Who We Are

Founded in 1918, Smalley’s history of innovation began with manufacturing technologies that gave engineers new alternatives to conventional stamped rings and coil springs. We remain family-owned and committed to helping customers overcome design challenges through innovative engineered solutions.

Headquartered in Lake Zurich, Illinois, USA, we support customers worldwide through offices and warehouses in Coignières, France, and Tianjin, China, as well as a global distribution network. We work with businesses of every size, from startups developing new products to established global manufacturers. Today, Smalley works with more than 70% of Fortune 500 manufacturers.

From everyday products like the smartwatch on your wrist to advanced technologies exploring the surface of Mars, Smalley components perform in applications around the world and beyond. Our retaining rings and wave springs are used in more than 100,000 applications across aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, industrial equipment, and other demanding industries.

Guided by our mission, vision, and values, we continue to invest in our people, technology, and capabilities to help advance the next generation of engineered products.

Application Assistance and Expertise

More than 50 engineers providing industry-specialized design and application support.

Product Design Flexibility

Custom solutions in more than 40 material options using our No-Tooling-Charges⁠™ manufacturing process.

Personalized Support

Responsive service and technical guidance tailored to your application and business needs.

Trusted and Proven Quality

Award-winning quality systems supported by industry certifications and rigorous inspection processes.

U.S. Manufacturing with Global Support

Products manufactured in the United States and supported by a global network of offices, engineers, warehouses, and distribution partners.

Large Inventory and Quick Delivery

More than 11,000 parts in stock across 12 product types and more than 1,000 sizes, ready for delivery.

Assortment of Smalley retaining rings and wave springs

The Smalley Advantage

At Smalley, we do more than supply parts. We help customers move from concept to production with engineering expertise, design resources, responsive service, and manufacturing capabilities built around their requirements.

With the industry’s largest application engineering teams, we help customers evaluate design requirements and identify the right standard or custom solution. Free samples and prototypes help confirm fit and function before production, reducing design risk and accelerating development. Customers also have access to CAD models, product-selection tools, technical guides, and Smalley’s Online Resource Library.

Our vertically integrated manufacturing approach gives Smalley greater control over quality, material availability, and production. We roll our own wire, build all of our manufacturing equipment, and manufacture our products in a 300,000-square-foot U.S. facility. To support capacity and material availability, we maintain millions of pounds of raw material in more than 40 material options.

Unlike conventional stamped retaining ring manufacturing, Smalley’s edgewinding process supports a broad range of custom diameters and configurations without dedicated punch-and-die tooling. This flexibility gives engineers greater freedom to refine a component around the needs of the application.

Combined with our No-Tooling-Charges⁠™ manufacturing process, customers receive an efficient and economical path to a custom solution. Industry certifications for aerospace, automotive, medical, and other demanding markets, along with compliance with RoHS, REACH, and all applicable regulatory requirements, provide additional confidence in the quality and reliability of every Smalley solution.

Our Customers

High-Tech & Electronics

Industrial Machinery

Medical

Oil & Gas

1910s

1918

Smalley Steel Ring Company is founded.

1960s

1963

The Greenhill family acquires ownership of Smalley.

1965

Smalley manufactures spiral type retaining rings.

1968

Smalley develops and manufactures the first edge-coiled type wave spring.

Moves to a 5,000 sq. ft. facility in Wheeling, Illinois.

1970s

1973

Expands facility to 10,000 sq. ft.

1978

Moves to a 25,000 sq. ft. facility.

1979

Begins rolling its own material.

Develops the Crest-to-Crest⁠® Wave Spring.

1980s

1989

Moves to a 50,000 sq. ft. facility.

1990s

1990

Introduces the standard Crest-to-Crest⁠® series.

1991

Introduces Laminar Seal Rings to the product line.

Obtains patent for Shim-End Crest-to-Crest Wave Springs.

1994

Expands facility to 100,000 sq. ft.

1995

Achieves ISO 9001 accreditation.

1997

Achieves QS9000 accreditation.

Launches Smalley.com.

1998

Named GM Supplier of the Year.

2000s

2001

Obtains patent for Wavo Spring⁠®.

2002

Opens European office in Trappes, France.

Moves to Lake Zurich, Illinois, into a 200,000 sq. ft. facility.

2004

Opens Smalley Nordic in Alingsås, Sweden.

2006

Achieves IATF 16949 accreditation.

2007

Acquires Spirolox Inc. from Kaydon Corporation.

2008

Smalley Wave Springs land on Mars.

Releases Metric Crest-to-Crest⁠® Wave Spring series.

2009

Develops Hoopster⁠® Retaining Rings.

Achieves ISO 14001 accreditation.

2010s

2012

Expands to 300,000 sq. ft.

2013

Introduces standard Linear Springs series.

Opens European warehouse in France.

2014

Launches French website.

2015

Opens Tianjin, China office location.

Launches Chinese and German website.

2017

Achieves ISO 13485 certification.

Introduces the Smallest Wave Springs on the Market.

2019

Launches the Nested Spirawave⁠® Wave Spring series.

Receives GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award for the seventh year in a row.

2020s

2021

Releases the Revolutionary Revolox⁠® Retaining Ring.

2022

Smalley Europe celebrates 20 Years of Local Service.

Smalley China expands warehouse operations.

2023

Celebrates 60 years of Greenhill family ownership.

2024

Launches the Smalley Online Store.

2025

Launches the Nestawave⁠® springs.

2026

Receives GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award for the 14th year in a row.

Our Global Presence

Lake Zurich, Illinois, USA Coignières, France Alingsås, Sweden Tianjin, China Punta Paitilla, Panama Ontario, Canada United Kingdom Netherlands Germany Italy Tamil Nadu, India Singapore Taiwan South Korea Japan