History of JTEKT Column Systems NA

Founded in 1902

Warner and Douglas Corporation was established in 1902, in Bronson, Michigan by Mr. Warner and Mr. Harry Douglas.

Growth with American Automotive Industries

Mr. Douglas was a friend of Mr. Henry Ford who established Ford Motor Company. Douglas had been supplying various kinds of automotive component parts to Ford, including electric component parts and steering columns.

Diversified Products

Douglas has been a manufacturer of various products including automotive, electrical light switches, sockets, ash trays, residential hot water circulators, appliance switches, gasoline engines, vacuum cleaners, console shifters, furnace stokers, roller skates, electrical fence chargers, battery chargers, console radios and components, and marine cylinders.

Steering Column Business from 1955

Douglas started to make steering columns in 1955 for Ford passenger cars, introduced the first tilt and telescopic steering column in 1986, and single-lever-type tilt and telescoping steering column in 1991 for heavy-duty trucks.

Douglas started to supply its automotive steering columns and intermediate shafts to CAMI (General Motors/Suzuki joint venture company located in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada) in October, 1990. Also, Douglas introduced the tilt and telescoping steering column with gas spring tilt mechanism for agriculture tractors in 1992. Douglas is a major supplier of steering columns to the truck, agriculture, and off-highway equipment manufacturers.

Ownership Changes

1968 Scott and Fetzer Corporation purchased Douglas
1984 The Orion Group (investment group) purchased the company
1989 (December) FFV purchased the company and sold 49% of the company to Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
1991 (December) Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd. purchased the 51% from FFV and now is 100% owner of the company.
2001 Koyo Seiko purchased minority share of Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
2006 JTEKT was founded following the merger of Koyo Seiko and Toyoda Machine Works.
2018 JTEKT became the 100% shareholder of Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
2023 Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd was renamed as JTEKT Column Systems. At that time, Douglas Autotech Corporation became JTEKT Column Systems North America Corporation.

Timeline

1902 Warner & Douglas Corporation was established in Bronson,MI by Mr. Warner & Mr. Harry Douglas
1955 Douglas Autotech started making Ford passenger car steering columns
1989 FFV purchased the company and sold 49% of the company to Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
1990 Douglas started to supply its automotive steering columns and I/Shafts to CAMI in October
1991 Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd. purchased the 51% from FFV and now is 100% owner of the company
1992 Douglas (Bronson) introduced the tilt and telescoping steering column for agriculture tractors
1994 Douglas Autotech established new plant at Hopkinsville, KY for automotive
1995 Started supplying steering columns to Nissan/Ford (Quest/Villager)
1996 Moved CAMI column production line from Bronson to Hopkinsville
1997 Started A/T Shifter production for Isuzu (Rodeo) in Hopkinsville
1997 QS9000 registered; QW Steering Column and Shifter Launch
1998 Started to supply steering column for MMMA (Galant)
1999 Started to supply steering column and A/T Shifter for SIA (Legacy)
1999 Hopkinsville, KY Plant area expanded. Almost doubled
2001 Started to supply A/T Shifter for GM (Cadillac CTS)
2001 Koyo Seiko purchased minority share of Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
2002 Started to supply steering column for Koyo (Saturn Vue, Ion)
2003 Started to supply steering column for Visteon/Kantus (Nissan Canton)
2006 JTEKT was founded following the merger of Koyo Seiko and Toyoda Machine Works
2007 TS 16949 Certification received in February
2008 Started to supply Toyota steering columns to JTEKT
2014 Started to supply Honda / Mazda steering columns to JTEKT
2017 IATF 16949 Certification was received
2018 JTEKT became the 100% shareholder of Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
2023 Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd was renamed as JTEKT Column Systems. At that time, Douglas Autotech Corporation became JTEKT Column Systems North America Corporation.