Company

SMI has been producing safety equipment since the mid- 1970's. With a long history of fabrication, SMI focused their capabilities on designing and manufacturing a simple vacuum operated stop arm. Currently SMI is the industry leader of safety equipment to the transportation industry with over 5,000 different SKU's. We continually to look to expand our product offerings either by organic growth, as well as through strategic acquisitions.

We have expanded our product line to include; stop arms, crossing arms, roof/escape hatches, warning lights, doors, interior paneling, interior lighting, interior luggage racks, floors, and floor coverings. SMI currently has three operating facilities across the US with its main headquarters located in Pineville, just outside of Charlotte North Carolina. We enjoy a vast network of distributors within the US and EU that provide service and aftermarket parts.

Company History

SMI, previously Specialty Manufacturing Company (SMC) began in the mid-1970 as a contract manufacturer of mostly metal fabricated parts. Part of that business included the making of simple vacuum operated stop arms. In 1981 the Ellison Company purchased SMC with the intent of expanding their product offerings. Fortunately for the company and its new owners this was realized. Over the next twenty years the school bus industry experienced favorable growth coupled with significant regulation that gave SMC the opportunity to expand into complimentary product lines i.e.; crossing arms, roof hatches, warning lights, and floor coverings.

In 2006 the Ellison family made the decision to find an equity partner. Century Park Capital Partners was chosen to team up with SMC's Management, to continue with their quest for growth and expansion. Because of this relationship, SMC has become SMI, and has been fortunate to close on two strategic acquisitions in nearly a year after they solidified their own relationship. Pretoria Transit Interiors out of Murfreesboro TN and Transpec Worldwide located in Sterling Heights MI have become part of the SMI family. They join Specialty MFG and SpecFlor (formally RSNA) as the entities that operate under the SMI banner. With the support of Century Park Capital Partners, SMI continues to look for strategic acquisitions as well as opportunities for organic growth.