View source for Brunswick Corporation

{{short description|American corporation}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Brunswick Corporation
| logo = Brunswick Corporation logo.svg
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{ubl|{{NYSE|BC}}|[[List of S&P 400 companies|S&P 400]] component}}
| industry = Recreational Marine
| founded = [[Cincinnati, Ohio]]<br>{{Start date and age|1845|09|15}}
| founder = [[J. M. Brunswick]]
| location = {{nowrap|[[Mettawa, Illinois]], U.S.}}<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.brunswick.com/contact/|title=Brunswick – Contact|website=www.brunswick.com}}</ref>
| locations = 
| area_served = [[World]]wide
| key_people = David Foulkes ([[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]])
| products = 
| production = 
| services = 
| revenue = {{decrease}} {{US$|5.24 billion|link=yes}} (2024)
| operating_income = {{decrease}} {{US$|312 million}} (2024)
| net_income = {{decrease}} {{US$|130 million}} (2024)
| assets = {{decrease}} {{US$|5.68 billion}} (2024)
| equity = {{decrease}} {{US$|1.89 billion}} (2024)
| num_employees = 15,000 (2024)
| subsid = 
| website = {{URL|brunswick.com}}
| footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/14930/000001493025000025/bcorp-20241231.htm |title=2024 Annual Report (Form 10-K) |date=February 14, 2025 |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}</ref>
}}

'''Brunswick Corporation''', formerly known as the '''Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company''', is an American corporation that has been developing, manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of products since 1845. Brunswick has more than 13,000 employees in 24 countries. Brunswick owns a number of  brands, including [[Mercury Marine]]. In 2024, Brunswick reported sales of [[United States dollar|US$]]5.2 billion. Brunswick's global headquarters is in the northern Chicago suburb of [[Mettawa, Illinois]].

==History==
=== 19th century ===
[[File:Brunswick, John Moses-Portrait 2.jpg|thumb|150px|left|J. M. Brunswick]]
[[File:Brunswick Company-Carriage1848.jpg|thumb|200px|Delivery with horse carriage c. late 1800s – early 1900s]]
Brunswick was founded by [[J. M. Brunswick]] who came to the United States from [[Switzerland]] at the age of 15. The '''J. M. Brunswick Manufacturing Company''' opened for business on September 15, 1845, in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]]. Originally J. M. Brunswick intended his company to be mainly in the business of making  [[carriage]]s, but soon after opening his machine shop, he became fascinated with [[billiards]] and decided that making billiard tables would be more lucrative, as the better tables then in use in the United States were imported from [[England]]. Brunswick billiard tables were a commercial success, and the business expanded and opened the first of what would become many branch offices in [[Chicago]] in 1848. It was later renamed '''J. M. Brunswick & Brother''' by 1860, after a family member came on board, and the company's slogan at this time was: "The oldest and most extensive billiard table manufacturers in the United States".<ref name="JMBB">{{cite book |title=The Rocky Mountain Directory and Colorado Gazetteer |editor1=Wallihan, Samuel S. |editor2=Bigney, T. O. |year=1871 |no-pp=y |page=J. M. Brunswick & Brother advertisement |location=Denver |publisher=S. S. Wallihan & Co}}</ref>

[[File:H. W. Collender Billiard Manufactory, Stanford, New York, 1870s.jpg|thumb|right|H. W. Collender Billiard Manufactory, Stanford, New York, 1870s]]
In 1874, the Brunswick company merged with competitor '''Great Western Billiard Manufactory''' owned by Julius Balke to become the '''J. M. Brunswick & Balke Company'''. It was incorporated in 1879 with a capital stock of $275,000, the same year it merged with another competitor, '''H. W. Collender Company''' of [[New York City]] (founded by Hugh W. Collender), to acquire Collender's patented billiard cushions. In 1884, the partners formed the '''Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company''' (or '''{{sic|hide=y|1=B.B.C.}} Company''' for short<ref name="Shamos 1999">{{Shamos 1999|24, 89–90}}</ref>) with capital of $1.5 million.{{clarify|What is this in modern dollars? Run it through an inflation calculator.|date=October 2016}}

[[File:Brunswick Factory on State Street, Chicago in 1888.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Company warehouse on State Street, Chicago 1888.]]
[[File:Pinsetter patent 2973204 diagram excerpt crop.png|thumb|right|170px|[[Bowling alley]] automatic [[pinsetter]], US patent 2973204.]]
The company expanded into making a number of other products. Large ornate [[Neoclassicism|neo-classical]] style bars for [[bar (establishment)|saloons]] were a popular product. [[Bowling]] balls, pins, and equipment led a growing line of [[sport]]ing equipment. It popularized [[bowling ball]]s of manufactured materials, vulcanized [[rubber]] at first; earlier bowling balls had been solid [[wood]].

