HICKORY, NC — Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company, one of the nation’s largest integrated manufacturers and an international supplier of components for the furniture and bedding industries, has announced the acquisition of assets of JSI Corporation, an Elkhart, Indiana-based supplier of OEM and aftermarket products to the RV industry.

JSI sells a wide range of products to manufacturers and aftermarket distributors in the recreational vehicle, manufactured housing, toyhauler, and cargo trailer markets. The company was founded over 40 years ago by James K. Sachs and evolved into a sales representative company primarily serving RV manufacturers. Upon Mr. Sach’s retirement in 1999, the company was purchased by Larry, Carol and Mickey Thomas, all of whom have long histories with the company.

The recently announced acquisition is the culmination of a business relationship 17 years in the making. Hickory Springs first began working with JSI in 1991, when JSI started buying rocker bases from Hickory Springs’ Fort Smith, Arkansas, metal plant. Over the next 17 years, JSI continued to purchase more products manufactured by Hickory Springs for its RV customers. Larry Thomas’ knowledge and experience helped guide Hickory Springs’ expansion into the RV market, with beds, steps, hose plugs and boxspring systems specially designed for the unique needs of the RV industry.

JSI will be operated as a division of Hickory Springs explained Dwayne Welch, Executive Vice President of Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company, Inc. “For almost 20 years, we’ve worked together in expanding our share of the RV industry. Now JSI can continue to serve the RV industry backed by the full resources and manufacturing expertise of Hickory Springs, while Hickory Springs can continue to create new and innovative RV products taking full advantage of JSI and Larry Thomas’ RV knowledge and experience. Everyone — especially the customer — wins.”

JSI President Larry Thomas is also very excited about this new stage in JSI’s development. “It has been a dream to see things we created at this company and with Hickory Springs come to fruition,” he said. “Since we purchased JSI in 1999, our focus has been on forging dependable relationship with our customers as well as developing innovative new products for the RV industry. Hickory Springs gives us even greater resources to build on the RV successes we have pioneered together over the past 17 years.” Thomas will stay on with the company as its Director of New Product Development. JSI will also continue to operate out of its existing main office and warehouse, both located in Elkhart, Indiana, where over 80% of the RV and seating industry is located.

Hickory Springs’ corporate headquarters is located in Hickory, North Carolina, where the international, privately held company was first founded in 1944 as a producer of furniture springs. Over the past 64 years, Hickory Springs has grown into one of the nation’s largest integrated manufacturers to the furniture and bedding industries with more than 60 operating facilities throughout the United States. In addition to its core furniture and bedding markets, Hickory Springs serves a growing range of customers in the construction, automotive, packaging, medical, marine and telecommunications industries.

SOURCE: Hickory Springs