Monroe Shock Absorbers, one of the most respected brands in the automotive and commercial vehicle industries, is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2016.

An extensive schedule of programmes, trade and consumer promotions and other special activities will take place during this outstanding milestone year for the company worldwide. These programmes and activities have been designed to support the thousands of parts re-sellers, automotive workshops and millions of consumers worldwide who rely on Monroe products. Monroe shock absorbers, struts and other products are manufactured by Tenneco.

Founded in 1916 in Monroe, (Michigan, USA), by mechanic and entrepreneur August F. Meyer, the business that eventually became Monroe Auto Equipment Company initially manufactured tyre pumps for the owners of early cars.

Meyer soon added a partner, local Dodge car dealer Charles S. McIntyre, whose industry knowledge helped cultivate demand for the company’s self-oiled, single-barreled pumps. By 1926, Meyer and McIntyre had turned their attention to a larger opportunity, the demand for increased automobile driver comfort and control.

Later that year they introduced the first Monroe “Shock Eliminator,” which soon replaced the unwieldy carriage springs on many passenger vehicles. Nine decades and millions of customers later, the Monroe brand has become a globally recognised standard of innovation and product excellence within the automotive ride control category.

Monroe Auto Equipment expanded to Europe in 1964. Australia, Japan and Mexico were next in 1972, South America in 1974 and Canada in 1975. Tenneco purchased the company in 1977, overseeing the development of several Monroe innovations for passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, four wheel drive vehicles and other special vehicle applications.

The company introduced the automotive service industry’s first gas-charged replacement shock absorbers, Monroe Gas in 1982 and Monroe Sensa-Trac shock absorbers and struts in 1999. Monroe Strut-Mate complete replacement strut assemblies followed in 2003 and Monroe OE Spectrum shock absorbers and struts were introduced in 2011.

Monroe’s centenary coincides with the company’s 44th anniversary of Australian manufacturing and marketing operations, making it a true veteran of the Australian automotive industry.

After establishing its Australian operations in 1972, the company acquired automotive suspension manufacturers W.H Wylie and Company in 1985. This spawned the localised brand identity “Monroe-Wylie”, which became synonymous with premier aftermarket suspension replacement products throughout that decade.

In 1989 one of the company’s most successful aftermarket products, the Monroe Strut-Mate was released, while in 1993 Monroe Max-Lift -boot, bonnet and hatch struts became available in Australia. 1994 saw Monroe’s Adelaide based manufacturing plant achieve ISO 9001 accreditation.

The new decade heralded new technical innovation with Monroe Reflex technology released in Australia, providing even higher levels of ride control and comfort in 2003. Two years later Monroe Gas Magnum TDT four wheel drive shock absorbers were launched in Australia. The end of the decade (2009) saw the introduction of the Monroe GT Sport lowered vehicle application range to broad customer, installer and performance vehicle motorist acclaim.

The next decade saw a new and exciting motorsport ambassador join Monroe as the company’s Safety Ambassador. Popular V8 Supercar driver Mark Winterbottom forged a highly successful alliance with Monroe in 2010 and currently remains the company’s Safety Ambassador. He became the Australian V8 Supercar Champion in 2015 and finished no lower than the championship top five for more than a decade. These achievements have made “Monroe Mark” one of the highest profile sportspeople and road safety advocates in Australia.

In 2013 Monroe Mounting Kits were released in Australia and in 2015 a new range of specially engineered, raised height Monroe Gas Magnum TDT four wheel drive shock absorbers was released.

In addition to its strong presence in the Australian and global aftermarket, Tenneco is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of original equipment ride control and suspension systems and components. Tenneco’s revolutionary Monroe intelligent suspension electronic suspension technologies offer vehicle manufacturers a wide range of options to tune suspension systems to very specific requirements, providing a higher level of safety and comfort for drivers.

Beyond advanced technologies and best in class product performance, a core element of the Monroe brand’s enduring success over the past century has been a uniquely strong connection with the professionals who specify, sell and install its products.

To learn more about Monroe ride performance products and the brand’s 100th Anniversary celebrations, please contact your Monroe representative and visit www.monroe.com.au.

• Tenneco is an $8.4-billion global manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois, USA, and approximately 29,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of clean air and ride performance products and systems for automotive, commercial truck and off-highway original equipment markets and the aftermarket.