Emporia, Kansas-based Hopkins Towing Solutions announced that it has acquired Hayes Towing Electronics, a trailer brake control company located in Arab, Alabama.
The acquisition strengthens Hopkins’ position in trailer brake controls, the company said, complementing its towing electrical business. In addition to brake controls, Hayes brings an array of vehicle specific harnesses that make installation of their brake controls plug-in-simple.
“We are pleased to add the Hayes brand and products to our portfolio, building on two other strategic acquisitions in the towing category, including the market-leading range of trailer lighting products acquired in 2018 from Tiger Accessories Group,” said Bradley T. Kraft, president and CEO of Hopkins. “The addition of Hayes broadens our product offering and brings entirely new customers to Hopkins.”
Added Larry Fleming, president and CEO of Syncro Corporation, who purchased Hayes in 2005, “We are excited with the reach of Hopkins and their ability to further grow the Hayes product line. Hopkins’ incredible focus on innovation, combined with their outstanding reputation in the industry and their position in the towing aftermarket makes them the perfect partner for our line.”
Hopkins will transfer the distribution of the Hayes products to its primary distribution center in Edgerton, Kansas, where it currently distributes its towing, cleaning, fluid management, vehicle accessory and other product lines. Manufacturing of brake controls and harnesses will shift to Hopkins’ Towing Manufacturing facility in Jaurez, Mexico, the world’s only factory ISO-certified facility specifically for towing electrical products.
