85 years of tool support
Over the last 85 years Aero-Motive® has designed and manufactured a wide range of tool support products to enhance productivity and increase efficiency, while reducing worker fatigue and common injuries in the workplace.
Company Timeline
Aero-Motive® was founded in 1939 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, by Roger Backer. Originally established as a machine shop, the company began by manufacturing cable and hose reels for demanding industrial applications, including the automotive and aerospace sectors. The name Aero-Motive® reflects the industries the company originally served – Aerospace (“Aero”) and Automotive (“Motive”) – and has since become synonymous with high-quality tool support solutions worldwide.
Over the decades, Aero-Motive® has evolved into a globally recognized and respected brand, known for engineering excellence, durability, and ergonomic innovation. The company has played a significant role in advancing tool support technology, helping manufacturers improve productivity, enhance workplace safety, and reduce operator fatigue.
Today, Aero-Motive® focuses on the design and manufacture of advanced tool support products, including balancers, retractors, and positioners, delivering solutions that make tools feel virtually weightless in the hands of operators while promoting efficiency and long-term workplace ergonomics.
1939
Aero-Motive is founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA.
1947
The Aero-Motive name is officially registered as a trademark.
1957
The company transitions to the manufacture of proprietary products, including tool balancers.
1972
Aero-Motive® is acquired by Woodhead Industries (Daniel Woodhead Company) as part of its Industrial and Electrical business expansion.
1990
Woodhead Industries establishes an Aero-Motive subsidiary in the United Kingdom to strengthen its European presence.
2003
The Kalamazoo manufacturing facility is closed, with operations consolidated into other Woodhead facilities, including Mexico and the United Kingdom. Product design center is relocated to Northbrook, Illinois.
2006
Molex®, a global leader in electronics and industrial connectivity, acquires Woodhead Industries and integrates Aero-Motive® into its Industrial Business Unit.
2008
Aero-Motive operations in the United Kingdom are closed, and balancer production is transferred to the Molex manufacturing facility in Sulęcin, Poland.
2019
Bürklin Elektronik acquires Aero-Motive® (a Molex division), including the brand name, tool support (balancer) product line, and associated operations. Production is transferred to Bürklin’s facility in Oberhaching, Germany.