Ace Controls Company Profile

In the 1950’s industrial shock absorbers were custom designed for specific weights, velocity and propelling force of the moving load. If these variables were precisely known and constant over time, a fixed orifice shock absorber, called a “hydroshock,” did the job. But most often the weight, speed and forces were usually estimates and designing and building a shock that would work was a trial and error process.

The founder of ACE Controls, William J. Chorkey Sr. was an engineer at MAC Valves where he was asked by Ford Motor Co. to design circuits to decelerate air cylinders. He and Walter Ludwig, the President of MAC Valves, devised a valve circuit that reversed the direction of the cylinder piston cylinder before the end-of-stroke impact. Although this circuit was not an ideal solution, Ford benefited by increased production and less damage to air cylinders. Mr. Chorkey recognized that there was need for deceleration technology in order to increase production speeds.

Mr. Chorkey started Automation Control Equipment Company, later changed to ACE Controls, in 1963 with as a pneumatic accessories manufacturer. Their first products were flow controls and check valves. Since Mr. Chorkey knew most of the MAC Valves distributors, he signed many of them up as exclusive distributors.

Lynn Nagle, of Kober Sales, Flint, MI, was the very first ACE distributor. Lynn took Mr. Chorkey on a sales call at GM’s Fisher Body where they were having problems with a non-adjustable hydroshock on a bumper line. When Fisher Body tried to speed up production, bumpers flew off the line. Mr. Chorkey studied the hydroshock concept and then designed a way to adjust a shock in the field. “Adjust-A-Shock” was born and ACE was on its way.

50 Years later, ACE is well recognized as the global leader in industrial shock absorption technology and with a strong belief in local support, available worldwide. With over one hundred and twenty stocking distributors located in over forty five different countries, manufacturing on three continents and a commitment to innovation and development ACE is available to help you, wherever you are.

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