Straight out of the military, E.L. “Bud” and R.E. “Gene” Hopkins started an auto body shop in 1953. Emporia, Kansas-based Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation started making repair tools like the Dial-Pick, an adjustable pneumatic hammer.
When the brothers realized similar businesses had the same issue manually aligning headlights with limited shop space, they developed and sold the Hoppy Head Light Aimer. Today, lighting companies add nubs to light lenses that line up with Hoppy.
Hopkins Manufacturing began implementing plastic resin technology in the 1960s. The industry improvement allowed the company to make lighter and more durable products. Before Hopkins ice scrapers and snowbrushes propelled the company into the winter market in 1975, local gas stations gave them away free-of-charge.
In 1997, the Hopkins family retired, and the business started a period of organic growth and acquisitions. The transition from Bud Hopkins’ independent lead to that of team led to over a dozen acquisitions in towing, winter, cleaning, vehicle accessories and lighting categories over 25 years.
The company’s introduction into the RV market began with its acquisition of BrakeBuddy, Tow Daddy and Blazer International, all of which are now marketed under the Hopkins Towing Solutions brand, the No. 1 towing electrical brand in North America.
Hopkins Manufacturing’s 1985 acquisition of Olathe Wiring, a vehicle-to-trailer towing electrical solution, also targeted company focus to the RV industry. This retail category, which was previously only available to installers and businesses, was now available to the consumer products market.
Today, Hopkins’ largest product category is towing, which includes over 1,000 products. The company operates four manufacturing facilities in North America, including the world’s only ISO-certified one for towing electrical products.
