolutionizing automotive safety.
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By the 2000s, TRW had a major presence in Europe, North America, and Asia, supplying top automakers.
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The late 2000s brought economic downturns, intense competition, and shrinking profit margins for TRW.
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Tougher safety and environmental regulations forced TRW to invest heavily in R&D, straining its finances.
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Facing financial pressures, TRW was acquired by German automotive giant ZF Friedrichshafen for $13.5 billion in 2015.
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Though TRW no longer exists as an independent company, its innovations continue to shape the automotive industry.
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Image source: Stefan-Xp, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons