Goodrich Corporation
Former American manufacturing and aerospace company that evolved from a major rubber and tire producer into an aircraft-systems supplier before being acquired by United Technologies in 2012.
Last updated October 16, 2026
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Overview
Goodrich Corporation was an American manufacturing company whose history ran from nineteenth-century rubber production to twentieth-century tires, chemicals, and eventually aircraft systems. Benjamin Franklin Goodrich acquired the Hudson River Rubber Company in 1869 and moved the operation to Akron, Ohio, in 1870 after receiving financial support from local citizens. The business initially built its reputation in rubber products and became one of the leading American tire manufacturers. Its name changed from Goodrich, Tew & Co. to B.F. Goodrich Company in 1880 and later to BFGoodrich during the 1980s. The company expanded beyond tires through acquisitions, joint ventures, and internal research. Its early activities included rubber goods, automobile tires, chemical products, radios marketed under the Mantola name, and aircraft wheels and brakes. Goodrich helped establish Yokohama Rubber in Japan in 1917 and entered the Mexican market through a joint venture in 1936. Its wartime production included equipment for the United States military, while its research organization contributed to synthetic rubber, rubber-aging studies, vulcanization chemistry, tubeless tires, and aircraft de-icing technology. A major strategic transformation began in the 1980s. In 1986, the company combined its tire operations with Uniroyal's tire business, forming Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company. Goodrich sold its remaining interest in that venture in 1988, and Michelin subsequently acquired the tire business and rights to the Goodrich name. This transaction separated the corporate company from the consumer tire brand that continued under Michelin ownership. Goodrich then concentrated on aerospace, industrial products, and chemicals, later divesting its specialty-chemicals operations as part of the same repositioning. The aerospace business became the company's central identity. Goodrich acquired Rohr in 1997, adding engine nacelles and related aircraft structures; acquired Coltec Industries in 1999, expanding its landing-gear and aircraft-component activities; and acquired TRW Aeronautical Systems in 2002, bringing in businesses associated with Lucas Aerospace. In 2001, after the specialty-chemicals divestiture, the company adopted the name Goodrich Corporation to mark its transformation from a diversified rubber and chemicals manufacturer into an aerospace and industrial supplier. Goodrich produced or supported aircraft wheels and brakes, landing gear, actuation systems, engine controls, electrical-power systems, sensors, intelligence and surveillance systems, nacelles, aerostructures, aircraft interiors, and technical services. Its equipment appeared across civil, regional, business, military, helicopter, transport, and space programs. The company was also a significant supplier to aircraft manufacturers and the United States government. United Technologies announced its agreement to acquire Goodrich in 2011 and completed the transaction on July 26, 2012. Goodrich was combined with Hamilton Sundstrand to create UTC Aerospace Systems. Certain operations were divested as part of regulatory approval and transaction financing, including the Power Systems division, which was sold to Safran in 2013. Following the 2020 merger of United Technologies and Raytheon, the remaining Goodrich-derived aerospace activities became part of Collins Aerospace, now within RTX Corporation. The Goodrich Corporation therefore no longer operates as an independent company, although its technologies and brand heritage remain embedded in the aerospace businesses that succeeded it.
