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ABOUT SPC
Specialty Products Company® (SPC) is the world leader in the development, manufacturing, and sales of wheel alignment parts. Branded Specialty Products for the traditional aftermarket and OE service divisions and SPC Performance® for the off-road, track, and enthusiast markets, SPC strives to offer wheel alignment solutions for every model and year of vehicle on the road.
Founded in 1971, SPC started as a specialty automotive tool company. In 1976 Frank Bigelow purchased the company and incorporated as Niwot Corporation dba Specialty Products Company. From a company with 16 hand tools working out of 300 sq. ft. of warehouse space in Denver, SPC quickly outgrew its space and moved to Longmont where, several moves later, it still calls home. Today SPC sells more than 1,500 parts and tools to customers worldwide. SPC still makes many of its parts in its own manufacturing facility where it has extensive mill & lathe capabilities as well as fabrication capabilities such as laser, forming, and welding.
SPC is proud to be an ISO 9001 & IATF 16949 company. Every team member in our organization plays a critical role in producing a quality part for our customer. We strive to deliver what is important to all of our customers, whether it's the distributor that stocks and sells SPC, the technician who installs our products, or the consumer who drives a car with our part on it. We never forget that our employees are the company and that our customers are the reason we exist. We thank all of you for helping make Specialty Products the wonderful company it is today.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
From the very beginning, environmental responsibility in manufacturing was a key component to the process. Leaving the planet in better shape then when it was found has always been the directive of the ownership and employees alike. In 2022, the expansion project received a new solar roof to generate enough electricity to power the facility with independence from the power grid and even power to spare. In addition, all manufactured materials are recycled from both factory locations.
ORIGIN OF THE SPC LOGO AND CHIEF NIWOT
Some have asked about SPC's logo depicting a Plains Indian profile wearing a war bonnet or headdress. We are incorporated as Niwot Corporation dba Specialty Products Company to honor Chief Niwot also known as Chief Left Hand. Chief Niwot was a tribal leader of the Southern Arapahoe people and our corporate logo today honors the peace seeking leader who was uniquely qualified to guide his people in a tumultuous time. His ability to speak Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and English as well as his reported physical stature gave his culture the best opportunity to survive the waves of gold rush prospectors and then settlers coming to the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Sadly, Chief Niwot and some 180 other Arapahoe and Cheyenne people lost their lives in the Sand Creek massacre in 1864. This massacre ultimately led President Lincoln to call for a congressional investigation that resulted in the removal of Governor Evans from office and Colorado being placed under martial law. Chief Niwot left an enduring legacy in the Boulder Valley and the State of Colorado.
To read more about Chief Niwot and the life of the Arapahoe people in Colorado and this important part of the history of our state, you can start below.
Learn more about Chief Niwot
Learn more about ‘Chief Left Hand: Southern Arapahoe’