Warn Industries

This poster was seen hanging in the factory during our tour.

When Arthur Warn developed a simple free wheeling hub for surplus WWII Jeeps in 1948, we doubt he envisioned his small family business ever growing into a multi-million dollar corporation with multiple factories and worldwide recognition.
Warn Industries celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Recently they threw a little party for themselves and invited us to attend. We were treated to tours of the Clackamas, Oregon factory, winching demonstrations, introduction of the new Endurance 12000# air cooled winch, as well as some great BBQ and a chance to just visit with all the guys that make this dynamic, hands-on company so successful.
We came away with the feeling Warn is well set for the next 60 years. It was a good to visit an American factory busy making cool products; with smiling workers and an upper brass that is passionate about the sport of four wheeling and the products they provide to 'wheeling enthusiasts worldwide. Check out a few photos we snapped at the birthday bash...

This retro display greeted us upon our arrival. Included in the display are examples of the original Warn free wheeling hubs in their green metal storage box. These original style hubs had to be bolted on and off in order to be used! That's a far cry from the modern Ford unit next to them, which is built by Warn for O.E. production today. Also on display are two early versions of the original 8200 winch which developed into the famed M8274-50 that is still in production today. Who remembers that '70s ad with the Jeep J-truck on the cliff, or winch gear oil in a tin can? It's great to see a modern corporation that has sentimental feelings about its roots.

One of the favorite tools in the factory is "Broachzilla", a huge broaching machine that creates winch ring gears (right) from slices of special steel tubing (left).	This guy has a fun job!  This machine tests winches to the limit of their endurance and/or their breaking point - and gives a computer printout to prove it.

 

The beloved M8274-50 is still being manufactured, albeit in this tiny corner of the factory. Keep those orders coming in folks...	All the company's powdercoating is done in house. Here, winch bumper parts are about to become shinny black.

 

 

This cool prototype "mini-crane", utilizing a Pullzall, easily raised and lowered this 4X4 ATV into and out of a Dodge Ram pickup. You may see this innovative tool coming from the Warn Works line soon.	The Warn Works division focuses on winches for material handling and the Pullzall electric come-along is the pride of this department. Trouble had been gone to so we could watch a small block Chevy being raised and lowered into a flatfender in a mock engine swap install.

 

We think these guys just like getting stuck in front of there offices so they didn't have to go back inside and sit at their desks! Just kidding. Actually, Warn is a very hands on company and they are constantly conducting real world tests of their products in the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest.	Back outside in front of the Clackamas, OR factory and corporate offices, the staff had built a demonstration area for us, complete with mud pits and a rock garden. They repeatedly buried a JK and a Tacoma and then winched them out using the new Endurance air cooled winch.