History
Goodrich's origins trace to Benjamin Franklin Goodrich's 1869 purchase of the Hudson River Rubber Company in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. In 1870, local citizens of Akron, Ohio, persuaded Goodrich to move the business there, helping establish Akron as a major center of American rubber manufacturing. The company became Goodrich, Tew & Co. and adopted the B.F. Goodrich Company name in 1880. Its early growth was based on rubber goods and tires, but the company progressively developed a broader manufacturing and research base. The company acquired Diamond Rubber Company in 1912, retaining the Diamond name as a product and subsidiary brand. In 1917, it helped establish Yokohama Rubber through a joint venture involving Yokohama Cable Manufacturing. Goodrich also operated in products outside its core tire business, including Mantola-branded radios during the 1930s through the 1950s. A Mexican joint venture, Goodrich-Euzkadi, began in 1936. During the Second World War, Goodrich ranked among the leading United States corporations by the value of its military production contracts. A significant aerospace manufacturing base developed after Goodrich acquired a Troy, Ohio, plant from Waco in 1946. That operation produced aircraft wheels and brakes for commercial, military, regional, and business-aircraft programs. Goodrich's scientific and engineering work also covered synthetic rubber, rubber aging, tubeless tires, vulcanization accelerators, oil-resistant compounds, and aircraft ice-protection systems. These capabilities supported the company's later transition toward aircraft systems. By the 1980s, Goodrich remained a large diversified company but faced the strategic challenge of separating its historic tire business from faster-growing industrial and aerospace activities. In 1986, its tire operations were combined with Uniroyal's tire business in Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company. Goodrich sold its 50 percent interest in 1988, and Michelin later acquired the tire company and rights to the Goodrich name. Michelin's continued use of BFGoodrich as a tire brand means that the consumer name survived, but it no longer represented the independent Goodrich Corporation. After leaving tires, Goodrich invested in aerospace and industrial products and pursued acquisitions. Rohr was acquired in 1997, strengthening the company's position in jet-engine nacelles and integrated aircraft structures. Coltec Industries was acquired in 1999 in a transaction reported at $2.2 billion in stock and assumed debt; the combination made Goodrich a leading supplier of landing gear and related aircraft components and prompted the move of corporate headquarters from Akron to Charlotte. In 2001, the company sold its specialty-chemicals business, changed its name to Goodrich Corporation, and introduced a new identity intended to reflect its aerospace-focused strategy. The acquisition of TRW Aeronautical Systems in 2002 further expanded its European and international aerospace operations. The resulting business supplied actuation and landing systems, wheels and brakes, engine components, sensors, integrated systems, engine controls, electrical power equipment, intelligence and surveillance systems, nacelles, aerostructures, interiors, and customer support. Its products were used on a wide range of Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, military-aircraft, helicopter, and space programs. Goodrich's customer base included major aircraft manufacturers and government agencies; reported 2006 revenue exposure included the United States government, Airbus, and Boeing. United Technologies announced its purchase of Goodrich in September 2011 and completed it in July 2012. The acquired company was combined with Hamilton Sundstrand to form UTC Aerospace Systems. Regulatory approval required the divestiture of Goodrich's Power Systems division, which was ultimately sold to Safran in March 2013. After United Technologies merged with Raytheon in 2020, the remaining Goodrich-derived businesses became part of Collins Aerospace under RTX Corporation. Goodrich Corporation consequently ceased to exist as an independent operating company, while its aerospace products, facilities, and engineering heritage continued within successor organizations.
- 2020
Goodrich-derived aerospace businesses moved into Collins Aerospace
[1]The merger of United Technologies and Raytheon created the group now known as RTX, with the former Goodrich activities operating through Collins Aerospace.
- 2013
Power Systems sold to Safran
[1]The Power Systems division was divested to Safran following a regulatory condition attached to the United Technologies transaction.
- 2012
Acquisition by United Technologies completed
[1]Goodrich became part of United Technologies and was combined with Hamilton Sundstrand in UTC Aerospace Systems.
- 2002
TRW Aeronautical Systems acquired
[1]Goodrich acquired the aerospace systems business, largely associated with the former Lucas Aerospace operations.
- 2001
Company renamed Goodrich Corporation
[1]After selling its specialty-chemicals business, the company adopted the Goodrich Corporation name to signal its aerospace and industrial focus.
- 1999
Coltec Industries acquired
[1]The transaction strengthened Goodrich's position in landing gear and other aircraft components and was followed by a headquarters move to Charlotte.
- 1997
Rohr acquired
[1]The Rohr acquisition expanded Goodrich's aircraft nacelle and aerostructure capabilities.
- 1988
Goodrich exited its direct tire investment
[1]Goodrich sold its 50 percent interest in Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company and transferred rights to use the Goodrich name in the tire business.
- 1986
Tire operations combined with Uniroyal
[1]The company formed Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company with Uniroyal's tire business.
- 1946
Troy aircraft-wheel and brake operation acquired
[1]Goodrich purchased a Troy, Ohio, plant from Waco, creating a long-running base for aircraft wheels and brakes.
Products and positioning
A vertically capable aerospace and defense systems supplier formed through the transformation of a historic rubber and tire manufacturer.
Aerospace components · 1946
Aircraft wheels and brakes
Aircraft wheels and braking systems became one of Goodrich's longest-running aerospace businesses after the 1946 acquisition of the Troy, Ohio, plant. The systems served commercial, military, regional, business, helicopter, and transport aircraft, and were also associated with several major military and space programs.
Aerospace systems
Landing gear
Goodrich supplied landing-gear systems and related equipment for civil and military aircraft. The capability expanded substantially through the Coltec Industries acquisition and became part of the company's core aircraft-components portfolio.
Flight-control systems
Aircraft actuation systems
The company produced actuation equipment used to move and control aircraft mechanisms, including high-lift systems, flaps, slats, and other flight-related components across civil and military platforms.
