Stant History

It was a piano that secured the place of Stant Manufacturing, Inc. in automotive history...

Founded in 1898 in Connersville, Indiana, The George Stant Machine Works quickly gained a reputation for quality engine repair in the infant automotive industry. But it was George Stant's innovative method of automating the manufacture of piano tuning pins (subsequently becoming the country's leading precision pin producer) and his expertise in copper, nickel, and silver plating that bolstered his company's reputation.

Following World War I, The Stant Machine Company, Inc. began designing and manufacturing auto parts, including the two-piece radiator cap. This Stant innovation ensured proper alignment of the radiator ornament and the external Moto-Meter temperature gauge, a fixture on many car radiators in the early 1900’s. By the 1930’s, Stant had become a leading supplier of high-quality hood ornaments, producing such classics as the flying quail ornament for the first Ford Model A and ornamental caps for various Lincoln, Packard, Pierce-Arrow and Cadillac models.

In 1932, George's son, Kyle, invented the locking gas cap. Initially sold to local service stations, these caps later became some of the first products to be distributed through the growing automotive replacement market. Stant has developed such recognized products as the: LEV-R-VENT® safety radiator pressure cap (1960); the SWIV-EL® radiator cap, featuring an independently rotating shell to allow easier installation and removal (1985); and the PRE-VENT® pressure-relieving fuel cap (1987). Stant introduced The Superstat™ thermostat in 1993, vapor management valves in 1998, and the Instant Fill fuel cap in 2006. Stant began producing charcoal canisters in 2006.

Stant has received nearly every quality and performance award in the industry and is one of just a handful of suppliers to win prestigious quality awards from all three major American automobile manufacturers. Stant products are winners on the track as well, competing in NASCAR races and Indy Car competition. Stant radiator pressure caps have been on over 40 winning Indianapolis 500 race cars since 1960.

Stant has been located at its Columbia Avenue facility in Connersville since 1926. After several expansions, Stant opened its facility in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1981. Growth continued with opening of facilities in Tijuana, Mexico in 1999; Karvina, Czech Republic in 2005; and Suzhou, China in 2006.

In 2010, Stant acquired the assets of Expert Corporation of Romeoville, IL, a manufacturer of engineered vapor and fluid control systems, evaporative emission canisters, and front end carriers. Expert is a Tier 1 supplier to many leading automobile makers. Shelby Co. of Romeo, MI was also acquired in 2010. Shelby is a leading supplier of filler pipe and vapor line products.

Stant Corporation is currently a leading, integrated manufacturer of highly engineered vapor and fluid control components. These products are sold to a diversified group of global industrial and automotive original equipment manufacturers and automotive aftermarket customers. Stant has a distinguished history of delivering patented, innovative solutions to address two critical applications: (i) fuel systems, including fuel caps, fuel vapor control valves, and evaporative canisters to meet increasingly stringent domestic and international evaporative emission standards and (ii) cooling systems, including thermostats, thermostat housing subassemblies, and radiator caps. The Company operates seven global manufacturing facilities including operations in the United States, Mexico, Czech Republic and China. Through these operations, Stant is able to provide its global customers with quality, just-in-time products and solutions to meet their increasing emissions control and cooling needs.