Arrow Gear was founded in 1947 by James J. Cervinka and Frank E. Pielsticker, beginning operations in a modest industrial facility in Worth, Illinois. From its earliest days, the company focused on precision gear manufacturing, establishing a foundation built on quality, innovation, and technical expertise.
As Arrow Gear grew, the company relocated to Lyons, Illinois in the 1950s to accommodate increasing demand and expanded capabilities. Continued growth and long-term strategic planning led to another relocation in 1961, when Arrow Gear established its current headquarters in Downers Grove, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. This move marked a significant milestone, providing the space and infrastructure needed to support advanced manufacturing operations.
Throughout the company’s history, James J. Cervinka played a pivotal role in driving technological advancement and innovation at Arrow Gear. His leadership was instrumental in the adoption of new manufacturing processes and equipment, ensuring the company remained competitive in an evolving industry. In 2010, Mr. Cervinka led a major initiative to expand Arrow Gear’s size capabilities for the production of spur gears. This substantial investment enabled the company to pursue a broader and more diverse range of programs, particularly within the aerospace and helicopter sectors.
Frank E. Pielsticker passed away in 1987, and James J. Cervinka passed away in July 2012. Their legacy continues to shape Arrow Gear’s commitment to precision, innovation, and excellence in gear manufacturing.
Early in Arrow’s history, it embraced a commitment to building the company into a leading force in the gear industry. When asked about this philosophy, Mr. Cervinka explained, “In this industry, it’s simply not possible to stand still. If you’re not moving ahead, you’re falling behind.”
Arrow’s long standing tradition of growth remains today, and has resulted in the expansion of the original Downers Grove facility seven times to accommodate new equipment and technologies for gear manufacturing and production. Today, nearly all manufacturing operations performed on Arrow’s products are performed in-house.
A key distinction of Arrow Gear is the company’s extensive expertise in the production of spiral bevel gears. In fact, producing spiral bevel gears – which are inherently complex to manufacture – was an original goal of the company founders. “We wanted to get paid for our brains, not for how many chips we could make.” In view of this, it is interesting to note that Arrow’s advanced design and development assistance capabilities for gear tooth contact pattern are sought after by some of the world’s top producers of aerospace systems.
Arrow’s ability to manufacture gearing products which are capable of meeting the most demanding customer requirements has created an extensive and diverse list of customers – supplying both aerospace and commercial applications. Mr. Cervinka credited this as a key variable in Arrow’s longevity, citing that having a broad range of customers prevents reliance on any particular industry.
As the company grew, the production of spur and helical gearing was added, and is now a significant portion of the company’s product line. In addition, the capability for producing complete gearboxes for the aerospace industry was introduced in the late 1980s as Arrow was involved in prototype work for the Joint Strike Fighter and F22 programs.
Looking forward, Arrow’s Mission Statement documents Mr. Cervinka’s vision for the company’s future. “We are dedicating all of our resources to achieving on-time delivery, unparalleled quality, and competitive pricing to ensure customer satisfaction. We are committed to a safe and financially secure work environment for all of our employees. Arrow Gear has the most modern machine tools, the best in computerized work-in-progress and business controls, and the personnel to effectively manage all these resources. We are well on our way, in the 21st century, to achieve the highest standards in the worldwide gear manufacturing community.”
Arrow Gear is also a long time member of the American Gear Manufacturers Association.