Aerospace propulsion systems
Engine controls and components
Goodrich's engine-related portfolio included hydromechanical and electronic controls, engine components, and systems associated with fuel management and propulsion integration. These products supported both military aircraft and commercial aviation programs.
Aircraft structures · 1997
Aircraft nacelles and aerostructures
The acquisition of Rohr expanded Goodrich into engine nacelles and integrated aerostructures. The business supplied structures and aerodynamic enclosures for commercial and military aircraft and became a major element of the company's aerospace identity.
Aircraft electronics
Electrical power and integrated systems
Goodrich developed aircraft electrical-power generation and distribution equipment, sensors, integrated systems, and related electronic products. Its Power Systems division was sold to Safran in 2013 as part of the regulatory remedies for the United Technologies acquisition.
Aircraft interiors
Aircraft interiors
Aircraft interior systems formed part of Goodrich's broader aerospace portfolio, alongside nacelles, structures, landing systems, and customer-support services.
Automotive tires
BFGoodrich tires
Tires were historically Goodrich's best-known consumer product, including high-performance replacement tires. The corporate company exited the tire business in the late 1980s, and Michelin acquired the tire operations and rights to the Goodrich name; the BFGoodrich tire brand subsequently continued under Michelin.
Marketing campaigns
- 1970We're the other guys. Remember?
United States
Goodrich used television and print advertising to distinguish its tire brand from the similarly named Goodyear brand. The campaign emphasized that BFGoodrich was the other major tire company consumers might confuse with Goodyear.
Outcome. The campaign is associated with Goodrich's effort to clarify brand identity in the American tire market.
Brand decisions
2013
Divest Power Systems to SafranM&ABackground
Chinese competition regulators required the sale of the Power Systems division as a condition for approving United Technologies' acquisition of Goodrich.
Action taken
The division, with operations in Twinsburg, Ohio, and Pitstone Green, Buckinghamshire, was sold to Safran.
Aftermath
The transaction was completed on March 27, 2013, satisfying the required divestiture.
Sale price. $400 million (October 2012 agreement; completed March 2013)
2012
Integrate Goodrich into UTC Aerospace SystemsM&ABackground
United Technologies completed its acquisition of Goodrich on July 26, 2012.
Action taken
Goodrich was merged with Hamilton Sundstrand to create UTC Aerospace Systems.
Aftermath
Goodrich ceased operating as an independent public company, although its aerospace businesses continued within the new UTC division.
2011
Agree to sale to United TechnologiesM&ABackground
Goodrich had become a major independent aerospace-components supplier, while United Technologies sought to expand its aircraft-systems portfolio.
Action taken
United Technologies agreed to acquire Goodrich for $18.4 billion and assume approximately $1.9 billion in debt.
Aftermath
The transaction closed in 2012 and Goodrich was combined with Hamilton Sundstrand in UTC Aerospace Systems.
Announced acquisition value. $18.4 billion, plus assumed debt (September 2011)
2001
Complete the aerospace-focused transformationStrategyBackground
Goodrich had divested its specialty-chemicals business and was moving away from its historic diversified rubber-company profile.
Action taken
The company changed its name from B.F. Goodrich Company to Goodrich Corporation and adopted a new corporate identity.
Aftermath
The new name presented Goodrich as an aerospace and industrial supplier rather than primarily a tire and rubber manufacturer.
1999
Acquire Coltec IndustriesM&ABackground
Goodrich wanted greater scale in landing gear and other aircraft components.
Action taken
It acquired Charlotte-based Coltec Industries in a stock transaction involving assumed debt.
Aftermath
Goodrich became a leading supplier of landing gear and moved its headquarters to Charlotte.
Transaction value. $2.2 billion (1999)
1997
Acquire RohrM&ABackground
Goodrich was repositioning itself toward aerospace systems after exiting direct involvement in tires.
Action taken
The company acquired Rohr, a producer of aircraft engine nacelles and related structures.
Aftermath
The acquisition broadened Goodrich's integrated aircraft-components business.
1986
Combine tire operations with UniroyalM&ABackground
Goodrich sought to consolidate its tire activities with those of Uniroyal while retaining and expanding its other manufacturing businesses.
Action taken
The company combined its tire segment with Uniroyal's operations in Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company and initially retained a 50 percent interest.
Aftermath
The partnership proved difficult to sustain. Goodrich sold its interest in 1988, and Michelin later acquired the tire company and associated Goodrich naming rights.
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