From Bicycles to Landing Gears: BF Goodrich's Innovative History

BF Goodrich is responsible for many of the innovations the tire industry has experienced, including the invention of the tubeless tire. From bicycles to automobiles to space suits, BF Goodrich has made its mark in many of the world's history-making events.

BF Goodrich was probably singlehandedly responsible for making Akron, Ohio synonymous with rubber. Founded by Benjamin Franklin Goodrich, BF Goodrich was first known as Akron Rubber Works after Goodrich moved his rubber production operations from New York to Akron in 1869. Goodrich took advantage of the absence of other rubber manufacturers in the area and subsequently opened his company in 1871 with only 20 plant workers. The product list was anything but rubber tires initially, with Akron Rubber producing tough fire hoses.

In 1880, Akron Rubber Works became BF Goodrich Company and from that year to the 1890s, it grew steadily in spite of two bankruptcies. It was in 1888 when the rubber pneumatic tire was invented by an Irish vet and became extremely in demand for use in bicycles.

When the automobile finally came out, sales of Goodrich tires increased, thanks to the company's ability to immediately adapt to the demand. They were able to produce pneumatic tires that could work for automobiles and subsequently enjoyed the fruits of their pioneering spirit. By the time Benjamin Goodrich died in 1892, the company had employed 400 workers and had sales of over $1 million. Spurned by the rapid growth of the company, BF Goodrich chose Charlotte, North Carolina as its new headquarters.

The 20th century saw BF Goodrich spearheading several innovations that changed the tire industry completely. In 1926, Dr. Waldo Semon, who worked for BF Goodrich as a scientist, invented the polyvinyl chloride which we know as PVC. This discovery led to the creation of a multi-billion dollar business involving vinyl. In 1937, BF Goodrich followed up with synthetic rubber, which no longer required gum resin, the raw material sourced from rubber trees. In 1946, the tubeless tire was born.

After the second World War, BF Goodrich began making products for the aviation industry, thanks to a previous experience supplying the tires to Charles Lindbergh's plane. The company built a plant in Troy, Ohio in 1946 and began manufacturing brakes and wheels for different kinds of aircraft, taking on such competitors as Messier-Bugatti, SNECMA and Honeywell. In 1961, NASA approached BF Goodrich and asked them to create the very first spacesuits for American astronauts.

In 1988, BF Goodrich left the tire business and began creating products for the aerospace industry. Today, Goodrich Company produces a broad range of products for both civil and military use, from electronic systems and sensors to landing gear and aircraft engine components. It supplies parts for Boeing, Airbus, Cessna, Canadair, Lear Jet, Bombardier and the Space Shuttle. It also provides parts for U.S. fighter jets, including the F-14, F-15, F-16, F-117 Nighthawk and the B-52 Stratofortress, among others.

Some facts about BF Goodrich: BF Goodrich underwent several name changes: from Goodrich, Tew & Co. to BF Goodrich Company to BFGoodrich and finally to Goodrich Corporation.

In 2006, BF Goodrich reported sales of almost $6 billion, 46% of which coming from Airbus, Boeing and the United States government.

When Charles Lindbergh made history by flying non-stop to Paris from New York in 1927, he used Goodrich tires for his airplane.

Despite the lack of rubber in the U.S. during World War II, America was able to maintain its supply of rubber thanks to the scientists at BF Goodrich who were able to invent synthetic rubber. The United States' victory in WWII is attributed to this discovery.

Although its name is still linked to rubber tires, BF Goodrich has been out of that business for almost 20 years. The use of the name along with their tire business now belongs to Michelin.