=== 20th century ===
==== 1900–1949 ====

In the early 20th century, Brunswick expanded the product line to include such diverse products as [[toilet]] seats, [[automobile]] [[tire]]s, and [[phonograph]]s.<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Kogan | first1 = Rick | title = [[Brunswick: The Story of an American Company from 1845 to 1985]] | location = Skokie, IL | publisher = Brunswick Corporation | pages = 36–39 | date = 1985 }}</ref> In the late 1910s, they introduced a quickly popular line of [[gramophone record|disc phonograph records]], under the name '''[[Brunswick Records]]'''. In 1930, Brunswick sold the control of the record company to [[Warner Brothers]] and came out with a line of [[refrigerator]]s.

During [[World War II]], Brunswick-Balke-Collender made small target-drone [[aircraft]] for the [[U.S. military]].
After the war, Brunswick introduced a line of [[school]] [[furniture]]. In 1949, the Brunswick "Model A" Mechanical [[Pinsetter]] fully automated unit premiered, for the purpose of handling bowling pins for [[ten-pin bowling]], in competition with [[American Machine and Foundry]] (AMF). Previously, Brunswick had made two models of semi-automated, manually operated "spotting tables" for the tenpin sport, that the "Model A" unit replaced.

A historical marker at 623 S. Wabash Ave. in Chicago was dedicated by the [[Illinois State Historical Society]] in 1995 at the site of Brunswick's headquarters from 1913 to 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brunswick Corporation Headquarters Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=237407 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}</ref> The building today is used by [[Columbia College Chicago]].

==== 1950–1999 ====
[[File:Cook County Administration Building (9181641122) (1).jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Cook County Administration Building]] (originally "Brunswick Building"), where the company relocated its headquarters in the 1960s]]
[[File:Brunswick SAW machine gun 1974.png|thumb|right|200px|Brunswick [[6x45mm SAW]] light machine gun, US patent 4066000A.]]

The 1950s also saw the introduction of a line of [[golf]]ing equipment to compete with AMF in the leisure-products and sporting-goods markets.

The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company officially changed its name to the Brunswick Corporation on April 10, 1960. The following year the company reported sales of $422 million. Brunswick acquired Mercury Marine in 1961. In the 1970s, Brunswick introduced the [[automatic scorer]], which electronically tallied the score instead of the bowler doing it by hand.

With the company experiencing substantial revenue growth in the 1950s, it began considering relocating its corporate headquarters.<ref name="New Office Skyscraper Set For Loop">{{cite web |last1=Gavin |first1=James M. |title=New Office Skyscraper Set For Loop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/374771701 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 8, 2025 |page=93 |language=en |date=October 29, 1961}}</ref> In the 1960s, it moved its corporate headquarters from the South Wabash Avenue location that it had occupied for six decades to a new [[Modernist architecture|modernist]]-style [[skyscraper]] engineered by [[Fazlur Khan]] of [[Skidmore, Owings & Merrill]] and developed by [[Arthur Rubloff]]'s firm. The [[Cook County Administration Building|new Brunswick Building]] was built in the [[Chicago Loop]], next to the new [[Chicago Civic Center]] (today known as Richard J. Daley Center).<ref name="New Office Skyscraper Set For Loop"/><ref name="Emporis"/> The 1960s-built Brunswick Building was later bought by the [[government of Cook County, Illinois]] in 1996,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fegelman |first1=Andrew |title=County Buys Building, Timing An Issue |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/167842701 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 8, 2025 |page=120 |language=en |date=November 19, 1996}}</ref> and is today known as the "George W. Dunne Cook County Administration Building".<ref name="Emporis">{{cite web |title=Cook County Administration Building |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/116843/cook-county-administration-building-chicago-il-usa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514045552/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/116843/cook-county-administration-building-chicago-il-usa |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 14, 2015 |website=Emporis |access-date=18 December 2021}}</ref>

The Brunswick Corporation patented a machine gun using a delayed blowback operation via a fluted chamber as part of the weapon's operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US4066000|title=Machine gun}}</ref> Another platform was the [[Rifleman's Assault Weapon]], an unusual grenade launcher that used a spherical rocket propelled grenade.<ref>''The Directory of the World's Weapons''. Blitz Editions. 1996. {{ISBN|1-85605-348-2}}.</ref><ref>''Jane's Infantry Weapons 1995–96'', p. 219.</ref><ref>''Jane's Infantry Weapons 1984–85'', p. 661.</ref><ref>Forecast International Comments on RAW.</ref>

