Warn Industries

Warn Industries was founded in 1948 by Arthur Warn, who invented a locking hub system for surplus Second World War Jeeps, converting thousands into usable on-road vehicles. Originally based in Seattle, Washington, he had the bolt-on hubs made by Belleview Manufacturing of Portland, Oregon; by 1954 they were optional equipment through several major car makers. Land Rover offered Warn free-wheeling hubs as a dealer option in North America, the fitting instructions supplied with them dating from October 1960, and the hubs remain a recognised period accessory on Series vehicles.

In 1959 Warn developed the first recreational electric winch, allowing a stalled four-wheel-drive to recover itself where power take-off and hydraulic winches needed a running engine. The first unit, the Model 6000 of 6,000 lb capacity, became known as the Belleview; in 1974 it was updated as the M8274 with an 8,000 lb rating, the upright-drum winch that Land Rover specialists still list among the marque's period equipment. Thurston Warn became president in 1968; during the 1970s the company added manual and automatic hubs for all 4WD vehicles, new electric and hydraulic winches and mounting systems, began its long relationship with Ford, set up worldwide distribution and opened manufacturing near Portland, Oregon.

The 1980s brought the industry's first three-stage planetary winch gear train and free-spooling clutch, the first ATV winch (patented 1988), fender flares and accessories; by 1986 headquarters had moved to Portland and Mike Warn, the founder's grandson, became chairman and chief executive. In the 1990s the company adopted just-in-time manufacturing and ISO 9001/QS-9000, created an industrial division, and in 1997 opened its 200,000 sq ft world headquarters, factory and distribution centre at Clackamas, Oregon.

Mike Warn sold the company in 2000 in a management buyout backed by Endeavour Capital and Norwest Equity Partners; Dover Corporation bought Warn Industries in 2003 for USD 325 million. In 2017 the business was split: the aftermarket winch, hub, bumper and accessory company was sold to LKQ Corporation, keeping the Warn Industries name at Clackamas within LKQ's Keystone Automotive Operations, while Dover kept the OEM wheel-end and drivetrain business as Warn Automotive at Milwaukie, Oregon.