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In
1927, an entrepreneur named Hugo Heiermann invented
a metal circular part to replace the nut, bolt,
and washer system as a fastening device. It
became internationally known as the Retaining
Ring. Heiermann founded two metal stamping companies
in his native Germany – Seeger-Orbis and
Benzing – both of which are still in existence
today.
In 1933, Seeger filed patents in the USA. Another
US patent was issued to Benzing two years later.
In 1938, an agreement was made between these
two companies and Ludwig Bluth and Richard Hans
to manufacture and exploit the American patents
within the United States. At around the same
time, the War Powers Act put in place the National
Aircraft Standards Committee. Bluth approached
this Committee who led him to Waldes-Kohinoor,
a manufacturer of zippers, buttons, and hooks,
for the clothing industry, located in Long Island
City, New York.
Waldes, an expatriate of Czechoslovakia, had
established multinational manufacturing facilities
in Prague, Dresden, Paris, Warsaw, Barcelona,
and New York.
Following the outbreak of war, the patents of
Seeger and Benzing were vested by the USA under
the Alien Property Custodian Act. It was the
selection by the National Aircraft Standards
Committee that put in place the foundation for
Waldes-TRUARC to make Retaining Rings for the
US Military. Retaining Rings were used to hold
bearings and other rotating parts in place under
pressure. And, in 1942, the first two basic
types, that continue to be sold from our catalog
today, were introduced for Military Applications.
TRUARC
Rings were, and are still, considered to be
the highest quality product available to hold
in check the natural forces of physics.
After the War, the automotive industry began
using Retaining Rings in place of the traditional
and other. old-fashioned fastening devices.
Today, applications range from tiny camera shutters
and delicate instruments to giant trucks and
earth moving equipment - from washing machines,
air conditioners and other home appliances to
business machines and other office equipment.
They are also designed into such diverse products
as toys, sporting goods, and industrial machinery.
Whatever components must be positioned accurately
and fastened securely, TRUARC Rings are used
for fastening and assembly at substantial savings
on material and labor costs. In the 1960's,
an employee spin-off from Waldes, the Industrial
Retaining Ring Co. operating as a sole proprietorship,
occupied a niche market. It was also known for
its high quality products and, in-stock, off-the-shelf
availability - a service still offered today.
Meanwhile, in 1985, Seeger-Orbis, part of the
SKF Group, acquired Waldes-TRUARC. It was this
acquisition that began the formation of a group
of Retaining Ring companies that included Anderton
International (UK), Seeger-Orbis (Germany),
Seeger-Reno (Brazil), and Waldes-TRUARC (USA).
In 1995. TransTechnology (NYSE-TT) acquired
the Industrial Retaining Ring Co. One year later,
in 1996, it then acquired the SKF Retaining
Ring Group. TransTechnology further increased
its leadership by acquiring in 1999, Ellison
Holdings (UK) one of the last large independently-owned
Retaining Ring manufacturers in the world.
TRUARC
Company LLC is the successor to this history
and to the technical expertise that it has inherited.
Today, there is no other Retaining Ring company
in the world which has the knowledge or experience
that stands behind the quality of our products.
High quality is synonymous with the TRUARC brand.
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