Hendrickson to build a solar farm to power bumper plant

Hendrickson, a Woodridge, Illinois-based global manufacturer of suspension systems and components for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and trailers, has revealed plans to build a solar farm in Joliet, Illinois, to power its bumper plant. The plant produces more than 100,000 bumpers per year for the major Class 8 truck OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), school bus manufacturers and replacement bumper market in North America.

The solar farm will include over 2,100 solar panels and produce an estimated 1.58 megawatts annually, the company says. This output is enough to power the entire plant for several years and provide excess electricity back to the grid. The construction of the solar farm is expected to be completed by mid-2025 and fully operational before the end of the year.

“This solar investment complements Hendrickson’s ongoing sustainability program as we continue our commitment to producing highly engineered, high-quality components and systems for the commercial vehicle industry while reducing the impact on the environment,” Hendrickson President and CEO Matt Joy says.

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Hendrickson, a Boler company, manufactures and supplies medium- and heavy-duty mechanical, elastomeric and air suspensions; integrated and nonintegrated axle and brake systems; tire pressure control systems; auxiliary lift axle systems; parabolic and multileaf springs; stabilizers; bumpers; and components to the global commercial transportation industry.

"Daimler Truck applauds Hendrickson’s investment in a solar farm for their bumper plant," says David Carson, senior vice president of sales and marketing of Daimler Truck North America, which has been a customer of Hendrickson bumpers since the early 1990s. "Daimler has a long-standing commitment to sustainability and partners like Hendrickson are crucial to our industry."