Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport Owners - Meet Your Supplier Haartz Corp.

Haartz Corporation is nestled just off Rt 2 in the quiet Metro Boston suburb of Acton, Massachusetts, trying very hard to go about its business. Having worked for decades in manufacturing in many capacities, including engineering, I can tell you that Massachusetts ran most of its manufacturing base out of town on a rail during the past five decades. 

Yet, smack dab in this community of folks who mainly work “office jobs” hybrid, from home, or are employed in the services industries is a manufacturer actually creating things. It’s a modern miracle that Haartz Corp. has stood the test of time and not fled the regulatory red tape Massachusetts is so famous for. The reason the company can still make things here is that it is very, very good at what it does. And that is good news for its hundreds of employees.

Haartz Corp. is primarily an automotive supplier. Much of what the company produces ends up on the roof of the fun models still being made. Over the recent past, Haartz Corp. has also made inroads in building some of the finest interior materials for many of the world’s leading vehicle brands. If we had to pick a pair of models that exemplify what Haartz Corp. does, it would be the Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport.

Ford Bronco Content - Tops, Interior Trim, and Accessories
One of the Bronco’s coolest features is the soft top. If you have ever looked at one up close, you will notice it is not a “plastic” material (not that there’s anything wrong with plastic), but rather a textile. In fact, it is a three-layer textile woven in Acton called Twillfast RPC. The facing fabric is a woven solution-dyed acrylic. The inner/middle elastomeric layer is for acoustical performance and waterproofness. The backing fabric is a decorative polyester dobby. The result of the three-layer textile is a tough, durable, and very sound-deadening cloth top. 

Haartz Corp. also manufactures the Twillfast RPC top material for aftermarket tops for Bronco. Aftermarket tops are available in other colors besides black, and the aftermarket supplies soft tops for both the 2-door and 4-door Bronco. If you are a Bronco fan, you know that the 2-door Bronco with a soft top is not available from the factory.

In addition to the very important soft-top materials Haartz Corp. supplies, the company also contributes to the removable roof panel bags, removable door bags, and the tool bags that some trims of the Bronco come with. 

Ford Bronco Sport Content - Interior Bits
Although the Bronco Sport is not available with a removable or convertible top (boo!), Haartz Corp. is a supplier of materials that find their way into the Bronco Sport. If you have ever rested your arm on the top of the inside of one of the doors, you may have felt it. The door uppers, as they are called, utilize Haartz’s Soft-Tek material. This soft laminate is engineered to create the sensation of luxury/softness and is environmentally friendly.

Haartz Corp. is a supplier to almost every brand still using soft tops. Ford, Mazda, BMW, Jeep, and many others continue to choose Haartz. In Acton, Massachusetts, Haartz Corp. remains one of the largest employers in the region. We asked Luis Vasquez, Haartz Corp.’s International Sales Manager, how Haartz has thrived in this reality. He replied, “Not only is Haartz made in the USA, but the reason for our competitive advantage, besides the incredible people within these walls, is our materials' ability to meet the rigorous performance specifications set forth by Ford and other OEMs.”

The next time you drive your Bronco or Bronco Sport, take a glance at some of the textiles. We are sure the folks who make those materials would be happy that you know where they were made.  

Author Note: In the interest of full disclosure, no Torque News team member has ever been an employee of Haartz Corp., nor is this a paid story placement. We met Haartz Corp. at a New England Motor Press event called the “Ragtop Ramble” many years ago. Haartz Corp. was, of course, an active participant and sponsor of that convertible-focused event. We always cheer loudly for any company conducting U.S. manufacturing. 
 

Images of Ford Bronco soft top courtesy of Ford. Image of Twillfast layers courtesy of Haartz Corp. Haartz Corp sign image by John Goreham. Image of Bronco Sport interior trim courtesy of Ford. Image of Haartz manufacturing site courtesy of John Bozick.

John Goreham is an experienced New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can follow John on Twitter, and connect with him at Linkedin.