Our Company History

1944 | Parks Underdown founds Hickory Springs in the Hickory community of Brookford. The company produces coiled seating springs, edge wire and Marshall coil springs for the bedding and furniture industry.

1957 | Hickory Springs begins producing sinuous wire, followed by latex and polyurethane foam.

1960 | Hickory Springs starts pouring polyurethane foam. In the 10 years that follow, the company expands its polyurethane foam footprint with pouring and fabrication facilities.

1970 | Hickory Springs sets up an innerspring mattress plant, in mountainous Micaville, NC, separate from its furniture spring plants. 

1974 | Hickory Springs moves into metal tubing and stamping operations with the introduction of convertible sleep mechanisms for the home furnishings industry.

1978 | Hickory Springs begins wire-drawing operations, supplying products to its spring operations and enhancing the company’s vertical integration in the process.

1982 | Hickory Springs purchases the Spiller Spring Company and expands its footprint in the bedding industry.

1983 | Hickory Springs takes another step toward vertical integration by entering into a joint venture to run a plastics extrusion facility, Plastics Technology, Inc., that supports the packaging industry.

1986 | Hickory Springs expands further into stamping operations with the introduction of an incliner mechanism for the furniture industry.

1988 | Hickory Springs adds to its innerspring production capacity with the purchase of the Holland Wire Company.

1996 | Hickory Springs begins a multi-year run of successful innovation, including the design of a folding metal step for recreational vehicles.

2005 | Hickory Springs introduces Preserve®, the world’s first bio-based foam. Its recipe utilizes up to 20 percent of a non-traditional, renewable, bio-based raw material derived from soybean oil.

2007 | Hickory Springs acquires Triad-Fabco, a manufacturer of molded rebond foam cushioning material for the furniture, school bus, and golf cart industries.

2008 | Hickory Springs acquires JSI Corporation, a supplier of OEM and aftermarket products to the RV industry.

2012 | Hickory Springs acquires The C.E. White Co., a manufacturer of quality seating products for the commercial/transit and school bus markets. This acquisition enables Hickory Springs to provide transportation customers with a complete seating solution.

2013 | Hickory Springs announces a new name and brand – HSM – intended to assist the company's efforts to grow its Transportation Solutions and Diversified Solutions business units.

2014 | HSM celebrates its 70th anniversary with the opening of a new Corporate Foam Technology facility and introduces Transitional™ Sleep System adjustable beds, an example of the company’s commitment to innovation and delivering integrated solutions to the marketplace.

2016 | HSM sells five foam-pouring locations in NC, GA, CA and AR to Arsenal Capital Partners. The equity company uses the former HSM facilities as the foundation for the larger foam/bedding producer Elite Comfort Solutions. 

HSM purchases Atlanta Attachment and its subsidiaries.

2017 | HSM launched a new organizational model that established six new operating divisions: Hickory Springs,  HSM Transportation & Specialty Manufacturing SolutionsHSM Diversified Solutions, Atlanta Attachment, HS Metalworks and HSM Logistics.

2018 | HSM unveils the new zoning microcoil technology "Springs Anywhere" by Spinks for Posturfil at ISPA. 

2019 | HSM (est. 1944) and Atlanta Attachment (est. 1969) celebrate their diamond and golden jubilees for 75 and 50 years in manufacturing.

 

2020 | HSM Navigated a global pandemic and repositioned the Company for growth which lead to record operating performance in subsequent years

2021 HSM Began producing emergency PPE masks and gowns for healthcare workers to assist with the extreme shortage and demand during COVID-19.

2022  | HSM Reinvested in our Transportation Seating business with innovative technology improving ergonomics and durability.

2023 HSM Partnered with Catawba Valley Community College and launched HSM Academy focused on customized continuing education for all associates.

2024 | HSM Rebranding of Atlanta Attachment Company (AAC) business unit as Atlantic Automation Company and expanded operations to North Carolina.