In the 1980s, Brunswick became a major maker of [[yacht]]s and pleasure [[boat]]s, under brands including [[Bayliner]], [[Boston Whaler]], [[Maxum]], [[Sea Ray]], and Trophy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Clifford|first=Tyler|date=2021-04-30|title=Boat maker Brunswick seeing big demand as buyers become more diverse, CEO says|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/30/boat-maker-brunswick-seeing-big-demand-as-buyers-become-more-diverse-ceo-says.html|access-date=2021-08-11|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref>

During the [[Gulf War]], Brunswick supplied the military with [[camouflage]] nets. They also made [[radome]]s for the [[Patriot missile]].

In 1997, Brunswick purchased the [[Roadmaster (bicycles)|Roadmaster]] bicycle division, one of the last U.S. manufacturers of low-cost, mass-market bicycles.  However, it became apparent that continued U.S. manufacture of such products was not viable in the presence of surging low-priced imports from overseas producers, primarily [[China]]. In 1999, Brunswick sold its Roadmaster bicycle division and brand to [[Pacific Cycle]].

=== 21st century ===
==== 2000s ====
As of the early 21st century, the Brunswick Corporation still manufactured sporting and fitness equipment ([[Life Fitness]], Hammer Strength, Parabody) in addition to boats ([[Sea Ray]], [[Bayliner]], [[Maxum]], etc.) and marine [[engine]]s under the [[Mercury Marine]] [[brand name]].

In 2001, Brunswick acquired Hatteras Yachts from Genmar Industries for approximately $80 million in cash.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Brunswick+Completes+Acquisition+of+Hatteras+Yachts.-a080601943|title=Brunswick Completes Acquisition of Hatteras Yachts|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305134037/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Brunswick+Completes+Acquisition+of+Hatteras+Yachts.-a080601943|url-status=dead}}</ref> Brunswick sold its Hatteras/Cabo brand in 2013 to Versa Capital Management.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brunswick Corp. sells N.C. yacht builder Hatteras/Cabo|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2013/08/06/brunswick-sells-hattaras-cabo-brands.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-11|website=www.bizjournals.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810150531/http://www.bizjournals.com:80/milwaukee/news/2013/08/06/brunswick-sells-hattaras-cabo-brands.html? |archive-date=August 10, 2013 }}</ref>

In 2004, Brunswick acquired [[Lowe Boats]]. The same year, the company also purchased Northstar Technologies, a leading marine electronics provider based in Acton, Massachusetts, from Canadian Marconi Corporation (now [[CMC Electronics]], a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Esterline|Esterline Technologies Corporation]]). Brunswick then merged Navman, based in Auckland, New Zealand, with Northstar to make Northstar/Navman a supplier to the Brunswick Boat Groups. Brunswick also acquired Mx-Marine. When George Buckley, CEO at the time, left to join [[3M]] in 2006, new leadership decided to sell Northstar, Navman and Mx-Marine to [[Navico]]. Brunswick has established regional headquarters in [[Verviers]], Belgium; [[Monterrey]], Mexico; [[Dandenong, Victoria|Dandenong]], Australia; and [[Dubai]], UAE, to better serve its customers by designing, engineering, manufacturing and distributing products based on local needs, using local talent.<ref name="regionalhq">{{Cite web 
|author=<!--Staff writers; no by-line.-->
|title=Global Presence
|work=Brunswick.com
|publisher=Brunswick Corporation
|location=Lake Forest, IL
|url= http://www.brunswick.com/company/worldwide/globalpresence.php
|year=2008
|access-date=2008-06-26
}}</ref>

==== 2010s ====
On July 17, 2014, Brunswick announced plans to leave the bowling business by the end of 2014. The company disclosed that it had agreed to sell its [[Brunswick Bowling & Billiards|bowling center business]], which brought in $187 million in revenue in the prior year, to competitor Bowlmor AMF (now known as [[Bowlero Corporation]]) for $270 million. It also disclosed that it had retained [[Lazard]] to find a buyer for its bowling equipment and products business. The company said it was making these changes to focus on its “core” Marine and Fitness businesses, which provided 92% of company net revenues in 2013. It would retain its heritage billiards business and report billiards financial results as part of the Fitness segment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brunswick to Sell Retail Bowling Business to Bowlmor AMF|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/brunswick-corporation-brunswick-sell-retail-201701569.html;_ylt=AwrBJR_QMchT2BcArInQtDMD|newspaper=Yahoo Finance Global Newsire|date=July 18, 2014}}</ref> The sale of the bowling center business to Bowlmor AMF (Bowlero) was completed in September 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bowlmor AMF Completes Acquisition of Brunswick Corporation's Bowling Center Business|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bowlmor-amf-completes-acquisition-of-brunswick-corporations-bowling-center-business-2014-09-18?reflink=MW_news_stmp|newspaper=MarketWatch|date=September 18, 2014}}</ref>

