| | Established in 1902 as "The Chicago Tubing and Braiding Company" manufacturing braided gas tight hoses for street lighting and heating and the emerging medical profession. The company developed in the 1920's and 30's to offer exhaust hose for the developing automotive and ship building industries as well as the first to produce corrugated carbon steel hose and braid and stainless steel interlock hose. The company changed its name in 1937 to "The Chicago Metal Hose Corporation".
In 1941, expansion was required and a new plant was built in Elgin, IL to manufacture among others flexible ducting for aircraft - venting warmth from engines to the cabin and to prevent icing.
The company changed its name to "Flexonics" in 1952 with manufacturing plants added in Rock Falls and Savanna, IL, Memphis, TN, Santa Ana, CA and Brampton, Ontario. These plants manufactured stainless steel flexible hose products for the Apollo space program, the developing commercial and military aircraft industry as well as factory built commercial hose assemblies for the huge post-war industrial expansion in support with their industrial distributors. These distributors later became factory trained and authorized fabricators of Flexonics flexible metal hose and braid.
In 1962, a new plant was built in Bartlett, Illinois placing all US manufacturing operations under one roof.
In the 1970's, Flexonics designed, developed and manufactured ultra high pressure corrugated metal hose and braid both for industrial and aerospace applications.
In the 1980's, Flexonics acquired Tempflex, an expansion joint manufacturer, which was relocated to New Braunfels, Texas to establish the Expansion Joint Division. Flexonics also acquired Dearborn Industrial Products, a distributor of Flexonics metal hose and also manufactured the FlowFlex line of fabric expansion joints. The expansion joint line was re-located to Texas and Dearborn became the Hose Division of Flexonics Inc.
In 1992, Senior Engineering Group PLC of Great Britain acquired Flexonics Inc. Part of Senior's existing worldwide operations included the Senior TIFT manufacturing plants producing and distributing metal hose and braid, composite hose and expansion joints, some of which were complimentary to Flexonics' existing products. The Senior TIFT manufacturing plant in NJ was re-located to Illinois in May 1992.
In 1993, a purpose built factory was occupied for the expansion and focus of an industrial Hose Division in Romeoville, IL. In 1996, Senior Flexonics acquired Jackson Industries, a manufacturer of PTFE hose and fittings located in Chicago.
In 1999, Senior Flexonics acquired Willcox Hose, a manufacturer of composite hose and composite hose assemblies based in Houston, Texas.
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