Link Acquires Hadley’s Valve, Suspension Brands

Link Manufacturing has finalized an agreement to acquire the valve and suspension control product lines and related engineering, software and sales assets from Hadley Products.

Hadley has been a manufacturer and supplier to commercial truck, bus, RV, military and specialty vehicle markets since the 1940s. The brands being acquired by Link include the SmartValve Electronic Height Control System and Smart Air Management System.

Under the agreement, several key staff will be transitioning from Hadley to the Link team. Link will also obtain the rights to Hadley’s dynamic air suspension control technology that improves aerodynamics, reduces rolling resistance and increases tractive performance by balancing a vehicle’s weight at speed, Link officials said in a press release.

Hadley’s entire portfolio of legacy mechanical height control valve business is also being procured by Link in the transaction. 

The move accelerates Link’s expansion into the suspension control segment of the heavy truck market, increasing its influence on cab and chassis suspensions and extending its reach into the trailer side of the marketplace, Link officials said.

“Link’s strategy to bring revolutionary suspension control technology to market has been in progress for several years now, and this acquisition significantly expands our offering, broadens our sector penetration and will accelerate not only our development of new innovations, but will enhance our electrical engineering and software development capabilities,” said Jim Huls, president of Link.

One of the most significant components of the acquisition is the enhanced control system capability being secured by Link, company officials said. In their previous work with major truck and trailer OEMs, Hadley’s engineers have been development partners in CAN bus system integration. Their experience and the proprietary firmware developed to interface with OEMs will benefit Link as the company seeks broader and deeper production integration with manufacturers in the future.

“The whole of this acquisition is worth far more than the sum of its parts, and leverages a long-term relationship forged between Hadley and Link that is more than 35 years in the making,” said Jim Fitzell, president and chief executive officer of Hadley Products. “With electronic valve and controls expertise from Hadley, coupled with smart suspension damping expertise from Link, customers will enjoy the best of both worlds.”