Brunswick completed its exit from the bowling business in May 2015 with the sale of its [[Brunswick Bowling & Billiards|bowling equipment and products division]] to BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm. BlueArc completed the acquisition with investments from Gladstone Investment Corporation, and Capitala Finance Corp. BlueArc continues to produce bowling balls under the Brunswick and DV8 brand names,<ref>{{cite web|title=BlueArc Capital Management Acquires Brunswick Bowling Products|url=http://www.bowlersjournal.com/?p=10622|newspaper=[[Bowlers Journal]]|date=May 26, 2015}}</ref> and on November 15, 2019, it acquired [[Ebonite International]] and all of its bowling product brands.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bowlersjournal.com/brunswick-acquires-ebonite-international/ |title=Brunswick Acquires Ebonite International |publisher=Bowlers Journal |last=Johnson |first=Bob |date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126152043/https://www.bowlersjournal.com/brunswick-acquires-ebonite-international/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In August 2018, Brunswick Corporation acquired Power Products – Global Marine & Mobile business, which includes the global marine, specialty vehicle, mobile, industrial power, and transportation aftermarket products businesses of Power Products, for $910 million in cash from San Francisco-based private equity firm Genstar Capital.

Also in 2018, the company announced it would be separating the fitness business as Life Fitness Holdings in 2019.<ref>[http://ir.brunswick.com/news-releases/news-release-details/brunswick-corporation-brunswick-names-jason-worthy-president Company press release October 31, 2018: "Brunswick Corporation names Jason Worthy President – Fitness Division: Reaffirms Fitness separation efforts]</ref> In May 2019, Brunswick announced the sale of [[Brunswick Bowling & Billiards|Brunswick Billiards]], [[Life Fitness]], [[Cybex International|Cybex]], Hammer Strength, Indoor Cycling Group, and SCIFIT for $490 million to [[KPS Capital Partners]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clubindustry.com/news/brunswick-sell-life-fitness-490-million|last=Kufahl|first=Pamela|date=May 6, 2019|title=Brunswick to Sell Life Fitness for $490 Million|work=Club Industry|access-date=July 18, 2019}}</ref> The sale was completed in June 2019.

In May 2019, Brunswick announced it would be purchasing the largest marine franchisor in the United States, [[Freedom Boat Club]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20190517/brunswick-to-acquire-freedom-boat-club|date=May 17, 2019|title=Brunswick to acquire Freedom Boat Club|work=[[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois)|Daily Herald]]|access-date=May 20, 2019}}</ref>

Also in 2019, Brunswick announced a new business structure, Advanced Systems Group (ASG) and named Brett Dibkey as President.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brunswick Establishes Advanced Systems Group and Appoints Brett Dibkey as President|url=https://www.brunswick.com/news/press-releases/detail/239/brunswick-establishes-advanced-systems-group-and-appoints|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Brunswick Corporation|date=December 10, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> ASG is composed of 11 Power Products brands combined with the Attwood Group of businesses including Attwood, Garelick, MotorGuide, and Whale – as well as NAUTIC-ON.

==== 2020s ====
On October 4, 2021, Brunswick Corporation announced that it has completed its acquisition of Navico, a manufacturer of marine electronics and sensors for $1.05 billion, adding back to Brunswick the industry sector it had [[#2000s|earlier divested]].

==See also==
{{Portal|United States|Companies|Cue sports}}
*[[Brunswick-Balke-Collender Cup]]
*[[List of sporting goods manufacturers]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website}}

{{Brunswick}}
{{Illinois Corporations}}
{{Sports equipment brands}}
{{S&P 400 companies}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Brunswick Corporation| ]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1845]]
[[Category:Companies based in Lake Forest, Illinois]]
[[Category:Sporting goods manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Cue sports equipment manufacturers]]
[[Category:Ten-pin bowling equipment manufacturers]]
[[Category:Conglomerate companies of the United States]]
[[Category:1845 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Companies in the S&P 400]]